Last Wednesday's Bellevue Hill Improvement Assocation's meeting was sparsely attended, but ripe with passion.

Daniel Hunt, Director of Governmental Affairs for the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), attended the meeting and heard from numerous residents regarding frustrations that have mounted through the years. Several residents complained about DCR's lack of tending to sidewalks and roads in the Bellevue Hill area, specifically Bellevue Hill Road. Several times Hunt blamed the problems on a lack of funding.

Hunt was chastised by Athena Yerganian, vice president of the Bellevue Hill Improvement Association, saying neighbors have heard DCR's excuses about not having funding for years. She added that her wheelchair-bound mother had to go into the street because sidewalks are not wheelchair-accessible.

While state Rep. Ed Coppinger, D-West Roxbury, tried to be a conduit between DCR and the neighbors, several neighbors said the problems had been occurring for years, certainly before Coppinger was elected in 2010.

As a follow-up to the meeting, Coppinger and John Regan, chief of staff for state Sen. Mike Rush's office, will co-host a walking tour of the Bellevue Hill area to report back to DCR on the maintenance problems under DCR's jurisdiction.

Below is a letter that was sent to Bellevue Hill Improvement Assocation members:

On Monday, November 14 at 1 pm, Representative Edward Coppinger and Mr. John Regan from Senator Mike Rush's office, will co-host a Walking Tour of the Bellevue Hill Area to view the State of the Water Towers area, the condition of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR formerly MDC) Sidewalks and Streets, the Signage, the Flora, and Street Lights.

We will meet at the asphalt paved entrance to the Towers at the intersection of Bellevue Hill Road and Bellevue Street.

Our objective is to gather information on the current conditions and to engage management/leadership at the Department of Conservation and Recreation in a conversation to identify solutions to issues that have gone un-resolved for some time: the general lack of management of the property surrounding the Water Towers, the poor condition of the sidewalks and roadways and missing street lights that pose Public Safety Risks.

Please join us on Monday, November 14th at 1:00 pm. In the event that you can not attend, please reply to this email (and to the Representative and/or Senator) and offer your support for this worthy effort.

Thank you very much.
The Board of Directors
The Bellevue Hill Improvement Association

Also at the meeting, Michelle Clark and Nancy Collozzo were elected new board members of the Bellevue Hill Improvement Association.