Lifebridge Neighborhood Advisory Committee
Minutes
June 14, 2010
6 p.m.
120 Washington Street, 3rd Floor Conference Room
Present: Meghann Ackerman, Miguel Alvarez, Mark Cote, Dr. Seth Doolin, Bob Femino, John Femino, Sgt. Dennis King, Councillor Joan Lovely, Councillor Jean Pelletier, Councillor Steven Pinto, Sgt. Harry Rocheville
Introductions
Everyone in attendance introduced themselves.
Discussion on homelessness plan
The meeting on the 10-year plan to end homelessness, scheduled for June 17, was postponed.
General discussion on neighborhood issues
Mark Cote said he had been having Lifebridge’s maintenance crew clean up things like mattresses and chairs that had been left behind Lifebridge. He said a woman who lives nearby said the various items were hers and that she was moving them, but Cote said she did not and his crews went out twice to clear the area. Both he and Jean Pelletier said putting in a fence might be the solution.
Miguel Alvarez said there have been cars parking between 10 Pratt Street and 14 Pratt Street, which can block traffic. Bob Femino said there used to be a “no parking” sign there, but it went down and hasn’t been replaced. Sgt. Dennis King and Sgt. Harry Rocheville both said cars are not allowed to impede traffic and that if police are called, anyone parked illegally will be ticketed.
Councillor Joan Lovely suggested that the committee divide its meeting between talking about Lifebridge issues and neighborhood issue. Cote agreed that a lot of the meetings were now dealing more with general neighborhood issues. Rocheville asked about the Endicott Neighborhood Association and Lovely said they don’t meet regularly.
Cote said things were quiet at Lifebridge and that fewer people were in the shelter. Dr. Seth Doolin and John Femino both said the front of the building looked better. Councillor Jean Pelletier asked if Lifebridge did any trash pick-up around the City. Cote said Lifebridge employees sweep Margin Street from Endicott Street to High Street and would go farther if needed.
Councillor Steven Pinto asked how selling the church building was going. Cote said there was another church congregation looking at the building, but they were concerned about parking.
Pelletier asked how many calls the Police Department had gotten about Lifebridge recently. Rocheville said there were not as many calls as there used to be and that calls generally go down in the summer as fewer people are at the shelter. Cote said from July 2008 to May 2010, 90 former Lifebridge residents had been moved into permanent housing and six were moved into transitional housing.
Lovely asked if Lifebridge had methadone patients. Cote said he wasn’t sure as that was private medical information, but said he was familiar with the company proposing a clinic for Salem. He said Community Substance Abuse Centers runs a clinic in Lowell that is very well-controlled. Rocheville said someone he knows at the DEA said CSAC’s clinics are well-run and the biggest complaint is about loitering. Rocheville said the Police Department was most worried about parking and what the first floor of the building would be used for.
Lovely, Pinto and J. Femino brought up that furniture and other items outside the thrift store were taking up more and more of the sidewalk. Cote said he would tell workers to keep items closer to the building. Lovely also asked how finding a new location for the thrift store was going. Cote said Lifebridge was still looking for a place.
Concerns about people loitering around the shelter were raised. Rocheville and King said they have asked Steve’s Market to post “no loitering” signs, but they won’t. Alvarez said people have come out of the store to ask people panhandling to go away.
The next meeting will be on September 13, 2010.
The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
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