North Anthony Area Association Minutes

Table of Contents

North Anthony Area Association Minutes of the January 2026 Regular Meeting

Meeting Date: February 2, 2026

Call to Order

• Meeting called to order at 7:01 PM.
• Meeting was originally the January regular meeting scheduled for January 26, but postponed due to inclement weather.
• Before other business:
  • Treasurer’s report was read into the record, as below.
  • November meeting minutes were not e-mailed in time and were instead read into the record.
    • The minutes were approved by vote.
  • President next asked members to help build a consent agenda to supplement his prepared talking points.

Treasurer’s Report

For Period Between Meetings
Covering: November 26, 2025 to January 30, 2026
Prepared: January 30, 2026
Presented: February 2, 2026 meeting

Beginning Balance: $6,474.77

Expenses

Total Expenses: ($282.33)

Income

Total Income: $59.19

Net Cash Flow (Income - Expenses): ($223.14)

Account Breakdown

Ending Balance: $6,251.63

Finance

CD Rollover

• CD to be rolled over at shortest possible term.
• Must secure best available rate.
• Transfer $500 to checking.
• Complete rollover before maturity date (2/24/2026).
• Approved by vote.

Safety & Security

Flock Safety Cameras

• Parkview installed cameras on campus near ER.
• President previously proposed similar system at Lake & Anthony.
• Proposal originated during period of increased crime reports.
• Prior privacy arguments against Flock are undercut: anyone entering the neighborhood from the State gateway is potentially being recorded by Parkview’s system.

Programs & Workshops

FORT-ify Workshop

• FORT-ify is a City of Fort Wayne series of workshops aimed at developing neighborhood associations.
• We lacked sufficient board or other members available to participate this year.
• Sign-up deadline missed.
• L. Bowser reviewed next year’s info.
• Bowser will remind group next year.

Regional Coordination

State Corridor

• A presidents’ meeting was scheduled at Tecumseh Library the following week.
• President will report back afterward.
• City officials will be visiting our next regular meeting on March 23 to present to the members and field questions.

President’s Notes from the Subsequent Meeting at the Library

• Improvements are planned from the Veterans Memorial Bridge (near Northside High) to Hobson.
• Plans include “right-sizing” from four lanes to three, giving an extra three feet on either side of State for greenspace and trees.
  • Benches and other amenities like planters are also being considered.
• The remaining traffic lanes will be wider: 11-12 feet for the travel lanes, and 10.5 feet for the center turn lane.
• Construction will begin in 2027.
• The project will also involve re-timing the traffic signals at each intersection.
• The president asked about bus turnouts to reduce disruptions to traffic when buses make stops.
  • Turnouts are not part of the present plan.
  • They would exceed the budget, as monies would have to be spent to acquire additional right-of-way in order to make the sidewalk widths compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Neighborhood Improvement Goals

• Pocket park at Anthony & Crescent improvements:
  • Paint park bench (association awareness).
  • Consider adding trash can.
  • Consider adding flowers or other attractive plants.
• Restore gooseneck street lamps at key intersections.
• Increase dues-paying membership.
• Recruit more volunteers.
• Add member survey to newsletter.

Maintenance & Public Areas

Snow Removal

• Bowser contacted Rogers Markets regarding sidewalk snow removal.
• President contacted Lassus.
• Both cleared sidewalks quickly after notification.

Leaf Pickup / Esplanade Policy Discussion

• Debate on residents raking leaves into Kensington esplanades.
• Key points:
  • City does not prohibit leaf placement there.
  • City has previously directed storm debris into esplanades for pickup.
  • Placing leaves there may damage grass.
  • Esplanades are city-owned right-of-way.
    • Association lacks legal authority to forbid use; can use moral authority and suasion only.
  • Forest Park pays for signs encouraging residents not to use their esplanades for leaf collection.
    • Signs in any public right-of-way are technically illegal and subject to removal.
    • We should ask for an exception from the Right-of-Way Department beforehand.
  • Issue is divisive among residents.
    • A majority on Kensington seem to be for it.
    • South of Lake Avenue, lot sizes on Kensington tend to be smaller, with reduced frontage, so there is less total area for park strip.
    • While a majority on Kensington seem to favor a restriction on leaves in the esplanades, it is possible that a majority south of Lake are opposed.
      • Facebook comments seem to support this conclusion.
    • Bagging is another alternative.
      • Is labor intensive.
      • Requires purchase of paper leaf bags.
      • Most will not do it due to the extra work and expense involved.
• Decision:
  • Defer discussion until closer to autumn.

