ATA March 14, 2024 General Membership Meeting Minutes

WHEN: Thursday, March 14, 2024, 6-8pm

WHERE: Parks & People Stone House

The New Auchentoroly Terrace Association (ATA) held its General Membership Meeting in person at the Parks and People Stone House on Thursday, March 14, 2024, 6-8pm.

• ATA President Graham Coreil-Allen called the meeting to order.
• ATA Chaplin Deacon Tally led an opening prayer.
• 1st District Councilman Zeke Cohen shared his platform as a candidate for City Council President, including improving conditions of public schools, enhancing support for seniors, and improving city services and accountability.
• Baltimore City Police Department Western District NCO Jose Morales shared public safety updates and addressed concerns from residents over an increase in drug dealing in the neighborhood.
• 7th District Baltimore City Councilman Jame Torrence shared updates on his efforts to provide more support for formerly incarcerated residents re-entering the community, forcing certain companies to be added to a registration list to hold them accountable for illegally hanging “We Buy Houses” signs, bringing in more grants for responsible black developers to invest in West Baltimore and create more affordable housing. He also shared that there is a state grant to subsidize seniors who need help paying property taxes. The Councilman also shared that Druid Park Lake Drive will be resurfaced after the Druid Lake Reservoir landscaping is completed this coming fall. He stated that the estimated date for resurfacing currently is Spring 2025.
• Shaquayah McKenzie shared information about ways to get involved with the upcoming Bmore Beautiful beatification, resource fair, and clean up event on June 8, 2024. She stated that there will be 150-200 volunteers coming in to help and distributed a survey asking residents for their beautification ideas.
• Eric Jackson introduced himself as the community organizer for Third Space, a newly established organization that will host community and religious programming at the histori Shaarei Tfiloh Synagogue. They will be hosting an open house on June 9 and are seeking input on community programming. Resident Ms. Sandra Wallace shared that seniors need opportunities for regular socializing.
• President Coreil-Allen reintroduced a proposed by-laws update to increase annual ATA dues to $20 for residents, maintaining the $10 dues for seniors, and adding a new category of $100 dues for local businesses that wish to join the association in a non-voting capacity. He made a motion to update the dues  noted in the by-laws, which was then seconded and passed unanimously. 
• Greater Mondawmin Coordinating Council Executive Director Eli Lopatin shared updates, including that resident John Kwamya is now officially the Assistant Director of Community Programming for GMCC. 
• President Coreil-Allen shared that Baltimore City received a $6 million federal grant to advance planning of the Druid Park Lake Drive Complete Streets Design Effort to 30%, which will make the project design available for federal construction money.
• Glenda Ellison, Service Navigator for the CareFirst Engagement Center, shared that CareFirst would soon be opening a new center at Mondawmin. She then shared reusable bags with residents filled with gifts and information.
• Meeting was adjourned.

Click here to download the meeting minutes.