UPDATE: CLIP reaches out to help Holmesburg residents keep their blocks beautiful

UPDATE (May 13, 6 p.m.) — Mayfair CDC Executive Director has told NEast Philly the Department of Rec has not taken over the John Perzel Community Center, nor will the center be renamed. King said the JMPCC and Devon Theater are “still 100 percent owned, operated and controlled by the Mayfair CDC.”

Herb Moskovitz of Holmesburg Rec said as far as he was told — by the Holmeburg Rec Center Director — the name would be changed. A call to the Department of Recreation has not yet been returned.

For Holmesburg residents seeking solutions to pesky neighbors, last night’s meeting of the Holmesburg Civic Association proved valuable.

CLIP employee Cindy Lustick was on hand to explain how the Community Life Improvement Program works, and what its employees can and can’t do.

“No matter what the complaint, we do go out,” Lustick told the nearly 30 people at the meeting. “And the more information you give us the better.”

Lustick said although CLIP isn’t responsible for certain things — like removing a couch from a lawn, as one resident requested — the organization investigates all claims and alerts the proper authorities, usually L&I and the Department of Sanitation, to handle the matter.

When neighbors file a complain about a property, CLIP gives the property owner 10 working days to respond. If by that point the necessary action hasn’t been taken, CLIP employees will tend to the property (mow the lawn, trim hedges, etc.) and charge the owner for the expenses.

Absentee landlords — a growing problem in the neighborhood — are also a thorn in CLIP’s side, Lustick said. Many landlords who live in New York aren’t aware of the city’s department regulations and aren’t around to enforce the quality of life issues among their tenants.

But one issue CLIP is making headway on is Liddonfield, which Lustick said the program is “working on” getting cleaned up.

To follow up Lustick’s presentation, the Streets Department will send a representative to next month’s HCA meeting (the final before the summer break) to discuss recycling and trash issues.

Also at last night’s meeting…Holmesburg Rec Center‘s Herb Moskovitz announced that the city has taken over Mayfair’s John Perzel Community Center, which will now be called Mayfair Community Center, and Holmesburg Rec will partner with the Devon Theater for its summer programs…Holmesburg Library will have its summer programs calendar ready by next month’s HCA meeting. The library is looking for creative fundraising ideas…The HCA will hold a Civic Awareness Day Saturday, May 22 at Holmesburg Rec. All residents are invited to come out from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to enjoy refreshments and discuss community issues.