ALIEF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
Minutes for Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010
Alief Super Neighborhood # 25 held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, November 23rd, 7:00 P.M at the CenterPoint Energy Building, 12330 Bellaire Blvd.
PROGRAM:
Chairman, Barbara Quattro, called the meeting to order at 7:05 P.M. Roll Call of council members was done by sign-in sheet. A quorum was not met, ostensibly due to the holidays. (See attached.). It was suggested that the November meeting be held earlier in the month next year to encourage more attendance.
Hospitality: Hospitality was provided by the ASNC.
GUESTS: Jeffery Chappell, Senior Special Agent, Department of Homeland Security
MOTIONS MADE:
There were no motions due to a quorum not being met.
COMMITTEE & STANDING REPORTS –
CHAIRS REPORT –Barbara Quattro stated that the ASNC and IMD would partner on a 200-tree planting in Hackberry Park in January 2011. The IMD has provided the irrigation and will pay for the trees. Barbara brought up the SNAP requests due January 14th, 2011, and asked for people to hand their forms in. She reiterated that SNAP requests for trees take about two years and street overlays ten years if approved. The city will accept up to 25 SNAP requests from the ASNC.
TREASURER’S REPORT –Monique Pham, Treasurer, was absent
ELECTIONS/NOMINATING COMMITTEE Two new people will be seated effective January 2011: Susan Castro to replace Dr. Stoerner as AISD stakeholder, and Vivien Sugar to replace Anne Williams as S.A.V.E. Alief stakeholder.
SECURITY/ INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICT:.See tree planting under Chair’s Report above.
ALIEF COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION –. A luncheon will be held in Marie Lee’s honor on Wednesday, December 15th at .11:30-1:30 at the International Trade Center, 11110 Bellaire, Ste. 200. RSVP to jenniferitc@gmail.com by December 13th. or call (832)-448-0190.
PROJECTS/SNAP COMMITTEE .See Chair’s Report, above
TREE PLANTING – See Chair’s report, above.
NEW BUSINESS
GUEST SPEAKERS: –
Jeffery Chappell, Senior Special Agent, Department of Homeland Security –Mr. Chappell provided an overview of the Department and its origins. He noted that after 9/11, customs and immigration joined together into one department which includes ICE and border control and is the largest Federal agency. They work closely with the FBI on crimes such as sex crimes (human trafficking, child exploitation, and pornography); counterfeit goods; scams both international and domestic; terrorists; gangs and related cyberspace crimes (which is Mr. Chappell’s area of expertise). The agency structure is administrative and criminal with 225 agents in Houston, alone. There is a tip line where many of the investigations begin. Mr. Chappell stated that anyone who is sentenced for a Federal crime serves the entire sentence without parole. He also said that illegal immigrants who commit crimes and are convicted are first incarcerated in the US and then deported after serving their sentences. Most large cities in the US are “sanctuary cities” in that illegal aliens are not sought or questioned unless they commit a crime. When convicted of a crime, property is forfeited to the US treasury which funds many of the agents’ activities. Questions were addressed from the floor and literature was provided.
UPCOMING SPEAKERS – There will be no meeting in December. January 2011 speaker will be TBD
PUBLIC SESSION
Public Session and Announcements.
The next quarterly small business breakfast meeting was November 15th at 7:30 am at the International Trade Center Building, 11110 Bellaire
The SAVE Alief annual Health Fair was held Saturday, August 7th at 9:00 AM at the Hastings Ninth Grade Center. Attendance has yet to be announced.
The ACA toy drive hopes to raise 250 toys for deserving needy children in the area. by December 11th
The next ASNC meeting will be held at 7:00 P.M. on the fourth Tuesday, January 25TH 2011, at the CenterPoint Energy Building, 12330 Bellaire Blvd.
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 PM.
Minutes approved on: January 25, 2011
Compiled & Written by V. M. Sugar
Respectfully Edited and Submitted by Secretary, Anne Williams