Board Members Present: Rosemary Farrar; Ron Hoffman, Secretary; Gloria Sage, President; Martin Sage, Treasurer and Membership; Kathleen Scutt, Newsletter Editor; Brenda Silverman, Vice President

Nominees for the Board Present (not current Board Members): Cyndi Stetson, Mary Ellen Datta, Mary Kate Walsh

Invited Guests In Attendance:
Ryan McMahon, Common Councilor, Third District; Van Robinson and Kathleen Joy, Councilors At Large; Glen Lewis, Parks Department; Ned Deuel, Board of Education; Paul Dillon, SPD, Precinct Captain; Paul Driscoll, Home Headquarters; Onondaga County Legislators: Monica Williams, 18th District and Bill Kinne, County Legislator, 15th District and Guest Speaker, Jonnell Allen, Community Geographer

1. The meeting was called to order by President Gloria Sage at 3:19 PM. Gloria welcomed those in attendance and introduced Board Members and invited guests.

2.Secretary, Ron Hoffman, presented written copies of the minutes of the November 12, 2006 Annual Meeting and moved their adoption. Minutes were approved.

3.Treasurer and Membership Reports were presented by Martin Sage, which detailed 2007 and 2008 memberships, annual income and expenses and a list of assets. A copy of the written report is attached.

4.Rosemary Farrar, Nominating Committee, presented the names of eight persons, on a written ballot, to fill nine openings on the Board. No nominations were presented from the floor, and written ballots were collected for counting.

5.Gloria Sage introduced Jonnell Allen, who presented finding and conclusions from her final report on Safe Routes to School for the Hughes School. Copies of her report were available, and it will be posted on her web site, www.communitygeography.com. $32.1 million in grants will be available to New York State. Jonnell discussed who was eligible to apply for grants, generally partnerships such as the School and a non-profit.

Gloria introduced Ryan McMahon and Paul Driscoll, who announced that a Syracuse Neighborhood Initiative Grant has been awarded through Congressman Walsh's office to targeted streets in the Outer Comstock Neighborhood. The $125,000 grant will be administered by Home Headquarters. Loans, not to exceed $10,000, will be awarded to home owners, at 2.99% interest, for exterior improvements to homes. As loans are repaid, additional loans will be awarded.

6. Gloria reviewed accomplishments and activities of the previous year:

• Communication: 3 Newsletters, email alerts and public meeting regarding the Shopfer tract development.
• Several Neighborhood Watch groups are active in the neighborhood.
• Plans are being developed to replace the stolen plague in Comfort Tyler Park, using materials other than bronze.
• A new playground was installed at Comfort Tyler Park, with principle funding secured by Assemblyman William Magnarelli and a TNT grant.
• Repairs to the tennis courts are underway.
• Parks Department replaced three trees in the park.
• Park cleanup and planting projects

8. Monica Williams announced the winning 50-50 raffle number.

9. Rosemary Farrar reported the election result. Twenty five ballots were cast, and eight persons were elected or re-elected to two year terms: Mary Ellen Datta, David Robinson, Gloria Sage, Martin Sage, Brenda Silverman, Cyndi Stetson, Mary Kate Walsh and Charles Wollowitz.

10. The meeting adjourned at 4:52PM, and conversation and refreshments followed.