Greater Bartlett Council Of HOAs

January Meetng Minutes

Jan 13, 2006

Minutes

I. Call to order.

II. Welcome and introductions

III. Approval of minutes

IV. Guest Speakers:
Shelby County Mayor, A. C. Wharton
Bartlett Mayor Keith McDonald

Mayor Wharton was very glad at the representation of homeowners representing Bartlett. He spoke about trying to cut taxes wherever possible. Wharton stated he was adding Bartlett for consideration of Homeland Security funding. He expressed a need to have more communication between Homeland and Emergency Management Teams and even suggested they could be compressed into one representative group for all of Shelby County. Other issues he discussed:
?„X Working with private sector for Hazard Management Plan with the University of Memphis.
?„X Shelby County?¡?¦s financial situation
?„X Shelby Farms is a jewel and will put an easement to keep it that way.
?„X Codes & Ordinances to change and the Mayor needs help from us to talk about it.
?„X School funding in a positive way without getting caught up in the ?¡?§consolidation?¡?¨ issue.
?„X Wharton has a great relationship with all the cities Neighborhood Associations and welcomes our new Council.

Mayor Keith McDonald stated he continues to fight for a spot at the table for Shelby County distribution of funds. He stated Bartlett is the 11th largest city in Tennessee.
The mayor likes the communication aspect of the Greater Bartlett Council and welcomes disagreements as long as they are accompanied with viable solutions.

Mayor McDonald recalled former Mayor Ken Fulmer as stating, ?¡?§As an alderman, he could be against everything, but as a Mayor he has to be about something. With over 47,000 residents in Bartlett, McDonald will share his thoughts with the GBC and the Council can communicate with the rest of the citizens. The GBC is a great liaison between the citizens and the Mayor?¡?¦s office.

Mayor McDonald also glad the GBC is reaching out to the Neighborhood Watch organizations as well as the local Neighborhood Associations. Through the cohesion of the two groups, should a natural disaster occur, McDonald wanted us to be better prepared. Therefore, it is critical that we begin accumulating specific information about our neighborhood residents that could be drawn upon when necessary; such as, who has four wheelers, oxygen machines, chain saws, wheel chairs, as well as, individual skills that would be helpful during a crisis.

Election of permanent members resulted in the current members being unanimously voted into office. Peter Martin was voted as President, Henry Boyd as Vice President, Paola High as Secretary and Paul Houghland as Treasurer for 2006.

How will we communicate enthusiasm for the GBC? The newly established website will be a great place to communicate what is happening and be a centralized point of information. The website is: www.neighborhoodlink.com/bartlett/gbc/ and through the Bartlett Express Newspaper. Information to be included in the website includes the identity of the Board Members, state contacts, constitution and bylaws, annexed areas, neighborhood watch issues and possibly a map showing the location of the different neighborhood associations.

City parks and zoning are issues to be considered by the Council.

It is important to the GBC to have at least two members from each of the Neighborhood Associations to represent their areas at the meetings.

The Constitution needs to be amended to include Neighborhood Watch Organizations.

Germantown Association, Lucy Kromer is to be invited to the next GBC member meeting scheduled for March 7, 2006.

The meeting was adjourned.