2014 January 9 CCA meeting minutes

August 23, 2014

Crozet Community Association (CCA) Minutes

January 9, 2014 at 7:30 PM
(As approved at March 13, 2014 meeting)
The Field School Auditorium

Click here for PDF version of these minutes.

Welcome:  Tim Tolson, President, welcomed all at 7:35, calling the meeting to order.  There were 16 members present.

Agenda Review / Changes and additions from the floor:  There were none.

Approval of the CCA’s last meeting's minutes (November 14, 2013):  Motion was made by Lisa Goehler to approve the minutes, seconded by Emery Taylor, and unanimously approved.

Treasurer's Report by Emery Taylor:  Emery Taylor, Treasurer, reported that the checking account has $7576.59.  Deposit of $1,625 for July 2014 fireworks paid in mid-November 2013. Nearly all of these funds are designated for the Independence Day celebration, and in particular, for the fireworks.

A Moment in Crozet History (Phil James):  Phil James showed a picture of Crozet Avenue near current post office when we got a 12-inch snowfall the winter of 1959-60.  One showed Billy Walker, Jr. plowing snow with mule drawn plow.

Possible Drop-in visits from Albemarle County Police officer (Evening Patrol Division) As part of the new Albemarle County Police department community policing.   Police Chief Sellers introduced Matthew Saullen and Ron Lance, both officers reside in Crozet.

Presentation:

Update and schedule of Crozet Streetscape work by Trevor Henry and Frank Pohl.  Mr. Pohl is the project manager for the Crozet Streetscape project.  Follow status at: http://albemarle.org/CrozetStreetscape 

Mr. Pohl gave a PowerPoint presentation about the plans and timetable of the Crozet Streetscape.  The slides are available on the Crozet Community website.   The power lines along Crozet Avenue came down today.  Dominion Virginia Power will remove the poles in a few days when the weather permits. 

The open cut on Crozet Avenue at the underpass (next to The Square at the MudHouse) is from CenturyLink's work and will be patched as soon as weather permits.

February 6 is the new start date, weather permitting.  The streetscape work will proceed on Crozet Avenue from south to north, starting on east side, at Tabor Street, in three sections until east side to The Square is completed, then returning to south end, and repeating on west side of Crozet Avenue.   Plan is to have final paving and finished by September.  Contract requires substantial completion within 240 days of the notice to proceed that should occur next week.

The very first step will be widening Tabor Street. Still considering whether to close Tabor Street for two weeks with a detour through the lumber yard and down Library Avenue rather than keeping it open, which will extend the work six weeks.   Linco is the contractor. Did the site work at the Meadows and several school projects. Has good track-record with the county.  Also just completed the Standardsville street improvement project.   Questions about the construction, contractor and communication.    County will email updates every other week and Mr. Pohl will have office hours twice a week at the library to hear issues and concerns

Updates and news from Board chair and our supervisor, Ann Mallek

Ann updated us on the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority contract and transfer station issues.

Lots of discussion and information exchanged about this issue.  Mr. Paul Grady discussed his petition to keep the Ivy facility open (the Ivy Material Utilization Center, IMUC) for private and small contractors, neither of whom can afford to take trips to Zions Crossroads facility if the Ivy facility closed.

Old Business:

  • Update on the Build Crozet Library fundraising (http://buildcrozetlibrary.org) Tim Tolson gave an update.  Fund raising continues, to raise money for books.  Since the Crozet Library opened in September,

  • Circulation has been up each month as compared to the same month in 2012 from 73% to 87%, with each month’s percentage increase greater than the previous months.
  • Patron visits have been up as much as 174%.  In November, when the library was closed 3 days it is normally open, patron visits were up 174%.
  • Crozet Library is now the number one library in the J-MRL system for number of self-checkouts per month.  Before the new library opened there was no room for self-checkout equipment.
  • Similarly with public internet use of the computers, up over 100%!

  • Tim urged everyone to email the Board of Supervisors in support of the JMRL operating budget request to Albemarle County, which includes additional funding for additional hours and staff at the Crozet Library.

