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| Constance Perenyi Photo by Jon Ann Cruver |
Constance Perenyi has been named as Neighborhoods Coordinator with the City of Shoreline, taking over this role from Nora Smith and Rosie O'Brien-Ochs, who are both retiring.
Constance lives in the Richmond Highlands neighborhood. She comes to Shoreline having served as the Executive Director of Friends of Third Place Commons for the past seven years. In that position she was responsible for the day to day operation of the Commons, support to the Board, strategic planning, sustaining partnerships with merchants and community groups and seeing to it that 900 events run smoothly each year.
Prior to this she worked developing programming at the Greenwood Senior Center, as a teaching artist and in the field of communications working for nonprofit organizations.
She is very excited to begin her duties with Shoreline and comments, "I am thrilled to have this opportunity to take an active role in the city I've proudly called home for years. What a great chance to work and play with neighbors and staff I know, and others I cannot wait to meet!"
She begins her work on August 4 on a part time basis and full time on August 24. Starting August 4, she can be contacted at 206-801-2253.
The entire city of Shoreline is formally organized into 14 neighborhoods (see map), each with its own neighborhood association. All neighborhoods send representatives to the monthly Council of Neighborhoods meetings.
Wonderful fit for the position!!! I've already requested to be her first meeting (keeping my fingers crossed!)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful addition to our City staff. So excited to work with her on our neighborhood projects - Congratulations Constance!
ReplyDeleteThe Council of Neighborhoods (CON) was created in 1996 by City Council Resolution No. 54 (The resolution also formalized neighborhood boundaries and created the City's mini-grant program). The City's intent in forming the CON was to recognize and support Shoreline's existing, well-established neighborhood associations, foster communication among them and between the City and the neighborhoods, and to work with the neighborhood associations to better provide service delivery to the community through them.
ReplyDeleteSo far as I can tell, the CON operated well in this manner for 16 years. Then, in a series of meetings held over the first few months of 2013, the CON reinvented itself. Not content with a communication role, it settled on a new mission: "The mission of the Shoreline Council of Neighborhoods is to provide a leadership role to strengthen and connect our diverse neighborhoods."
With this step the CON crossed the line from communication to governance, in my opinion. The CON does not have the authority. This top-down organizational role of the CON is, and in my opinion, a serious overstepping of its 1996 charter. The neighborhood associations do not represent me, and the CON does not represent me.
I tried to attend the first of these mission-setting meetings in January 2013 (where they were to receive training in mission statements), but was turned away at the door. The CON is a committee created by the City Council, and should be governed by the Open Public Meetings Act. Quite some time later, I attempted to get confirmation on this point from the City Attorney's Office. I got nowhere. I was told the City Attorney represents the City, not me.
I heartily welcome Ms. Perenyi, and hope that she will bring a fresh perspective to the CON, and help restore it to its original purpose. The neighborhoods should be allowed to emerge and evolve spontaneously. They should not be planned, and especially not led from the top down by minions of the City.