East English Village Neighborhood Association Board Minutes – Meeting held In Person and via Zoom Call
May 5, 2026
Present:
Greg Stolarski, President
Brad Dick, 1st Vice President
Maureen Dritsan, Secretary
Kathie Roddie, Street Rep Bishop
Judy Roth, Street Rep Harvard
Minutes of April 14, 2026 EEVNA Board Meeting reviewed. Motion to approve by Brad Dick, seconded by Kathie Roddie. All in favor.
President’s Report:
Reviewed Goals & Plans for 2026 to focus on:
· Build Community
· Improve Safety
· Neighborhood Improvement
· Scholarship - Applications being accepted until June 1, 2026. $500 one-time scholarship to EEV Resident/High School Graduate (1) Non-renewable. Maureen to contact Toson Knight at EEV Prep Academy and Caught Up non-profit to determine interest in student applications.
· Increase Resident Participation – Continue to encourage participation and involvement via Facebook, Newsletter and Board Members’ direct invitation to attend General Meeting/Events. Goal: Each Board Member to invite/bring three new people over course of year. Grassroots “Knock On Doors” effort in the Spring may be coordinated w/Street Reps & Block Captains personally inviting residents to events.
· Events – Budgets need to be established for each and every event to be considered/approved and submitted to Willie:
o Neighborhood Cleanups – Motor City (May 16 Mack/E Outer Drive 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM). Two other cleanups to occur in June/July or Aug/Sept. Greg has received confirmation that Wayne State University Medical Students would be willing to volunteer (300 potential candidates) for cleanup event(s). Additional cleanup dates to be established based on their availability.
o Summer Sizzler w/Morningside – July 18 pending date. As no one has stepped forward to Co-Chair this event, Board determined EEV will not co-sponsor the event this year.
o EEV Annual Garden Tour – Garden Club to plan and coordinate. Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026
o EEV Signage Landscaping – Garden Club to plan/execute remaining sites
o Warren Fest – September 12, 2026. Need to determine to what extent we will partner w/EWDC. EWDC lack of organization – there has been discussion of closing E Warren and/or side streets for this event. Per DPD 5th Precinct, ninety days’ lead time is required to obtain authorization; however, to date no applications have been submitted by EWDC. Two event stages in EEV between Cadieux & E Outer Drive have been discussed.
o Trunk or Treat – Participation w/DPD 5th Precinct and EWDC
o Holiday Event & Tree Lighting w/Alger Theater – Establish date/budget w/Jackie Grant
o EEV Residents Holiday Association Party – Bettina Boyd to Chair. Looking for volunteers to assist. Date TBD
o 5th Precinct & EWDC – Active Participation throughout the year
· City Walls Mural on E Warren – As previously discussed, five murals to be executed along E Warren w/one to be included within EEV. Cost of mural will be covered by the City Walls Mural Program. Royal Auto (southeast corner E Outer Drive/E Warren) is the approved site. Timeframe: Begin in late May w/goal of completion in August.
· Wayne County Street Maintenance – Terrible job grass cutting noted on the medians and no cleanup or edging. Neighbors have commented on Facebook page. Email documenting dissatisfaction with service has been sent to Commissioner Tim Killeen. Also, still waiting for update regarding status of dead tree removal, (17 out of original 27 remaining)
· Newsletter – Quarterly - Angela Colombo is the new Editor. Working to determine future deadlines for article/ad submissions as well as newsletter printing and door-to-door home distribution. Also need to address advertising payments. Councilwoman Johnson & Jacquelyn James (missed in prior newsletter acknowledgement of supporters) were thanked and included on front page of Spring Edition. Deadline for Summer Edition: May 15th.
· Increase Resident Participation & Engagement – Grass Roots Door- to-Door outreach in late Spring/Summer. Goal: Each Resident asked to invite one new resident to General Meeting. Board Members asked to Invite three new residents to either a General Meeting or a special event in attempt to build and increase community involvement especially among new neighbors.
· Garden Club – Ron Otto, Jeff Perry and Grace Simpson Chairing. Next meeting to focus on Spring Plant Swap & EEV Garden Buddies Assignments is scheduled for May 16. Future Calendar Dates: June 13 Garden Tour Sneak Peak Campaign Kickoff, location TBD. July 25 Garden Tour. Beautification Month will not take place in August this year based on mixed resident reaction in 2025 and Garden Club’s decision. Consider selling EEV Pride signs as a fundraiser.
