Weed and Seed Committee Adopts Bylaws(posted Oct 10) Eagledale-Lafayette Square (ELS) Weed and Seed Steering Committee has officially adopted its bylaws that lay out the policies and procedures. The clock continues to tick for the ELS to complete its organizational body that must include a committee chair. The chart must be submitted within the next month to the US Department of Justice for approval. The organizational chart explains how they plan to implement the programs to comply with the DOJ's crime fighting grant requirements. Part of the organizational structure includes a weed committee and a seed committee that reports to the steering committee. Tim Horty, law enforcement division of US Attorney, will continue to serve as the interim steering committee chair since no one has stepped up to the plate to take over the position. The goal is to have as much neighborhood residential involvement as possible to fulfill its 25% participation to comply with the grant. Liz Allison, IMPD grant manager, said the steering committee could not be led by the various government agencies involved even though they are voting members. She opposed the proposal to have a quorum of 50 percent plus 1, saying that by those standards, the steering committee did not have a quorum now. She explained the steering committee cannot get bogged down with an inefficient system that prevents them from conducting business because of the failure to have a quorum. The group agreed to change the percentage to nine members with 25% representing residents. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department will serve as the fiscal agent for the five year $1 million grant to weed out crime in the Eagledale Lafayette Square area and to plant seeds of crime prevention with youth programs and neighborhood restoration. IMPD Northwest District Commander Major Paul Ciesielski reported the first accomplishments of the first weed committee meeting. The group discovered its biggest challenge is collecting data about crime statistics because it can be done in various ways. Ciesielski noted that IMPD is trying to have a greater outreach to the Hispanic community especially in the 30th Street and Moller Road area. He said that data shows the Hispanics are more than likely to be the victims with the African American as the suspects. He also noted the Northwest District is the only district that does weekly probation sweeps. He said it is a good tool to keep probationers on their toes. He expected the sweeps to start in Eagledale soon. Steering committee member Kathy Contos raised a concern about the number of hit and run accidents in the area. Allison said it is good to know all of the concerns because other grants are available that could be leveraged with weed and seed. Allison noted that it is critical for all the police, prosecutors and judges to know when they are dealing with crime in the weed and seed area. Temporary seed committee chair Steve Horsman indicated the committee made progress at its first meeting to work with the Second Baptist Church on youth programs and with West Community Development Corporation about neighborhood restoration. The next Steering Committee member meeting is Nov 13 at 6:30 pm at Eagledale Northwest Community Center at 5701 W. 34th Street. |