Governance & Administration

Financial Continuity

• President currently sole bank account holder.
• Concern about continuity risk.
• Vice President will be added to account.
• Approved by vote.

Robert’s Rules Purchase

• Board authorized purchase of Robert’s Rules copy.
• Assigned officer did not complete purchase.
• President requested member purchase and reimbursement.
• Bowser volunteered to do this; later refused reimbursement and offered as donation.

501(c)(3) Status

• Goal: obtain nonprofit status.
• VP recommended consulting attorney Tom Trent.

Bylaws - Business Memberships

• Proposal to allow business memberships (similar to Northside).
• Likely requires bylaw amendment.
• Non-resident/business members would not vote.
• President stated he would get more information from Northside and report back.
• Decision:
  • Deferred.

Donations & Grants

• Christmas Bureau thank-you received.
• Mitchell mural grant follow-up planned.
  • After the meeting, the president was informed of another grant, and will call a board meeting to discuss pursuing both, as deadlines are too close to the next regular meeting to wait.

Events & Fundraising

• Oh Five planning a neighborhood mixer and fundraiser.
• Details to follow.

Adjournment

• Meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30.
• Next meeting Monday, March 23, 2026.

Monday, November 24, 2025 Meeting Minutes

• Call to Order
  • The meeting was called to order at 7 PM.
  • All board members were present, along with two other members.
• E-mail
  • It was previously resolved not to renew our current e-mail hosting contract with IONOS, and to seek a new provider.
  • The decision was left up to the president, who nominated Namecheap as our hosting provider.
  • The president would wait, if possible, for a promotional offer, but failing that, would switch before our current contract expired in January.
• Board members Maple and McCarty were to solicit businesses to advertise in our newsletter
• President Brennan again raised the Facebook issue; no consensus was reached.
• The treasurer’s report was read into the record by the president as interim treasurer.
  • There was a $7.03 discrepancy.
  • This was attributed to an arithmetic error in the previous report.
  • We were cash flow negative for the period
    • Members discussed various ideas for raising more money.
    • One member asked about possibly combining with another association; the president listed his objections to a merger.
    • There is enough money to keep the association operating without a newsletter for up to ten years.
    • The newsletter is our biggest expense, and typical dues receipts do not cover it.
• Neither board member McCarty nor the president were able to reach the Christmas Bureau for confirmation, but it was resolved to act upon the previous resolution and mail them a check for $200.
• A new member who works in tech at Sweetwater offered future help with the website.
• Approved by vote at the February 2, 2026 meeting.

Monday, September 22, 2025 Meeting Minutes

• Call to Order
  • The meeting was called to order at 7 PM.
  • Only the board members were present.
• Questions about our current e-mail account
  • IONOS lured the president with a notice about backing up important e-mails.
    • By clicking it, he obligated himself to an ongoing additional fee that can only be cancelled by calling.
    • This is coming out of his pocket and being reimbursed by the association.
    • This is an unacceptable way for our e-mail host to operate.
    • It was agreed that President Brennan would research alternatives and report back.
• Board member Maple had everything set for the association garage sale.
• President Brennan again raised the Facebook issue; no consensus was reached.
• President Brennan showed the board a sample solicitation letter and form for advertising to get the newsletter up and running.
• Board members McCarty and Maple will solicit advertising beginning at Thanksgiving.
• No one is available to run the Christmas Bureau effort this year; it was resolved to send them a check in the amount of $200, pending confirmation that this is a suitable alternative.
• The meeting was adjourned earlier than usual.
• Approved by vote at the November 24, 2025 meeting.