Partners Against Crime

PAC 2 MONTHLY MEETING

Monday, September 8, 2008
Durham Public Schools Staff Development Center
2107 Hillandale Road
Durham NC  27704
6:00 to 8:00 p m

Meeting led by Co-Facilitators, Bill Anderson and Cheryl Shiflett

Introduction by attendees

Departmental updates:

Cynthia Mebane-Watts – Community Relations Coordinator
Another 1,000 Pac2 brochures have been distributed in English and Spanish

Durham Parks and Rec – Audrey Gill and Lucille Patterson
Thanks to everyone who supports the events at the Parks- Always well attended and it was announced that two after-school programs are in place for September and October and these are structured learning environments as well as fun and recreation.
Audrey reports that the Adult Surveys are in process.

Mitch Archer: Solid Waste:
To schedule a  Neighborhood clean-up, call Randy Smith at 560-4186.  They will pick up at curbside and a minimum of 5 streets have to participate.
Bulk pick-ups are done once a month.  You must call in advance to schedule this.
All hazardous waste must be delivered to the Club Boulevard Station.  This includes the light bulbs containing mercury and gasoline.  These cannot be picked up curbside.  We understand that too many restrictions can lead to “improper disposal” but urge all to please follow protocol and take these to the Club Boulevard Location.   Right now the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month is designated as drop off- days.  It was reported that someone has seen painters burying paint cans in yards.   This is a violation and we should inform authorities when you see this activity.

Captain Larry Smith – Durham Police Department
Police Department is now in the new location at Roxboro & Latta Road.  This was previously a Realty Company Building. Open House will be sometime in October.  Please use phone number 560-4582 and if unable to get through call 560-4272 only if you are unable to get through on 4582.  560-4582 will be the main number to use at all times.

Mr. Tom Bonfield – City Manager
We were pleased to have Mr. Bonfield, who took over as the City Manager on August 11, 2008.  He is well qualified and very interested in learning all he can to help Durham be the place we can be proud of.  He was interested in hearing the Community Concerns as this will help him in determining the appropriate solutions to the problems of all communities.

COMMUNITY CONCERNS:

A big thank you to Frances Brown who presented valuable information on Tropical Storm Hanna.

Durham Housing Authority:  This department has had very bad publicity for the past few years.   This committee is appointed by the City Council and has an Executive Director.  We asked Mr. Bonfield to please meet with the Executive Director and find solutions to existing problems so this Committee can do the good work as required by the City to meet housing needs for everyone.

Police Department Office Buildings:  We know that the City of Durham has been renting and leasing space for the Police Departments to operate.  Many citizens would like to see this changed and that if the City can spend $44 million on aPerforming Arts Center, surely we can spend the money needed to build a state-of –art Police Headquarters and stop leasing and renting buildings.

Development of Mildred Ray property on the Eno.  Concern is that with the recent flooding  in the River Forest area, if this property is developed, it will only add to the flooding problems we have now.  A meeting is scheduled very soon but right now there is no proposal on the table to develop this property.

A big thanks to the Police and Sheriff Departments who have solved a major problem in the Scarsdale Village.

Hunting in Duke Forest:  Yes, this will be allowed in Duke Forest to thin out the Deer population.  It was done four years ago and must be done again.  It will mostly be by  Bow and Arrow and in the location of Hillsborough in Orange County. Rifles may be used in limited situations.

CITY PARKS: There is much concern about the hours of operations at our city parks.  There is a “dawn to dusk” ruling but this is not being followed at many of the parks and  this allows “undesirable activity” late at night.  Those parks that have gates are supposed to be opened and closed by a volunteer who lives in the area.  Audrey Gill will check on this to make sure the volunteers are aware of their responsibility.  Whippoorwill Park in particular is experiencing a problem.
Concern from several residents over updates not being carried out on many of the City Parks was expressed.  Some have been approved by City Council, many studies have been done and recommendations made, but the work never gets done.  Consensus is that too many studies are done, the money is paid out for the studies and then there is no money left to make the improvements.Nothing is ever carried through.   The last one was about 9 years ago – still nothing done.   Audrey Gill reports that in going through this accreditation process, a full analysis of all parks was required, and this will be completed in about 6 months.

Residents of  the RML Neighborhood, includes Monk Road, Layman’s Chapel and near Old Farm, has solved a major problem in their area relating to gang activity.  Cassandra reports that they had their own signs printed and paid out-of-pocket.  These have been put on mail boxes and other strategic locations, including large yellow signs, that reads, “surveillance cameras” are in use and this has solved most of their problems.   They have taken back their neighborhood and paid for it themselves.  We applaud you!   The gang activity is no longer present on their streets.  (They will contact the artist regarding any copyright issues.)

DOGWOOD ACRES:   They want more signs in their neighborhood.

Stealing things from recycle bins at the street:  Captain Smith reported that we should be very careful that we do not put any personal information in recycle bins.  There are reports of folks taking things from these bins as they are at the curbside for pick up.  This is your personal property until it is picked up.  Most of the thefts have been cans that can be sold.

DUKE UNIVERSITY SECURITY- Mr. Sam B and Aaron Graves, Vice-President Security at Duke, were present to tell us about the out-door warning systems they have in place.  They have always worked with the Police Department and will continue to do so.  Since the tragedy at Virginia Tech, they have developed a warning system that includes E-mails, text messages for all students and staff and an out-door warning siren that will be heard in a one mile radius.  Voice instructions as well as the siren will be audible.  They will continue to work with the Police department to solve all problems with students who live off campus and be aware of under-age drinking situations in these areas.

Ray Richardson, Alcohol Officer, with the Alcoholic Beverage Commission, presented an update of how the Commission is investigating all possible violations in many of our Convenient Store locations.  Many arrests have been made and he gave us his contact information for any problems that you have.  He reports that the requirements for obtaining a license to sell Alcohol have changed.  He will investigate all possible violations and you may contact him at 919 493-7250, ext 228 or email at rrichardson@durham abc.com.

Beverly Rush from the Argonne Hills Neighborhood cautioned us to be aware of door-to-door salesmen, who may or may not be on the up & up.  A rep from Edward Jones was around recently and couldn’t answer a lot of questions. It is best to be very cautious.  The “no solicitations” signs are still available at no charge, but Captain Smith advised that you cannot have these folks arrested, because there is no law against door-to-door sales.

Meeting Adjourned.