Harbord Village Residents’ Association
Minutes of HVRA Board Meeting
April 18, 2006
Kensington Gardens

Board Present: Gus Sinclair, Sandra DeAthe, Jane Auster, Tim Grant, Mari Perin, Richard Longley, Margaret Beare, Susan Pfeiffer, David Booz, Sue Dexter

Regrets: Richard Gilbert, Gord Brown, Michael Heydon, Stuart Schoenfeld

1. Chair’s Welcome The meeting commenced at 7:08 p.m.

2. Approval of Agenda The agenda was approved.

3. Approval of Minutes The approval of the minutes of March 21, 2006 was moved by Richard Longley and seconded by David Booz. Carried.

4. Committee Reports

a. Environment

i. Trees Tim Grant

We will get 6 sakura cherry trees to be planted May 11 & 12th at the NW corner of Lennox and Bathurst.
Amanda McConnell, from the Annex, will speak at the May 16th Spring Meeting about the native tree inventory and planting project undertaken by Annex residents 12 years ago.

ii. Graffiti David Booz

Scott Mills wants to remove graffiti on the rest of Croft St. On May 13th, and has signed up volunteers, although he needs to get owners’ permissions. As it is now organized ,we have no choice but to go ahead. David will help get permissions, with Michael in the lead, who will provide the paperwork. Neither David nor Jane will be there on the day. Gus volunteered to go and Susan Pfeiffer will help. They will keep the project moving by providing encouragement and supplies as needed.
It was felt that the Harbord St. Graffiti Day planned for June is too close to the May 13th project. David Booz moved that the Graffiti Day planned for June be moved to early fall. Seconded by Jane Auster. Carried.
(Jane Auster) Bloor West Village uses a company called Goodbye Graffiti for the fronts of buildings from Runnymede to Jane on Bloor. They clean once each week, and the BIA works with the local Residents’ Association to do the sides and backs with the help of students. The BIA is planning a market survey to look at the impact of graffiti clean-up on business. We should bring the Bloor West example to Neil Wright for him to consider.

April 22nd Spring Clean-up. We are not prepared and have not publicized; as well, Central Tech is not going to be involved this year, we will not to do a clean-up this year. Action: Gus will email the general membership to cancel the clean-up.

b. Membership Maria Perin
Maria handed out copies of the updated membership list – we have 417 members, 162 paid and 255 unpaid. The Board decided that envelopes with renewal forms should be dropped off at the houses of unpaid members, and the area reps will follow up with calls and visits as necessary. Action: Gus will send out digital renewal forms, and area reps will deliver envelopes

c. Community Liaison

No report.

d. College Street

No report. Gus noted that Gord and Martin Silva met yesterday, April 17th, about the clearway and that Silva seemed keen.

e. Zoning/Planning Committee

Committee of Adjustment decision was to demolish 329 Lippincott and go ahead with plan, with minor variances.

6 Croft Street lost at C of A. The developers handled the situation with the neighbours and HVRA badly. They are appealing at OMB; HVRA will fight this, and the neighbours are glad of our support.

Howard Engel was concerned that his neighbours were building something next door that they were not supposed to. A neighbour was going to help him contact the city Building Dept.; they are obliged to follow up.

f. Communications Jane Auster

The newsletter is ready for Richard Gilbert to do the layout. Reps should deliver the newsletter as soon as it is ready. Michael will tell the Gleaner about the newsletter, and Jane will send them a copy.

g. U of T Liaison

No report.

5. Parkettes Richard Longley

Major and Brunswick – some benches will be removed, and some may have arm rests. Kensington Garden will plant grasses, and invest in chess tables.

Major and College – the parkette in honour of Walter Huston, if the city won’t pay, the granddaughter may; Richard will write her a letter.

The revised Heritage Directory will have an initial printing of 200 copies, and will sell for $5.00.

6. Spring Meeting Tim Grant

We expect 40 – 50 people. The flyer will be delivered door-to-door one week to 10 days in advance of the meeting.

Speakers:

Amanda McConnell – tree inventory and planting in the Annex.
Pamela Robinson from Ryerson – City repair, internal part of cities
Ron McKay – solar energy.

7. Business Arising

Margaret Beare will be our representative on the Community Police Liaison Committee discussed at the March Board meeting. Officer Hammill has been notified.

There being no other business, the meeting adjourned at 8:35.