Quarter Quts – To be determined – Shall we continue to maintain neglected properties by again contracting w/Quarter Quts? Explore possible grant opportunities for reimbursement as no Land Bank or other City funding appears to be available. David Weisman property (6014 Yorkshire/corner of Berden) is still problematic. Not maintaining.
· Does EEV continue to sponsor? If so, how many cuts are feasible/affordable?
Home Plaque Fundraiser – Spring (Maureen & Justin Hewitt) Promote in Newsletter and online. Deadline to order: May 31
T-Shirt/Hoodie Fundraiser – Spring
Other Event(s) - One additional social event may be considered.
East Warren Development Corporation Concerns – Still a lack of response, involvement or support from EWDC especially given EWDC now has a staff of eight full-time employees. No newsletter article submitted despite advising of the submission deadline. No representation at General Meeting. Biggest concern is the lack of updates provided and the need to improve appearance on E Warren Corridor – trash, weeds/tall grass, glass. Consider branding/art on corridor, brand/mask vacant buildings, clean sidewalks, snow removal, safe feeling surroundings. High level of concern has been expressed by EEVNA, Morningside and Alger Theater. Next EWDC Cultural & Arts Committee Meeting is scheduled for May 21. EEVNA Board to determine how to best proceed in future collaborations w/EWDC.
1st Vice President – Brad reported that the outcome for the City Tree Planting Program for EEV was disappointing based on residents’ complaints and refusal to allow planting despite efforts to publicize and educate residents on the program.
On April 23, 2026, Brad & Greg received an email from City of Detroit Savion Stephens advising: “Regarding the East English Village planting, we have unfortunately received numerous complaints from the residents via: 1) A complaint from a council member’s office; 2) Images emailed of notes left on trees along Outer Dr. stating that residents do not want a tree planted; 3) Email complaint from our tree planting vendor who received pushback from 11 irate residents,
It does not appear that we have the community buy-in required for a neighborhood planting in East English Village to be successful presently. For these reasons and to mitigate the risk of any damage to many city-owned assets, I am recommending the relocation all residential plantings for this site.” Brad shared EEV’s disappointment w/decision w/the City with assurances that every effort had been made to inform residents of this program – postings on Facebook, EEV website and newsletter hand-delivered to our 2100 residential homes. Board agreed this was a shocking response based on residents’ response in past years.
Discussed David Weisman property (6014 Yorkshire/corner of Berden) is still problematic. Not maintaining. Lot is listed for sale but not been sold.
2nd Vice President – Textedly has been contracted w/Bronze Plan ($57/Month or $684/Annual providing 1000 text messages. Tamika provided follow-up after further investigation into the mass texting service “Textedly” after Board expressed concerns as to the cost and whether the bulk number of texts included was required. Bronze Plan - $57/month; $684/Annual which provides 1000 messages - w/additional 50,000 included w/annual payment) Trial test by Tamika proved very successful. Administrators need to be designated.
Board needs to make some decisions as to how we best disseminate info via texting, emails, posting info relative to meeting and event reminders on both FB and website. Consider placing newsletter advertisers’ info on FB and/or website as an added incentive. We also need to investigate best way to archive By-Laws, Minutes, Correspondence and other general info. (Google Drive)
Treasurer’s Report – April 2026 Financial Reports were reviewed. Motion by Greg to accept the April 2026 Financial Report as submitted. Seconded by Maureen. All in favor. Willie reemphasized the need to submit budgets for all proposed events. We also need to investigate ways to encourage additional resident financial contributions or grant opportunities in order to sustain the cost of these various expenses.
Smydra Foundation: Anticipating a contribution to be forthcoming per email from David Smydra. Estimated contribution $1,000 to $2,000. David and Martha Smydra will be invited to attend the June 16, 2026 EEV General Meeting to publicly thank and acknowledge them for their generous support.
Next General Meeting: May 19, 2026 Speaker: A presentation on potential Drone Program by DPD.
Submitted: Maureen Dritsan, Secretary