About 20 residents and South End/Bay Village liaison Faisa Sharif attended the March 20 meeting of the Blackstone/Franklin Square Area Neighborhood Association (B/FSNA) to learn more about needle disposal efforts, the city's 311 public-service hotline, the sale of the Alexandra Hotel and other neighborhood concerns at D-4 station, 650 Harrison Avenue.

Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) director of recovery services Devin Larkin and director of harm reduction Sarah Mackin appeared at the meeting to explain BPHC's and mobile sharps program. Mackin told the group that the program gives out about 6,000 needles per week and takes in over 7,000. She said the greater intake number accounts for needles that were purchased a pharmacies.

One man commented that when he has used 311 to request needle disposal, they always arrive within an hour. He also asked the difference between the rigid plastic syringes with an orange cap and the flexible, blue ones. Mackin said the blue syringes are used for sterile water, not illegal drugs, and without the needle attached, they are not a biohazard.

Larkin said the program has five needle takeback kiosks across the city, including one at 35 Northampton Street. She added that in response to requests, the sharps program, with the Boston Public Schools and Boston Parks and Recreation Department (BPRD), is considering adding two more kiosks in the South End. There is a kiosk at Clifford Park, across from the city administrative office building at 1010 Mass. Ave.

Larkin said that when health centers ask how they can help, BPHC suggests installing a needle kiosk in their lobby with 24-hour access. Asked about the benefit of the mobile sharps program, Larkin pointed to easier, safe disposal and noted that not all users of the program inject illicit drugs; some inject themselves with prescribed drugs for illness and cannot afford the mail-back process. Asked how the program is being publicized, Mackin said that containers are given out on request, and displayed two models of mobile sharps containers.

Larkin urged attendees to spread the word about the sharps collection program. "If you have ideas on how to get the word out locally, we are all ears," she said. Neighbors expressed their appreciation for the program. One man said, "You guys do great work."

Elziabeth Torres, staff assistant for Boston 311, addressed the group and fielded questions and comments on the city's 311 service. Torres said 311's communication platforms include calling 311, which is best used for asking how to request a permit or some other matter involving a series of questions and explanation; using the app, which is good for "structural" issues, as one can type in a detailed description and location; using the 311 web page and reporting on 311's Twitter account.

Torres said that with the app, "Picture records are especially helpful for inspectional services and code enforcement as well as public works roadway issues, transportation and signage. Then we can physically see what the problem is." She said that the responding department often posts a picture of the resolution with its Case Closed notification. Torres said that residents can also use 311's Twitter account, but that is not monitored 24 hours a day. Users of boston.gov/311 can complete an on-line form with a detailed narrative of a more complex situation. Torres said that calling 311 offers a variety of languages for non-native English speakers.

Torres emphasized that 311 is a referral service informs the appropriate city department of service requests and it is for non-emergency matters. She said that if residents see a recurring adverse event, they can report that it to 311 for referral to the police. B/FSNA co-president Vadim Kuksin asked whether 311 is able to offer information on the number of calls per type of request, such as public safety, and Torres explained that some staff can provide that information. She said that 311 is staffed more lightly on weekends, so that is not a good time to make those requests. A resident asked about using the app to inquire about the estimated time of trash pickup, and Torres explained that because many residents do not realize the normal timeframe for trash pickup is anywhere from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, the app, and consequently, the Public Works department, were flooded with inquiries. It is now necessary to call to find out whether the trash truck has arrived at a specific block.

Kuksin said that overall, "95 per cent of the feedback I hear about 311 is positive. It is a great service," but "On the negative side, I keep hearing that a case will be marked closed, but the situation is unresolved." Torres said that the responding department, not 311, closes cases. As an example, Torres cited sidewalk repairs, which fall into two categories. A make-safe repair is a quick-drying tar patch to make the sidewalk ADA compliant, while a more major repair is referred to public works and a new case is opened. Requests for repairs on areas that do not belong to the city, but to the Commonwealth, are closed by 311 after being referred to the appropriate agency.

Updating the group on the March 6 South End Forum meeting, Kuksin said that the purchase and sale agreement for the Alexandra Hotel, 1759 Washington Street, has been canceled. Developer Eric Hoagland is consulting with the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) to try to resurrect the project, but the seller, the Church of Scientology, has put the property on the market. In other news, Kuksin said that on Thursday, March 22 at 6:30 PM, the South End Branch Library, 685 Tremont Street, is holding a public meeting to discuss its capital campaign to raise $115,000 for repairs and renovation to the Library Park.

Kuksin urged residents to learn more about the renovation project and donate, adding that B/FSNA plans to donate to the campaign. Turning to the South End concern with airplane noise, Kuksin said the Massport Community Advisory Council recently proposed adding a seat for the South End representative, which will join the Fenway, South Boston, Roslindale, Roxbury and East Boston. Kuksin said the request for a South End representative passed the House and has gone to the Senate.

"From what I am told, there is no reason to believe it won't pass," Kuksin said.

B/FSNA Treasurer Matt Mues released a report that showing over $37,000 raised by the Scholarship committee through the February Heart of Gold fundraiser. Scholarship winners will be announced on June 19. Before adjourning, Kuksin mentioned B/FSNA's upcoming Neighborhood Social, venue to be determined, and the May 5 Love Your Block cleanup, which will begin at 9:00 AM in Franklin Square for B/FSNA neighbors.