2024 November 13: UMNA General Meeting

All UMNA meetings are open to the public. General meetings provide information & encourage discussion. Business/Annual meetings include decision-making. Only UMNA members may vote.

Date/Time

Wednesday, November 13th at 6:30 pm

Location

Tay House Lodge in Cobbs Hill Park

The access driveway is located off of Norris Drive in Cobbs Hill Park at 85 Hillside Drive <MAP>. Parking is adjacent to the lodge.

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Photos

Video

Lori Thomas from Neighbors Unite 585 recorded the first hour of so of the meeting on Facebook <HERE>

Notes from the meeting

The notes run several pages long. Please scroll down to see the additional pages.

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Agenda*

I) Welcome & Introductions by UMNA president, Rome Celli

II) Panel presentation followed by a facilitated discussion

The meeting will feature an invited panel of neighbors who will offer their perspectives on the following prompt:

“During the time you've been in Upper Monroe what have you come to cherish and celebrate about our neighborhood? Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, what do you see as the most promising opportunities for creating a stronger, more vibrant neighborhood?”

Everyone in attendance will be invited to comment and offer their own observations and ideas on the theme.

The “State of the Neighborhood” topic is intended to help inform the Upper Monroe Neighborhood Association’s 2025 work plan. A first sketch of the 2025 plan will be shared at the meeting. See below.

Our Panel Of Neighbors

Kristen Ashley

Rob Nipe (Grass Fed)

Patrick Casey

Melanie & Patrick Berl

Kristen Ashley originally moved to Upper Monroe and the 2 family on Shepard Street in July 2008. After six years, the family with two growing boys moved to Brighton. She returned about 2.5 years ago after the boys grew up and a divorce. She was thankful to come back to a neighborhood she knew and reconnect with neighbors here. She is now the proud owner and solo landlord of the Shepard Street house. She looks forward to continuing to participate and connect even more with neighbors in the neighborhood.

Rob Nipe is co-owner of Grass Fed at 980-982 Monroe Avenue with his wife, Nora Rubel. He hails originally from New Jersey and, as a former omnivore, seeks to create delicious cruelty-free versions of the meats he previously enjoyed. He loves a challenge and has spent years perfecting his mad meat-making skills. Sharing them with his adopted city of Rochester is a dream realized.

Patrick Casey was born in California and later moved to go to school. More recently he lived for a time on Long Island before settling here in Rochester. Patrick purchased his first home in Upper Monroe a little over one year ago with his husband, Emiliano Brini. Patrick is currently a data analyst for RIT’s Institutional Research, Data, and Analytics. Both Patrick and Emiliano have been an active members of UMNA since the day they moved into their home; participating at meetings as well as social events.

Melanie & Patrick Berl are longtime residents and property owners in Upper Monroe. Melanie purchased her first home, a live-in multi-family just about 20 years ago. Since then the Berls have acquired several other properties in the neighborhood, meticulously renovating and maintaining all of them. More recently, a fire destroyed one of their properties. They are now in the process of rebuilding on site. Melanie and Patrick are both deeply engaged in the neighborhood.

• See 2024 UMNA Work Plan

UM residents will be invited to participate in the ongoing development of the plan before it's presented at the UMNA Annual Meeting in early 2025.

III) Community input opportunity

Attendees will be invited to offer their observations and ideas on the UMNA work plan for 2025

IV) Reports

• Report: RPD Community Affairs Division (Lt. Robert Wilson or another representative)

• Report: Southeast Neighborhood Service Center (John McMahon or Manny Ortolaza)

• Liaison: New York State Senator, Samra Brouk or her staff member, Zena Shuber

• Liaison: New York State Assemblymember, Harry Bronson or his staff member, Mary McClelland

• Liaison: Monroe County Legislator, Linda Hasman

• Liaison: Rochester City Councilmember Mary Lupien or her staff member, Kelly Cheatle

• Updates:

  • Status update on expansion of Cobbs Hill Park as a recognized landmark site.

  • Invasive plant removal effort on Pinnacle Hill

  • Monroe Avenue Revitalization Coalition

    • Monroe Avenue Survey Results & Report from Community Meeting held in October

  • Culver Road and Monroe Avenue near Werner Park road redesign

  • Washington Grove

  • Wide Water Gardens

  • Cobbs Hill Village redevelopment

*The details and sequence of this agenda may vary. The UMNA board of directors does not anticipate any bylaws related votes of the UMNA membership at this meeting.

This program is free and open to the public. You do not have to be a member of UMNA to attend.

This program is also listed on our Google Calendar. CLICK HERE to go to the official UMNA Events Calendar.