Update on the MPCA

It seems our Esteemed Board changed a bit from the planned budget that was sent out with the plea for our membership renewals last summer. At that time they projected $2000 for those children's parties I wrote about at the time and in my last post. I assumed that since the budget had officially passed and nothing was said about any change at the October 14th, 2008 meeting (did I miss it?) the parties had gone on as planned.

We have recently received a report showing actual and much more modest expenditure for the Halloween Party, and a somewhat less extravagant Christmas party (About $800). The original budgeted amount for the Halloween parties (2) was indeed $1000 and not $500 as now stated, but according to the report, only $370 was spent!

I don't know whether the expense of obtaining legal Police permits for street closings --when the parties were confined to private yards during daylight--- and the hiring of off-duty Atlanta Police officers for several hours to close only Wellesley and Woodley, while I suppose the charmingly costumed children traipsing down Riada and Wesley were vulnerable to terrible risk is included in the total, or is tucked away in some other area, such as "neighborhood care," or "security."

I applaud the Board for spending more wisely. These are different times. Now I suggest that the Board continue to communicate with the neighborhood. (I would also like to thank Mrs. Loulie Reese for her informative e-mails. Hopefully, everyone is getting them, and not just the people who have signed up for the Security Patrol. In any event, this is a very important service that has been neglected and should be increased.)


The next announcement from the MPCA hopefully will be the time, place and proposed agenda of the next board meeting. One never knows if someone might care enough to volunteer their time and services. People may want to have input when there is an issue that affects their home. Someone might even have a good idea or two.

But at the very minimum after the Board has met, the membership deserves a report on action that has been taken. That is not too much to ask.