MINUTES OF QUARTERLY MEETING - July 26, 2007

President Paul McShea opened the meeting at 7:30 pm. Deferring business items until later, we began with a presentation by Community Resource officer Thom Chavez from the Sheriff's Deartment who gave an overview of local law and order issues. There is a growing problem of vagrants camping out in our 'downtown' area, but this is a difficult issue to resolve. Those who are

apprehended for loitering or trespassing are sometimes delivered to facilities such as Salvation Army or Metropolitan Ministries, but often they resist the structured living arrangements there and drift back to Town & Country. Likewise for those who wind up in the Orient Road jail: soon as they're released they make their way back here.

The new 'Senior' traffic zone outside Rocky Creek Retirement Center on Waters Avenue was discussed. Many drivers continue to violate the newly- lowered speed limit, and in a recent crackdown over a hundred speeding tickets were issued.

Gang-busting: Eighty law enforcement officers from various jurisdictions recently participated in a massive clean-up operation that resulted in thirty-eight arrests in the vicinity of Hanley Road. Fortunately none of the most notorious and aggressive gangs are active in our area at the present time, but we do have a significant gang element in our midst.

Paul McShea complimented Officer Chavez and his colleague Michelle Branscomb, both of whom go far beyond the call of duty in serving as Community Resource officers.

The next speaker was Elvia Vera, head librarian of Town & Country Regional Library (formerly Westgate Library). The temporary facility at 5455 Waters Avenue will be in service until such time as the new library is completed (late 2008?). There are disadvantages at the temporary location --- limited floorspace, shorter hours, problems of traffic and accessibility --- but it provides the same range of services as before including a small self-service used book store. There is a new program titled 'Net Smart' designed to instruct young computer users about Internet safety.

The stock of books has been reduced from 135,000 to 100,000, and on August 17-18-19 there will be a public clearance sale to dispose of excess volumes.

Fortunately the funding of the new library is secure, and construction will not be affected by the recent rash of cuts in public spending. Aside from construction how- ever, staffing may take a hit --- this remains to be seen. In any case the old Westgate Library was one of the busiest in the County; and although the temporary facility is far from ideal, it will continue to provide maximum services to patrons until a new library comes into being at the original site.

Bob Hood gave the Treasurer's report: We have $2,945 in our checking account, and the recent five-dollar raise in membership fees has given our financial situation a significant boost. We now have 429 members in the Association, having lost twenty members since the beginning of the year but gaining fifty new ones.

Joe Vetrano gave the Trustees' report, announcing that apart from our checking account our total resources in the form of cash, CDs, and mutual funds amount to $50,514.

Paul McShea remarked on the success of the recent median restoration project on Hanley Road, thanking Rob Gamester for his august participation along with a lively group of volunteers from the Youth Council. The project was completed in two successive Saturday morning sessions at the end of June. Members of the Buddhist Temple provided water and refreshments for the volunteers and, more importantly, allowed use of their hose connections for irrigation (which was handled on a daily basis by Bob Hood for several weeks until the rainy season commenced).

Rob Gamester gave us an update on the Hillsborough Avenue Overlay project.

The aim is to make the stretch of Hillsborough Avenue between Veterans Expressway and Sheldon Road more efficient and esthetically pleasing. 6.5 million dollars have been allocated for the project, which will take years for its execution and which will entail improved lighting and landscaping and signage as well as a more stringent set of guidelines for new or remodeled commercial buildings.

Rob announced that the Town & Country Plan Working Committee, which has not convened for many months, will be reactivated. There will be a meeting in October, and citizens who wish to have a say in the future development of our community are invited to participate.

Pal McShea observed that although funding for the soon-to-be-commenced 'Town & Country Commons' is intact, there could be cutbacks in provisions for staffing.

This could have a serious effect on future operations of the day care program and senior center as well as the library.

It was mentioned that the foundation of the new library will be elevated four feet above the previous level. There was concern that this could exacerbate flooding in the low-lying area around the Post Office, and questions were raised as to whether existing pumping system that delivers stormwater into Sweetwater Creek would be adequate.

Our next Quarterly Meeting will take place Thursday October 25th.

The agenda

will include election of officers, as well as a newly-proposed 'Adopt-A-Spot' program under the auspices of the Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful organization.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm.