HGN Annual Meeting Minutes -- January, 2023
Historic Germantown Neighborhood Association (HGN) Annual Meeting Notes
January 29, 2023, 4:30 p.m.
HGN President Britt DePriest opened the meeting. He mentioned meeting in person for the first time post-pandemic. He thanked the owners of Spread where the meeting was held. He also recognized past president Ron Hogan.
Metro Police North Precinct Commander Anthony McClain.
Commander McClain gave updates on recent crime in the area and noted that we are a “target rich environment.” There is a new unit in the police department for auto crime; there is a pilot program for real time crime where police monitor cameras set in certain areas. He mentioned reactive and proactive monitoring; permit-less carry law, stolen guns, and resale of alcohol are problems. There was a question about long waits when calling the police; the police do not operate the call system but there is a call center, suggested having someone from the call center attend a meeting.
Councilperson Freddie O’Connell.
Councilperson O’Connell noted this was his last term and thanked the neighborhood association; pointed out new traffic light at Hume and Rosa Parks; mentioned problems with noise from Neuhoff construction; improvements at metro water services; road closures around the neighborhood seem to never end; praised the development committee, arboretum work, and clean-ups in Germantown. He spoke about the state proposal to change metro council from 40 to 20 council members.
Financial report/annual budget approval.
HGN treasurer Kellye Parr presented the budget proposed for this year and explained the procedures to arrive at the budget. She noted that last year’s budget is not closed out since there are outstanding invoices for Oktoberfest events. Joe Nuzzo moved, Fred Booth seconded, to approve the budget. Voted and approved.
Board Nominations.
Joe Nuzzo and Ron Hogan are willing to serve second terms on the board; Claudette Stager’s terms are up. The HGN nominating committee proposed Elliot Brewer as the new board member. All board appointments were voted on by the membership and approved.
Committee accomplishments.
The social and public arts committees were active post-pandemic. A historic marker for the Ratterman Row, through the Metro Historical Commission, was approved and is awaiting production; HGN will apply for at least one more marker this year; more charitable giving is a goal especially for major projects such as the fitness trail and Theresa Dyer’s “Resilience” sculpture proposed for Madison and 6th Ave N.; monthly and annual clean-ups continue to be successes, Cumberland Machine and 312 Pizza are two of the partners for the monthly cleanups, annual cleanup had about 100 volunteers and many neighborhood sponsors, March 25 is the next annual clean up; pup stations are up to 14; the sculpture garden now has landscaping, fencing, a pathway, and signage, current sculpture Brian Somerville’s “To Tame a Beast” is leased for 3 years; small art grants are offered by HGN. Development has slowed but there are still major projects planned or started (Neuhoff and Hill Center are two). Communications – goal is to expand the web page, now have a total of 135 members, a gain of 15; calendar online needs to be updated. Working with MDOT on new street signs that have current and historic names. A digital archive of Germantown photos, oral history, and book are planned for Germantown through help from MTSU.
The meeting ended at 6:35 p.m.