GROVE PLACE ASSOCIATION
GENERAL MEETING

November 18, 2001 at 4:00 PM
The YMCA’s George Williams Hall

Present: Sue and Jim Bovay, Officer Tom Belcher RPD, Linwood Garrenton, Roz and John Goldman, Lieutenant Graham Hyland RPD, Bob Keck, Marilyn and David Klass, Susan and Steve Levinson, Kaye and Hal McDonald, Diane Moonan, Kathy and Dave Parse, Paul Pineo, Miriam and Sandy Shapiro, Mary Lou and Stan Schwartzberg, Betty Strasenburg, Eugene Van Voorhis and Gloria Marie Weyerts.

1.        President Sue Bovay welcomed GPA members and guests.

2.        Art Committee Chair, Roz Goldman, announced that the newest GPA art bench, funded by the Eastman School, will be briefly on view on Grove and then stored for the winter.

3.        Beautification Chair, Marilyn Klass said that the City gave GPA 60 bulbs to be planted by Mark Coburn this fall. He will be asked for estimates to plant and care for the GPA street pots next spring. Our new neighbor, Kathy Parse, who has background in floral design and public gardens offered to plant and care for the GPA pots and street gardens.

4.        Mary Lou Schwartzberg has finished the new GPA Membership and e-mail lists. They were available at the meeting. Mary Lou has extras available. Receptions after the General Meetings are set though June 2002.

5.        Sue said that Architect Anne Chaintreuil is working on drawings for the Gibbs Street Project to be put out to builders. Bids may come in before Christmas.

6.        Officer Graham Hyland and Lieutenant Tom Belcher were present to present Rochester Police Department programs that are available to us. Officer Hyland spoke to us on Community Policing Issues. He showed a video illustrating factors to be aware of concerning personal safety awareness, including:

·         the characteristics of suspicious people.

·         how to react to a robbery.

·         car larcenies.

·         the proactive VARDA alarm program which the RPD is using to deal with car larcenies (a decoy car sends signals directly to police cars).

He stressed the importance of not being complacent, of being aware of one’s surroundings, of following one’s instincts in observing something not right about a person, e.g.:

·         inappropriateness of dress for the weather.

·         extreme nervousness.

·         carrying an unusual package or appearing to be concealing something The suggested response to suspicious activity in progress was: call 911 - a FIF (field information form) will document the event with the hope of linking a suspect to a past or future crime.

Regarding personal safety outdoors, deterrent behavior included:

·         be alert, walk with head up and make eye contact (criminal will realize that you could identify him and move or).

·         do not carry a purse of wallet.

·         follow the safest routes that are well-lit and well populated and avoid obvious lurking places, e.g. alleyways, long lines of cars at the curb.

·         walk facing the traffic - and, better yet, with another person.

·         have car keys at the ready - do rot use as a weapon .

Regarding personal safety at home or at work:

·         never enter if you suspect a break-in - call 911 from nearest phone.

·         at business do rot leave personal items apparent and/or unattended.

·         if working late or in dangerous area, ask for an escort.

If approached by a threatening person:

·         remain calm.

·         cooperate and follow instructions.

·         never fight unless being forced into a car or your life is threatened.

·         in last two instances - run, scream “fire”, do whatever it takes.

Car larcenies:

·         50% are forced entries - it takes less that 30 seconds to get in.

·         do rot leave personal items in your car.

·         the trunk is the safest place if you absolutely must leave them - place items in the trunk before parking.

Panhandling:

·         is not a crime unless they are blocking the sidewalk, harassing you, threatening to use a weapon, or in the street stopping cars.

·         it is best not to give (there are several soup kitchens available).

·         most panhandlers are mentally ill or addicts.

The RPD Homeless Detail:

·         the police have run this detail for two years with some success only, but they continue to try.

·         some of the churches, the Department of Social Services and the homeless shelters all provide short-term help.

Officer Hyland spoke about Neighborhood Watch Programs. A joint effort of Community and Police to increase awareness and enhance security. Personnel needed:

·         A Neighborhood Coordinator whose duties would be to Chair the Watch and act as liaison to both Block Captains and Police. He or she would keep a neighborhood map with name, addresses, phones and e-mails.

·         Block Captains for each block whose duties would be to host Neighborhood meetings and train Block Watchers.

·         Block Watchers whose duties would be to be the eyes and ears of the block - to notice anything unusual or suspicious and report to Police, e.g. strangers loitering, peering into cars, selling merchandise at ridiculously low prices, entering a home whose owners are away or forcing entry into a home, business or car.

Graham said no one from GPA has participated in PacTac since Chip Dawson bike patrolled.

He also explained the difference between 911 and 311:

Call 911 when an event is in progress. Police will respond to a noise call by driving by or going to the house if you simply carrot get cooperation. Average response time in the city is 8 minutes.

Call 311 if the event is history. A report will be taker by phone and can be helpful in establishing a perpetrator’s patterns.

Additional Signage in the neighborhood would be very helpful it was agreed.

John Goldman offered the comment that the neighborhood feels safer than when they moved in four years ago. That said, Sue Bovay reported that a Graduate Student who is the tenant in one of the townhouses was taking out the trash one night recently when two men appeared out out of nowhere and frightened her badly.

A Home-Security Survey is available to any individual who requests one. Call the Net Office.

Response to Sue Bovay’s informal survey of Interest in GPA’s buying and installing security sensor lights around the neighborhood, showed a majority interest. John Goldman and Paul Pineo volunteered to help with the project.

7.        Final Matters: The GPA Update and Calendar for November/December 2001 was given out.

8.        Sue announced the imminent opening of Los Andes Restaurant where Vesuvio once was.

9.        Marilyn Klass’ daughter, Karen Nozik, a Senior Associate with Alta (a transportation consulting firm) is consulting with The Genesee Transportation Council with regard to development of a plan to create and maintain a regional trail system. Check the Y’s Flyer for information about the Y’s Fall City Tour.

10.     Betty Strasenburgh announced her surprise GPA HOLIDAY PLANS. The gathering will be on Sunday. December 12th in the Director’s Room of the Eastman Dorm from 5 to 7 PM.

11.     Jim Undercofler has arranged music for us. Please bring a dish to pass, as this will be a supper in celebration of the season.

Respectfully submitted,

dmc moonan

surrogate secretary