CHCA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
Parish Hall, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Thursday, January 8, 2009

MINUTES

Executive Committee Members Present: Dina Hitchcock (VP Operations), Mark Keintz (Treasurer),
Anne McNally (At-Large), Ned Mitinger (VP Physical Division), Patrick Moran (At-Large), Marilyn Paucker (At-Large), Jane Piotrowski (VP Social Division), Ron Recko (Immediate Past President), Rob Remus (At-Large), Robert Rossman (At-Large), and Kristina Sullivan (Secretary)

Executive Committee Member Excused: Tolis Vardakis (President)

Board Member Present: Meredith Sonderskov

Others Present: Philip LeCalsey (Community Manager) and Noreen Spota (Administrative Coordinator)

Dina Hitchcock called the meeting to order at 7:31 PM and asked for a moment of silence. Noreen Spota conducted the roll call.

Approval of Minutes. There was a motion to approve the Executive Committee meeting minutes from December 11, 2008 as submitted; this motion was seconded and passed with two abstentions (Mark Keintz and Robert Rossman).

Report from Treasurer. Mark Keintz stated that the Budget and Finance Committee will meet on Tuesday, January 13 and will review the financial reports for the Association and Local for the month ending 12/31/08. The committee will also begin work preparing the budgets for the fiscal year ending 3/31/10. Mark will send a letter to the auditors explaining the corrective actions being implemented with regard to the Local’s finances and added that the Association is on target with its budget for the first two-thirds of the current fiscal year.

Report from Vice President, Social Division. Jane Piotrowski reported on plans for the upcoming CHCA/Red Cross Blood Drive. The Senior Center and Business Association will assist with organizing this year’s blood drive, and a food drive may be done in conjunction with the blood drive. The next Health Forum presentation, on weight loss, will be held on Thursday, January 29 at Chestnut Hill Hospital. Also being considered is a CPR workshop; Meredith Sonderskov described the vital importance of having this skill.

Report from Vice President, Physical Division. Ned Mitinger reported that the Traffic, Transportation, and Parking Committee has been meeting regularly and is currently addressing various issues and formulating a mission statement. This will be circulated to the Board for review prior to the next Board meeting. Ron Recko stated that the neighbors of 424 West Springfield Avenue plan to appeal the CHCA Board’s decision (made at its meeting on December 18) to recommend approval for the variances. He expressed concern that the architect for the garage renovation project, Larry McEwen, is also co-chair of the Development Review Committee. In response, Kristina Sullivan stated that the Board was well informed about the project prior to its vote. Ned Mitinger clarified that the although feedback from neighbors is taken into account by the DRC and by the Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee, this is not the only criterion used when these committees make their recommendations, and also they have no decision-making capacity.

Report from Vice President of Operations. Dina Hitchcock stated that she did not have a report, but that various operational issues would be covered in the Community Manager’s report.

Report from Community Manager. Philip LeCalsey reported that about 570-575 people attended the Holiday House Tour and that net income from the event will be approximately $19,000. Patrick Moran stated that the first meeting of the task force implementing the ad hoc committee’s recommendations on the Local’s finances (approved by the Board at its meeting on December 18) will be held tomorrow (Friday, January 9) at 3:00 PM at the Community Center. Pat also mentioned that the ad hoc Election Procedures Committee will meet on Monday, January 12 at 7:00 PM at Town Hall and the committee’s recommendations will then be sent to the Board for review. Mark Keintz stated that various proposed bylaws amendments would be presented at the January Board meeting. Dina pointed out that the January Board meeting is when Chestnut Hill area non-profits are considered for Institutional Director positions on the CHCA Board, but she added that this is not a requirement since the bylaws state that “up to 6” Institutional Directors may serve on the Board. Phil went on to report that the CHCA/Local employees have met with the new health insurance reps (the Hirshorn Co. is no longer the agent). In 2009, there will be a $4,400 increase in the insurance premiums to be paid by the CHCA/Local and employees will have higher deductibles and higher co-pays. Phil also reported that the Fund Drive has raised $46,754 from 331 donors as of today, which is more than $2,000 ahead of a year ago.

There was some discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of reducing the size of the Board as well as the issue of absences from Board meetings. Some of the points raised during this discussion included:

• The Board is currently too large to efficiently conduct its business.
• Institutional Directors should be reporting back to their organizations; if these positions are eliminated it will reduce the number of people being made aware of Board deliberations, etc.
• Having a larger Board facilitates its function as a forum.
• There should be no distinction made between “excused” and “unexcused” absences from Board meetings.
• A possible change would be to have each Board member represent a specific geographic area of the community.

Formation of Search Committee for a Business Manager. Dina Hitchcock offered a motion to recommend to the Board the appointment of a search committee to hire a business manager for the Local. This motion was seconded and, after some discussion, the motion passed unanimously. Committee members will include Robert Rossman (chair), Tony Crist, Mark Keintz, Pamela Learned, and Cathy Pimpinella. In addition to editor Pete Mazzaccaro, various department managers at the Local (Robyn John in production, Sonia Leounes in sales, and Cheryl Massaro in circulation) will be invited to help develop the job title and job description and speak with the job candidates.

New Business. Meredith Sonderskov stated that she will bring a petition to the January Board meeting expressing concern about what is happening with the businesses/vacancies on the Avenue. There was some discussion about this issue and about the incidence of crime in the neighborhood.

Announcement. Anne McNally confirmed that the Parking Foundation has decided to eliminate the use of parking stickers at its lots; this change will take effect on February 1. “Parking Ambassadors” will monitor the use of the lots to ensure that the new policy is not being abused.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM.

Minutes prepared by Noreen Spota, CHCA Administrative Coordinator, on 1/12/09.

Respectfully submitted on 1/22/09 by:

Kristina Sullivan
CHCA Secretary

Approved by the Executive Committee without amendment on 2/12/09.