Uncle Sam Committee Meeting Minutes - Monday 6pm, January 23rd, 2012. Location: 1st Floor Conference room, Town Hall Annex. Reviewed and approved the Minutes from the previous Uncle Sam Committee meeting, Nov 29th, 2011. Welcomed new member Mike Ruggieri. Rain Garden: Mike described at length that he is in touch with Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) and attended a recent meeting they held to discuss their "Rain Garden" project.Mike proposed that a location for a Rain Garden near the Uncle Sam Statue would be an excellent location given it's proximity to the center of Arlington and the volume of paved ground in this area. Mike will continue to liaise with MyRWA and get other opinions from other landscape experts on the idea proposed. A Rain Garden in this area would be in keeping with the spirit of the original CLAMP grant that is funding the intersection changes proposed by DPW that would affect the green area of Uncle Sam Park. It was noteworthy that Uncle Sam Park was mentioned on several occasions during the Town Hall Public hearing on the intersection project known as the "Arlington Center Mobility Improvement Project". Minutes from that meeting can be found at http://www.arlingtonma.gov/Public_Documents/ArlingtonMA_DPW/projects/ArlCtrSafeTravel /ACST_01102012MeetingNotes.pdf The committee agreed that it would be wise to keep in touch with Laura Wiener who is associated with the above intersection project, her contact details are [email protected] , or 781 316-3091 . Uncle Sam Wilson Plaza: Discussed the Uncle Sam Wilson Plaza project and in particular the need for lighting on the Uncle Sam statue. Hugh and Laurence described the discussions they have had with the DPW on the possibility of getting a light on the statue for quite some time. Warrant article: The committee resolved to submit a warrant article into this years Town Meeting to get some additional funds since the $500 appropriated two years ago have been used for the creation of the Uncle Sam Logo, printing materials and Uncle Sam buttons which were distributed at Town Meeting last year and at Arlington Town Day this past September. The funds required would be for general operations of the committee, lighting on the statue a uncle Sam Wilson Park website. We are proposing an amount in the range of $1000-1500. The committee discussed the need to be as conservative as possible on requesting the funds as always and given the current economic climate. Action Items: LMK to be in contact with the Historical Society & Dallin Museum regarding the Uncle Sam activities and possible Uncle Sam Park collaborations. To prepare and submit a funding warrant article by Jan 27th. MR to continue contacts with MyRWA and any other landscaping experts who could provide opinions on the Rain Garden proposition near the Uncle Sam statue. CW: To continue to collaborate with the Recycling Committee in order to get the Uncle Sam logo on the recycling bags. To contact Old Schwamb Mill & inform them of the committee's work to gain their ideas and support. HMC; Minutes, agenda, location and time of next U.S. committee meeting.