Potter Longway discusses bylaws, spring activities

The Potter Longway Neighborhood Association Jan. 16 discussed new bylaws and plans for spring events.

President Robert Gill asked for volunteers to draft a set of bylaws that will define the group's structure, meeting times and a framework for operations for the group that was formed more than a year ago.

The group agreed to put together bylaws by the April 2012 meeting that will outline the qualifications of officers, how they are selected, how long they are to serve, how to remove them and how to fill vacancies. The bylaws will also determine who can join the association, how to join and the responsibilities after joining to ensure the rights of members.

Group elections scheduled for February will be postponed until the bylaws are written and approved.

Gill reported that the recycling program is suspended until the county decides on who will take over the portable recycling bins from CBC Recycling which reportedly went out of business. CBC had brought the bins to the park for residents once a month as part of a countywide recycling program.

The group discussed spring projects.

People have volunteered to work on the community garden at Potter School and the garden on Risedorph Street. The garden on Leith Street will be discontinued because of complaints from the neighbors.

The group also agreed to hold a Longway Park cleanup May 5.

Councilman Josh Freeman (4th Ward) said he was not sure if the city's trucks could be used in a neighborhood cleanup because of the financial crisis. He also said all the city's blight officers were laid off.

Michael Brown, Flint's emergency financial manager, will speak at the next meeting at 6 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Eastwood United Methodist Church, 3312 Whittier Ave.