  • Updates from the Crozet Park and the Crozet Trails Crew.   No one present to report, Ann Mallek reported that new slate of officers elected to the Crozet Park board. 

  • Final vote on motion to amend the CCA bylaws to remove the limit on the number of terms (years) a CCA officer may serve, that is, strike the words, “other than Treasurer, will have a maximum term of 3 years, and”.  The new sentence would read, “All officers shall be responsible for keeping accurate records.”  Thereby removing CCA officer term limits.  This motion was made by Jim Crosby and seconded Lisa Goehler at our November 14, 2013 meeting.  
  • The tabled motion was reviewed, the new draft bylaws displayed (see the Appendix) and discussed.   Mike Marshall made a motion to accept the change of bylaws as presented, and Ann Mallek seconded. Unanimously approved.
  • Tim reminded folks about the information from the November 18 meeting regarding the environmental remediation and building removals at old Acme Visible Records plant  (now the Wilson Jones property) are on the Crozet Community Association website (http://CrozetCommunity.org) and
  • Tim confirmed that the fourth Annual Swing Dance fundraiser will be held Saturday, March 29. 
    • Salute To Swing Band is generously donating their time and talents.  Proceeds will go to WARS, CVFD and the Crozet Library.  Please help us with the planning and setup.
  • Discussion about possible fund raising ideas for the CCA.  Jennie More suggested working with the Boys and Girls Club for a fund-raiser.   Ken Girusick suggested hosting a fall or spring bicycle race.  Ann Mallek agreed it could be a great idea. Richmond will host the 2015 World Champion bicycle race in September 2015.  Miller School trains bicycle racers.  Mr. Girusick will investigate the possibility and report back.
  • Other items?
    • Jennie More recapped last month's CCAC meeting where Mr. Frank Stoner, developer of the Barnes Lumber property attended to discuss project.   Both Cville Tomorrow and the Crozet Gazette have good coverage of this.
    • Ann Mallek said that last Monday was a strategic planning meeting about the Blue Ridge tunnel. There will be a pre-bid meeting in February for the first phase of work to convert it to a walking trail at the east end.   Still more money to be raised to complete this.

New Business:

  • Election of CCA officers.  The floor was opened for nominations for President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.   Current officers are: President: Tim Tolson, Vice-President: Mary Rice, Secretary: Jo Ann Perkins, and Treasurer: Emery Taylor.  Candidates have to be present or have spoken with a current officer about their willingness to serve if elected.   The nominations were: President: Tim Tolson, Vice-President: Lisa Goehler, Secretary: Jo Ann Perkins, and Treasurer: Emery Taylor.    All were present or had spoken with another officer and agreed to serve.  On a motion by Mike Marshall to accept the slate as presented, seconded by Ann Mallek, the officers were unanimously elected.
  • Tim reviewed the recent change of email list host of the CCA email list. Broadband Network Services Incorporated (BNSI) has hosted our email list for free for decades. They have exited this service and Tim moved our email list to “mailchimp.com” The new email list is still moderated and thereby protected from spam, and it will be easier to subscribe and unsubscribe.   We have about 250 folks currently subscribed.
  • Other items?  Paul Grady urged folks to sign his "Keep Ivy Facility Open" petition

Announcements –

  • Crozet Community Advisory Council meeting next Thursday, January 16 at 7:00 PM at The Meadows.  Everyone is encouraged to attend.
  • Energy checkup and makeover with LEAP (Local Energy Alliance Program) in Crozet January 6-17.  Put “Crozet Community Association” in sign-up box & we get $10 donation! Visit http://leap-va.org/checkup or call 434-227-4666 to get more information and/or sign-up.
  • Others?  Tim urged everyone to take Delegate Steve Landes' survey about general assembly issues and topics of concerns to us, at http://stevelandes.com

Future Agenda Items – None were suggested.

The meeting adjourned at 9:15.

The next CCA meeting is March 13, 2014 at 7:30 PM at the Field School Auditorium

CCA meetings are at 7:30 PM on the second Thursday of the odd numbered months
(except July).