A fresh round of board elections was featured on the agenda at the Olde Richmond Civic Association’s monthly general meeting on Tuesday, June 28.
The meeting, which was hosted by ORCA president Rosemary Thomas both virtually over Zoom and in-person at Cione Recreation Center, also included discussions on various community matters, namely upcoming safer street initiatives.
All ORCA leadership positions were up for election this year, with nominations having taken place at the group’s May general meeting. Everyone in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting, both in-person and virtually, was able to take part in the voting. The newest appointees voted in include:
- President Dan Martino
- Vice President Elizabeth Rogers
- Secretary Aimee Thrasher-Hanson
- Treasurer Chris Parenti
- Sergeant At Arms Jamie Mahon
Martino, one of the longest-serving ORCA members among all the candidates, said he’s eager to continue the work the group has already done to this point.
“It’s just about doing what’s best in the neighborhood,” Martino said. “I just had a son, and I’d really like to keep this an area where young families can thrive.”
Rogers, who has lived in the area for the better part of the last four years now, also expressed her excitement at serving the community.
“I love the neighborhood,” Rogers said. “I think it’s a great place to live. When the opportunity came up to be involved with ORCA, I thought it was a great opportunity to give back to the community and make it a great place to live. I’m just excited to do what I can to support the community.”
With elections now completed, July is expected to serve as a transitional month for the group before new terms officially begin in August.
Meanwhile, with an increased number of accidents and speeding incidents being reported near and around the Cumberland Street corridor, ORCA will begin engaging with residents in that area to understand their thoughts on the issue. Board member Matt Ludwig said surveys should be expected to go out soon and encouraged members of the community to provide input.
“We want to at least start serving the residents who live on the street and just get a sense as to if people think there is a problem of speeding and blowing through stop signs on the street and if something should be done,” Ludwig said.
In addition, Ludwig said the Moyer Street Park project is still in motion despite numerous delays over the last few years. He added that the process is going to be taken one step at a time to ensure everything is in order from a legal standpoint before any construction starts.
The date of ORCA’s next meeting is expected to be announced in the near future.
