 |
Anne Arundel
|
|
Anne Arundel
|
|
On January 4, 2005, the AAWRA held its first official meeting, elected a board of nine representatives, and began the outline of a strategy for 2005 and outyears. This is the 8th meeting, but the first official meeting of AAWRA. We have already heard from government and industry officials, friends, environmentalists, neighborhoods, and boaters regarding the government process, politics, economics, law, science, journalism, etc. Having learned about the dredging process and purpose, we begin our official alliance with goals and objectives that include review, action items, county, state and River budgets and grants, lobbying, improving our posture, supporting research and education, etc. Election of Board Members At this meeting we formally adopted the bylaws, elected nine members to the board, appointed standing committees, and offered details of our plans for 2005. The first action was to consider the proposed Bylaws, and after agreeing on a correction to Article VIII, Section 4, the Bylaws of the Anne Arundel Waterways Restoration Alliance were adopted unanimously. Bill Edmonston has filed for incorporation with the state. The AAWRA intends to become a 501-C (4) non profit organization. The Nominations Committee then submitted their report, and time was taken for each nominee or representative to speak of their backgrounds and interest. Bob Whitcomb, Charlie Burke, Bill Edmonston have all been involved with their creek restoration efforts for years. Amberley, through Vern Penner, wants to be represented to draw attention to the damage caused by SHA to Whitehall Creek and others. Evan Belaga, who leads the Weems Creek Conservancy, suggested having state highway department attend a future meeting. Also, we need to assimilate data from sediment monitoring equipment already in place or to set up (Weems Creek, Cowhide branch has this), especially in creeks which are affected by outfalls from state roads. Frank Pittelli has been managing the AAWRA web site, AAWRA.org. Bob Emmet representing Duvall Creek spoke for Jay Phillips from Quay Harbor, who would like to become Treasurer. Dr Emmet spoke highly of Jay's experience as Treasurer for their organization. Joan Liddy is President of Cape Anne and has been pressing for Broadwater Creek dredging, as has Paul Ricket from Broadwater Farms. The following were elected to the first Board of Directors for the coming year: Bill Edmonston, Bob Whitcomb, Frank Pittelli, Jay Phillips, Charlie Burke, Paul Rickett, Joan Liddy, Evan Belaga, and Vern Penner. The terms of office, as outlined, are staggered with one two and three year posts. Meeting with John Hammond President elect Bob Whitcomb and other attendees to a meeting with John Hammond, the County budget officer, offered their insights on his interest, staff, the Q budget (which is the source of funding for dredging in the county) and how to follow the budget. The Hammond meeting was on the waterway improvement class. All projects should be in the budget. Whitcomb explained that the alliance represents 5000 households. Budget becomes public at the Planning and Advisory Board meeting at the end of January. We plan to meet with the County Executive in February, and write the members of the PAB in the meantime. Whitcomb noted that John Hammond likes the dredging programs because it multiplies the county's money through matching state and Federal funds. Pittelli noted that one of Hammond's staffers oversees special benefit tax districts and that the county likes to see communities providing their own money for dredging. Special tax districts don't need to be geographically connected, so it may be beneficial to create a tax district for AAWRA members, regardless of where they are located. Perhaps another option for future AAWRA activities. Spoil Reclamation Based on something discussed in the Hammond meeting and the previous meeting with DPW, Frank Pittelli suggested going to external funding organization (e.g., Chesapeake Bay Foundation) with a proposal to help improve the county's existing process and to promote the county's success to outside groups such as Corps of Engineers. The goal is to increase the county's spoil handling capacity over time so that more dredging projects can be done per year and that the cost of spoil reclamation can be reduced. At the last meeting, Ron Bowen stated that part of the county's success story was to create a great recycling program, so perhaps we can do something similar for dredging spoil reclamation at Town Point off Rockhold Creek. We considered the idea of helping publicize the County's dredge spoil handling process, and having an expert on this speak at a future meeting, especially to learn more about the specific plans for the Town Point site. Bob Emmet, Mr. and Mrs. Wm James Howard, all experienced proposal writers, offered to help write grant proposals. The following discussion points were made:
Budget Lobbying Strategy Whitcomb presented copies of the letter to Joan Cadden, Delegate Leopold, Herb McMillan and similar letter to Delegate Claggett. This led to a discussion of our 2005 lobbying strategy, and the need to identify exactly which committees need our testimony during the upcoming session. Whitcomb will follow-thru with Delegates Cadden and Leopold, Bob Emmett will contact Delegate McMillan, and Bill Edmonston will contact Delegates Claggett and Astle towards scheduling meetings and presentations. The Public Advisory Board (PAB) will be holding hearings in February at which each County department will make presentations about their budget requests. The public can attend, but may not testify. Frank suggested we consider put one of our own members on PAB in the future to properly represent the views of the communities that endorse the AAWRA. Vern Penner suggested that we need to contact marinas and businesses about getting involved in the AAWRA before launching season while they're not busy (John Wright, Whitehall Marina; Bert Jabin, and other Boat yards and yacht clubs; Herrington Harbor, Chaney family which own Town Point, Shady Oaks marina on West River). This was considered such a good idea for increasing membership that Joan Liddy will try to get one of them as our next speaker. State Legislature Joan Cadden and Herb McMillen attended in August find notes for names of who to contact - endorse John Leopold's legislation to protect the special funds like waterway improvement and open space. Bob Emmet stated that he has testified in the past and that he could help find out which committees to talk with. He said we need to find sponsoring members for proposed legislation - goal to keep waterway improvement fund monies for their intended use. Bob said we need to prep the delegates on your issue so they can ask the right questions during any such testimony. Vern Penner will be working with office of Legislature services for three months and he offered his assistance in tracking various committee meetings. Bill Edmonston will be in touch with Virginia Claggett, Dave Boschert, Mike Busch, Senate President Mike Miller, Senator John Astle. Other Discussions We welcomed Wm. James Howard and Mary G. Lawrence of Poplar Point on Church Creek. Poplar Point has met with Senator John Astle on other matters. Whitcomb congratulated Paul Rickett on the publicity in the Annapolis Capital regarding the dredging of Broadwater Creek. Paul Rickett talked about the recent article in the Capital about dredging Broadwater Creek, and that this helped them schedule a meeting with the County Executive later this month. Gloria Rickett suggested it was time AAWRA got some publicity, at least to identify our upcoming meetings, and Paul will contact the Capitol's writer to suggest an article announcing the formal formation of AAWRA. Evan Belaga - Anne Arundel watershed Network under Anne Pearson getting lots of grants and support. Need to put their names on our list. Need a membership application form on web site, possibly using Pay Pal for membership dues? Board of Directors Meeting Following the general meeting, the first meeting of the Board of Directors was held. First item was to choose the terms for each member as follows:
The Board elected officers and committee chairpersons: President, Bob Whitcomb; Vice President, Frank Pittelli; Treasurer, Jay Phillips; Secretary, Charles Burke. Chairmen for the Standing Committees were selected: Program - Joan Liddy; Membership & Fundraising - Vern Penner, Jay Philips; Research - Evan Belaga; and Public Relations - Paul Rickett, Frank Pittelli.
Charlie Burke, Secretary
|