Notes from Neighborhood Summit Meeting w/Mayor

Notes from Nikkita on the Neighborhood Summit Meeting that the mayor held last week:
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I arrived about 1/2 hour after the meeting started but below are

Items discussed at tonight's meeting:

Easton's Weaknesses:
- City codes
- Trash
- Roads
- Crime
- Boarded up houses
- Different community programs don't communicate with each other
- No neighborhood stores (i.e. grocery stores or banks in the west ward)
- Transportation to and from the different neighborhoods is impossible without a car

The mayor is interested in a recycling program that would be an incentive for families to recycle. I found an article that describes what the mayor was referring to: http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2006/1001-smart_trash_cans.htm

His one concern about implementation was the cost.

Easton's Threat:
- Newly released men, women and juv's from the prison who have no where to go and have no assistance.
- There was mention of half way houses but the mayor said that people don't want halfway houses in their neighborhoods.
- Too many neighborhood groups fighting each other instead of working together for a single cause.

Easton's Opportunities:
- Mayor will hire 2 codes officials and a few more police. They are scheduled to start in June.
- Mayor would love to work with the school administration to remodel Cottingham stadium and possibly being able to utilize the stadium for more than just school games.
- He would also like to be able to use school building for community programs during off hours and weekends. He said it's ashame we have these buildings that have gymnasiums and rooms but can't use them. That Saints and PAL could join together and create programs that can run in the schools and give up the current Saints location.
- We need to address the historic aspects of Easton (cirriculum in the schools that teaches students Easton's rich history, Hiring certified tour guides with keys to the historic buildings)
- Plan to revitialize two parks in each neighborhood. Still talking about big plans for Heil Park.
- Currently working on installing wireless servalance cameras along Northampton St (hopefully to the high school) and up 3rd st to the college.

Gateway Projects:
- Mayor has a plan to clean up the train station at the bottom of St. John's.
- New street signs & lights will be installed at all major gatway locations: Northampton st being one.
- Welcome to Easton signs will be put up at all gateway entrances.

There were a lot more items discussed but these were the things that stuck out the most!

Nikkita Frazier

www.singleparentsofeaston.com