So at this time we will recess from the city regular city commission meeting and uh go into a special session of the Newtown Community Redevelopment Agency and the first thing on that agenda is the approval of the minutes of the uh CRA meeting of October 6, 2025.

Are they any additions or corrections?

So moved.

Madam Mayor, I was gonna say, Madam Mayor, I I would move approval of the um special uh community redevelopment agency meeting minutes of October 6, 2025.

Okay, so since Commissioner Batsy said was first, would you like to make yourself absolutely second?

Um moved approval by Commissioner Batis, seconded by Commissioner Ahern Koch.

Uh roll call vote.

Alpert yes Betsy.

Yes.

Or Aaron Kotch.

Yes.

Okay.

Thank you.

That motion passed unanimously.

Uh now the next item is the appointment of uh members of the Newtown Community Redevelopment Agency, the CRA advisory board.

Um so I'm gonna call on uh Ms.

Griggs and Development Manager, economic development manager, Appleby to make the presentation.

Thank you.

I'm just gonna give the basics and if you guys have any additional questions, we have uh Mr.

Albertby here to answer.

Um the terms of Mr.

Carlos Yancey, seat for designated representative economic development corps.

Um and Alex Chow, seat designated for individuals involved in urban design, planning or commercial real estate.

Expire December 2025.

Mr.

Yancey is eligible for reappointment and has expressed interest and has submitted his application for reappointment.

Chow is no longer eligible for reappointment, so you have applications for your consideration.

Okay.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

Appleby, did you want to make a presentation or are you just gonna wait for questions?

Yes, I'm available for questions.

Okay.

Uh Commissioner Ahern Koch.

Um I have no questions, and I can make a motion if the commission is ready.

Um I would move that we reappoint Mr.

Yancey and appoint uh Janine Johnson.

Second.

Okay.

Moved by Commissioner Ahern Koch, seconded by Commissioner Batti to reappoint uh Mr.

Yancey and to appoint Ms.

Johnson.

Um I would ask Commissioner Albert if she has any.

Oh, yeah, Commissioner Albert, do you have any um comments?

Comments?

Okay.

I did want to point out what we have been doing where there are seat requirements.

We've been slotting in the new appointees without acknowledging the seat requirement necessarily.

So I would like to state for the record that we would be waiving the seat requirements and appoint Ms.

Johnson to the seat vacated by Jesse Hubbard.

That has a seat requirement of um property owner in the CRA.

She is not a property owner, but she is a business owner.

And that's and that's fine.

I think and the reason why, you know, like I stated before is we have such a hard time getting volunteers.

I think in the previous year's commission has you know kind of waive that requirement just so we can have somebody be a part of this board.

So um typically the main boards that we really need to pay attention to city requirements is the planning board, the board of adjustment, maybe they did, but any of the other boards is just a preference to be, but you know, it's it's up to the commission to discretion.

But we do have two empty seats.

So I wanted to specify that the seat she's going into is for property owner, not for individual with specific professional expertise.

Um may any of any other discussion?

No, I mean uh thank you, Mayor.

If I may, I just wanted to say uh first to uh Mr.

Jesse Hubbard that I hope he gets well, you know, soon because it was a personal matter that he had to uh remove himself from the board.

Um and then also uh knowing both uh Mr.

Carlos Yancey personally and uh Ms.

Janine Johnson you know having grown up with the both of them that they're both valuable assets to the CRA um particularly Mr.

Yancey being that he um works at uh Bay First Bank you know which is the first financial institution on the corridor Newtown um and I think he brings uh a a great deal of uh expertise um and much needed knowledge to the CRA and Ms Ms.

Janine Johnson as well and uh her um care for the community having grown up in the community her being a business owner and these are the types of people that that uh that we want to continue to take have interest and uh take the initiative to to be a part of particularly the CRA um is especially as we try and and grow new town and uh evolve it um and get it on par with the rest of the rest of the neighborhoods and communities of the city so um I commend the both of them for taking the interest and uh and taking the initiative to be a part of this board and uh your your service is uh much needed and and much appreciated thank you mayor uh thank you commissioner battee commissioner albert do you have any comments uh no I don't thank you thank you I guess it's time for a roll call vote then thank you mayor that's e yes or Alpert yes uh it passed unanimously thank you very much uh and with that we are ending the um new town CRA um board meeting and we will resume the city uh regular city commission meeting um