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Minutes of the General Membership Meeting of the Westmoreland Association
September 19, 2011

Officers Present:
President – Walter Mugdan
Treasurer – Gary Savage
Secretary – Charles Manna 

Officers Absent:
Vice President – Sheldon Rosenblum

President Walter Mugdan called the meeting to order at 8:05 P.M.  A motion was made, seconded and unanimously adopted to waive reading of the minutes.   (Mr. Mugdan noted that the minutes were available for review on the Westmoreland website.)   Treasurer Gary Savage gave the Treasurer’s Report indicating that the balance-on-hand was $18,074.37 as of September 19, 2011.  A motion was made to accept the Treasurer’s report.  The motion was seconded and the report was unanimously approved.  

Also present were Lauren Evans, reporter, from the news web site, Patch.com and Victor Mimoni, Deputy Director of Communications for Daniel J. Halloran III – Council Member 19^th District, Queens.

Old Business –
This summer’s activities –
A member reports that a bunch of old tires were dumped at Udall’s Cove on Sand Hill Road.

Triangle Park – Was quiet this Summer. 

Long Island Rail Road crossing - The traffic control on Little Neck Parkway is still dysfunctional.  Our President never got an answer from the transportation commissioner.  Next, we could bring up the issue with the Community Board Transportation Committee.  If we can convince them that there is room for improvement, they would have more clout with the DOT.  A member suggested that the LIRR purchase the Deli and use the lot to alleviate the flow of traffic during rush hours.  Good News!  The quiet zone is working.  Train whistles are rarely blown (only when pedestrians are crossing when the gates are down).  Also, the bells that operate when the crossing gate is in operation only ring while the gates are dropping.  The exception is when another train is approaching the station while one is in-station.  Another member pointed out that the reason that the tracks at the Little Neck station are at street level and always will be is that the LIRR can quickly access their equipment to and from the tracks at the crossing.  This is the only place where equipment can be moved onto the track directly from a street.

Alternate side of the street parking – Walter Mugdan wrote to the Department of Sanitation requesting that daytime parking be limited to give the opportunity for the Sanitation Department to conduct street cleaning.  The Department wrote back saying that there is no necessity for such an action.  We are not considered to be a high traffic area with a heavy littering problem.  Businesses and residents are required to clean their own sidewalks up to eighteen feet into the street from the beginning of the sidewalk.  There is little or no chance that a street sweeper would be assigned to our area.

New Business –
One of our members spoke about the trouble he encountered this summer when he decided to tear down all or most of his house.  He had permission only to add an extension to his house, but the circumstances required more extensive demolition.  A neighbor complained to the buildings department and the result was a “Stop Work” order that really complicated his life.  He also found it to be distressing to find out that the issue was on tonight’s agenda but that the organization had not reached out to speak with him directly.  Walter Mugdan apologized for that oversight.  Mr. Mugdan noted that all we were going to say at tonight’s meeting was that the issue had been resolved and the contruction was able to proceed.  The homeowner confirmed that Mr. Mugdan had sent him a letter in early June, 2011 reminding him of the need to comply with the Westmoreland covenants as the house is rebuilt.

Electronic Recycling – there will be Electronic Waste Recycling Days in all five boroughs.  The two closest to our neighborhood are:

• September 24, 2011 – 10:00 to 4:00 at the St. Johns University parking lot at Gate 4, which is located at Union Turnpike and 175^th Street.
• September 25, 2011 – 10:00 to 4:00 at the NY Hall of Science visitor parking lot – enter at 111^th Street and 49^th Ave in Flushing.

Commercial Vehicles Parking Illegally in Westmoreland - David Diaz noted that a neighbor who has an ambulette business is parking two of the vehicles overnight on our streets.  They are often parked close to the corners of 42^nd or 43^rd Avenues  and Westmoreland St., thus blocking driver’s vision at the intersection.  Walter Mugdan will inquire whether vehicles of this sort are allowed to park in a residential neighborhood.  In any case, all vehicles should be parked at least fifteen feet from the corner.

Westmoreland Board member Victor Dadras, an architect, reported that he has been active with the Douglaston Village Chamber of Commerce and its Business Improvement District (BID) in an effort to revitalize the business district that stretches from the stores just north of the LIRR to the commercial area along Northern Blvd.  He has drawn plans that show what can be done to make the area more attractive to potential customers.  Victor wonders if it would be possible to organize merchants in Little Neck to create such a revitalization plan.  This is particularly timely because of the situation at the main intersection of Little Neck Parkway and Northern Boulevard, with buildings on two sides standing empty (Scobee and OTB).  He is looking for volunteers who would help to get the ball rolling.  Unfortunately, no merchants were present at tonight’s meeting.

Our remaining meetings during 2011-2012 will be held on November 21, 2011; March 19, 2012; and May 21, 2012. 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 PM.

                                                                        Respectfully submitted

                                                                        Charles Manna, Secretary

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