Proposed Updates to Our Community Constitution

Please see the attached draft for proposed updates to our community constitution to be voted on during our next meeting on Saturday April 20 at 11 AM at the Washington Metropolitan Tamil Congregation Indians for Christ building, 8300 Adelphi Rd.

For comparison our current constitution can be found here.

Cool Spring Terrace Civic Association Meeting Minutes, December 2023

Date: December 16, 2023, 11 AM, in person at the College Park Community Center, 5051 Pierce Ave, College Park

Officers in attendance: President Kim Crews, Vice President Cynthia Baur, Treasurer Andrea Kenner; Secretary Ted Hull was absent and Cynthia Baur served as Secretary

Special Guests: Corporal Brown, PGCPD

20 neighbors in attendance (Kellie Rolstad by phone)

President Crews called the meeting to order at 11:25 AM.

1. Approval of Sept. 2023 meeting minutes: We did not have print copies of the Sept. minutes, and the membership deferred a vote to approve the minutes until the next meeting.
2. Treasurer’s report: Treasurer Kenner reported the current balance is $1160.05. She said
   she would accept dues payments at the meeting, and the new treasurer would collect dues once elected.
3. Crime report: President Crews read the crime report she had received from Officer Brown. Both President Crews and Treasurer Kenner encouraged neighbors to call 311 for any crime concerns.
   a. Neighbors in attendance reported that shots fired, a trespasser, and abandoned cars were not in the report.
   b. Officer Brown arrived during the discussion and reported that robberies in the area of Riggs Rd. and University Blvd. were of concern. The 7-11 store on Riggs had been robbed multiple times recently, and the robbers had weapons, such as crowbars and knives. There are also citizen robberies in that area.
   c. Officer Brown said that when people call 911 to report a crime, there will always be a record of the call but police won’t always write a report. The crimes that get a police report are the items that show up on the crime report distributed to the Association.
   d. Jon Robinson asked if the police could install a “shot spotter” in our area because it is often hard to tell where gunshots are coming from. Officer Brown said the county government would have to approve that.
   e. A neighbor asked about an incident of burning cars in the 2600 block of Cool Spring Rd. last year, and Officer Brown said the fire department should have responded and written a report.
   f. President Crews raised the issue of illegal shoulder parking and trucks illegally using Cool Spring Rd. as a bypass to University Blvd. and asked how we can request a traffic study.
   g. A neighbor reported a possible illegal car repair business on Rambler Place.
   
4. Old business
   1. The membership still needs to vote on changes to the Association’s Constitution, and a vote was deferred to the next meeting because we didn’t have print copies to distribute.
      
5. New business
   1. President Crews proposed the idea that Association members sign up to do one task the Association needs done so that all the work doesn’t fall to the officers. She presented a list of tasks that we will add to the website and asked for volunteers.
      1. The membership discussed the value of participation in neighborhood activities, what the Association can accomplish, and the importance of knowing our neighbors.
      2. Task volunteers
         1. President Crews agreed to continue as the PGCPD liaison.
         2. Dave Hawbecker and Brenda Marroquin volunteered to manage the Association website.
         3. Jerry Blum, Carolyn Jager, Patti Steiner, and President Crews volunteered to host meetings.
         4. Patti Steiner volunteered to be a block captain for Cool Spring Lane and Rosette Lane.
         5. President Crews, Brenda Marroquin, and William Cenac volunteered to organize neighborhood clean up days.
         6. Teena Hawbecker volunteered to print and distribute flyers about Association events.
         7. Jon Robinson moved that the Association should raise household dues to $20 annually, and Ingrid Torres seconded. President Crews asked for discussion and then called the vote. The motion passed with a unanimous vote. Annual household dues for 2024 and beyond will be $20.
            
6. Election of new officers
   1. President Crews reported that she, Secretary Hull and Treasurer Kenner were all completing their extended board terms and not running for re- election. She stated that Vice President Baur was will to stand for President and called for nominations for the offices of Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Kellie Rolstad (in attendance by phone) self-nominated for Vice President, Natalie Turner self-nominated for Secretary, and Carol Hurwitch self-nominated for Treasurer.
   2. President Crews distributed paper ballots, and the votes were unanimous in favor of all the candidates. The new officers for the next term are President Cynthia Baur, Vice President Kellie Rolstad, Secretary Natalie Turner, and Treasurer Carol Hurwitch.
7. President Crews called for a motion to adjourn the meeting and begin the holiday potluck. Carol Hurwitch motioned we adjourn, and Jon Robinson seconded. The meeting adjourned at 12:43 PM. Neighbors stayed and enjoyed a holiday potluck until 1:30 PM. The new officers will meet and determine the 2024 meeting schedule and post the information on the Association website.