November 2025 Community Meeting Recap
Note: Any changes to the minutes should be directed to secretary@upperfellspoint.org.
Hybrid Meeting
Welcome
Leadership introductions
Guest Speaker
Bill Henry, Baltimore City Comptroller - The Comptroller’s office oversees the financial operations of the City which includes managing the day-to-day operations of the Board of Estimates and supervising the five municipal departments (Municipal Postal Operations, Accounts Payable, Dept. of Audits, Dept. of Real Estate and Dept. of Telecommunications) and keeps residents informed as to how their money is being spent.
Mr. Henry stated that updating Baltimore’s processes has been a major undertaking, especially moving from paper to digital. He is also working to increase government efficiency and public accessibility/awareness. He mentioned that the charter would need to be changed in order to change the number of votes the Mayor gets (most are through the Board of Estimates).
Mr. Henry also stated that he presented a proposal to the Mayor to reduce the cost of water bills for City residents but it was denied. When the agreement was last signed in 1972, the population in Baltimore County was smaller and unreasonable escalations were in the contract which has caused a problem now. (There was not enough time to discuss this issue in more detail.)
Discussion
The UFPIA Treasurer presented the proposed 2026 budget and stated that there was a slight increase in the proposed expenses. All committee chairs were urged to raise funds for their budgets.
Votes
Motion: To approve the proposed 2026 budget; motion passed.
Officer Reports
Treasurer’s summary report was given.
Committee Reports
Beautification
Mallory Kuehn - beautification@upperfellspoint.org
Successful dumpster day on Nov. 1st - thanks to Councilman Glover for providing the dumpster and to our volunteers.
Will be planting trees/shrubs on 11/15 at 9am
COMMUNITY GARDEN
Jan Mooney - communitygarden@upperfellspoint.org
Garden season is winding down for the year.
EDUCATION
Eliza Poffenberger - education@upperfellspoint.org
Eliza encouraged anyone interested to join the Committee.
She is working with the Wolfe Street Academy to determine their needs.
FUND-RAISING
Amy Zemanick - fundraising@upperfellspoint.org
Progressive Dinner on 11/15 was successful - thanks to our hosts and to everyone who attended.
Having monthly meetings on the fourth Monday of the month at 7pm. Next one is Monday 11/24 at 7pm at Adee’s Coffee Roasters.
Need a co-chair for December-May while Amy is on maternity leave.
LADY DAY WAY
Beth Russo - ladydayway@upperfellspoint.org
New mural is almost finished - unveiling celebration on Saturday 11/22 at 2pm with the artist. Councilman Glover and others have been invited. Residents are encouraged to come too.
Still working on the final touches for the block. Traffic calming, crossing murals, speed humps - plan is to install them in the first week or two of December, weather permitting.
LAND-USE
Mark Hoffmann - landuse@upperfellspoint.org
If you see Verizon or Comcast removing any unneeded overhead wires please let Mark know (landuse@upperfellspoint.org).
Permits are in process to add a permanent wall at the BGE substation.
Sweet Carolinas is in violation of their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the UPIA for selling miniatures. Spoke with the owner and intend to write a letter to the owner, liquor board liaison, liquor board, and file a 311 request.
Safety (sub-committee)
Dan Harrison - safety@upperfellspoint.org
18p participated in the recent Citizens on Patrol (COP) walk.
Deciding where the last camera will go on Broadway.
Some outages with some of the cameras.
Some cafe lights were blown down due to the strong winds.
MEDIA
Jan Mooney - newsletter@upperfellspoint.org
Upcoming events
Resolution Run on 1/1 in Patterson Park (for Earl’s Place) - join the UFPIA team!
Cranksgiving bicycle scavenger hunt on 11/22 - join the UFPIA team (Fells Angels)
No newsletter or meeting in Dec.
Newsletter deadline for Jan. 2026 is 12/28/25 at 5pm
STREETS
Stephen Porter - trafficparking@upperfellspoint.org
The new Streets pamphlet will be distributed with the Jan. newsletters. Suggestion was made to provide extra pamphlets for businesses to be able to distribute them too.
City Dept. of Transportation (DOT) is doing an action plan on the “High Injury Network” on City streets: identifying the roads in most need of improvements. Vision Zero Survey and Near Miss Survey. These may be the biggest opportunities to be seen.
NEW BUSINESS
SNAP disruptions: collecting funds to support families who lost SNAP benefits, especially at Wolfe St. Academy for vegetable box distibutions. Follow the link here to a food security fund.
Compassion Center & Food Distribution: Eastern & Regester - distributes food to community members. Working with the Center to try to figure out how to make sure we don’t waste food. Also working to support those who have ICE check-ins.
Compiling a list of properties where a person is listing multiple as their primary residence - trying to put a stop to that.
If you have a list of issues with DOT, please let Suzanne know as she is compiling a list.
Helicopters: there are plans for an expanded heliport in Canton. Increased helicopter activity is not a temporary phase. There is a move to shift Baltimore City helicopter foxtrot unit activity from Martin Airfield to Pier 7, owned by a private citizen, with plans to make a heliport hub. Plans are supported by the Mayor, Councilman Parker, and Sen. Bill Ferguson. See Baltimore Banner article from July.
Plug for a play at the Fells Point Corner Theatre: TROUBLE IN MIND by Alice Childress.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Social at Benders.
To vote on issues at a meeting, you must have paid your current dues (based on calendar year beginning in January), attended 2 of the preceding 11 meetings, live in our boundaries and be age 18 and/or attended UFPIA sponsored events/activities per our Meeting & Voting Regulations.
