TWDC board reaffirms commitment to social and economic diversity
by Chuck Hoven

(Plain Press, December 2007) The Board of Trustees of Tremont West Development Corporation(TWDC) passed a resolution at it November 15th meeting reaffirming its commitment to social and economic diversity. The resolution was a response to the arsons on W. 12th Street.

Board President Sammy Catania said the resolution is meant to send a message that the Tremont community will not stand for the bigotry that led to the arson. Catania stressed “We are not only going to not stand for this. We are going to actively work against this.”

Catania said that Regina Weakley, whose family lost their house in the arson, has decided to remain in Tremont and “is excited about remaining here.” He added that TWDC would issue a press release declaring, “we are her neighbors and are committed to helping her stay here.”

In other matters, the TWDC Board of Trustees named a nominating committee to recruit candidates to run for open board positions at the annual meeting in January.

The Board of Trustees also opened for discussion the matter of whether a vote should be taken at the annual meeting to approve the neighborhood master plan.

A number of board members said TWDC should simply present plans for the implementation of the neighborhood plan as part of the goals for the organization. They argued against a call for a vote by the membership, contending the implementation would be based on neighborhood input at public meetings that led to the formation of the plan.

TWDC member Tim Jenkins noted that residents participating throughout the public meetings were told that “the membership will have an opportunity to vote on the final plan.”

Jenkins also said the general membership voted on the last draft of the neighborhood plan in 2001. In doing so, he stated, a precedent was set that the membership votes to approve a neighborhood master plan.

When asked by a board member what would happen if the membership voted against the plan, Jenkins said the 2001 plan would still be in effect. Another board member insisted that the decision to set goals for the organization was the responsibility of the board and has “nothing to do with the membership.” 

Another board member insisted that the because the plan is based on neighborhood input at meetings  over the past 2½ years, the plan doesn’t need a vote of the membership.

Board Second Vice-President Jon Boylan suggested that the community should be allowed to vote on the master plan. Another board member asked whether the contract with the funding organization required a community vote on the plan. Board President  Catania suggested the contract be reviewed concerning a membership vote requirement. The board  postponed the decision about allowing a community vote on the master plan until its December 20th meeting at 6 p.m. at Sokolowski’s.

Following the discussion about the master plan, Board member Karen Gabriel Moss proposed a resolution that the board more closely follow Roberts Rules of Order and prohibit non-board members from participating in discussions of agenda items, limiting community input to the area of new business. The board passed the resolution.

Board member Phil Pavarini asked for a resolution to join with community  development corporations in Old Brooklyn and Slavic Village to act as mediator between the plant manager of ArcelorMittal and Ohio Citizen Action and the Neighbors of Mittal Steel to address concerns about air pollution from the steel plant. The board passed a resolution directing the Long Range Planning Committee and the executive director to work to set up the mediation.

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