TOWN OF MANSFIELD
COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY QUALITY OF LIFE
Monday, September 27, 2004
Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building
Conference Room B
Minutes
Present: B. Clouette, A. Hawkins, E. Paterson, A. Whitham Blair
Staff: M. Berliner, M. Hart
1. Call to Order/Roll Call
Chairman Bruce Clouette called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m.
2. Opportunity for Public to Address the Committee
None
3. August 9, 2004 Meeting Minutes
As the minutes had just been distributed, the committee tabled the item until the next meeting.
4. Review Staff Proposal
Matt Hart and Martin Berliner presented the committee with a proposal consisting of a number of strategies that the town could pursue on its own or in partnership with the university. Example strategies include law and code enforcement activities, and as well as model landlord-tenant programs.
Bruce Clouette suggested that staff include an “outcome measure” or “performance measure” with each strategy, to help ascertain whether a particular item has proven successful. Also, Bruce stated that it is in the town’s best interest to include property owners as a responsible party. Alison Whitham-Blair recommended that staff research the Tulane University/Loyala College experience with off-campus housing. These suggestions were well received.
Bruce asked the committee members to think about the proposal made by staff, and to be prepared to discuss the matter in more detail at the next meeting.
5. Recent Public Safety Activity
Martin Berliner reviewed the recent activity undertaken by law enforcement personnel with respect to off-campus parties and related activities. Town/state police did conduct an undercover operation at a local fraternity house, and eight individuals were arrested. The police have been using the bike patrol and an undercover car, both of which have proven useful. Personnel from the Dean of Student’s Office and town, state and university police visited Carriage House apartments and had what appeared to be a positive discussion with student residents.
6. Next Steps
At the next meeting, the committee will review staff’s proposal in more detail. Staff will also invite SGT Cox to attend a future meeting to discuss the activities of his department. In addition, staff will attempt to obtain a copy of what package store owners hand out to purchasers of kegs.
7. Other
None
8. Next Meeting
The committee scheduled its next meeting for 6:30 p.m. on October 12, 2004.
9. Adjournment
The committee adjourned the meeting at 7:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Matthew Hart