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MINUTES
Board Members Present: Louis Aiello, Karen Ampomah, Jane Becker, Richard Becker, Edward Berg, Carol Cope, Board Members Excused: Elaine Aiello, Robert Bacino, Tia Burke, John Levitties, Christopher Padova, Board Members Absent: Margaret Brunton, Jeremy Heep, Janice Manzi, and Fran O’Donnell Others Present: Steve Brandt (J.S. Jenks Principal), Miguel Castaneda (Cuba! Restaurant),
Tolis Vardakis called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM and asked for a moment of silence. He then introduced Steve Brandt, Principal of the J.S. Jenks School, who spoke briefly about his plans for a CHCA-Jenks School partnership and welcomed all to visit or call him with questions and concerns. Noreen Spota then conducted the roll call. Approval of Agenda. Ron Recko mentioned his concerns about “excused” vs. “unexcused” absences from Board meetings; he feels that Board members with more than five absences should be automatically removed from the Board. As this is a bylaws issue, it was recommended that Ron address his concerns to the Bylaws Committee. There was a motion to approve the agenda; this motion was seconded and passed. Approval of Minutes. There was a motion to approve the Board meeting minutes from December 27, 2007; this motion was seconded. Tolis Vardakis submitted and read a statement that he originally read at the December meeting: “I want to thank Dina Hitchcock for her idea to challenge the Board members to donate money towards the 401(k) payments. She started it with a $1,000 donation with the goal to raise $10,000 in four days. I want to thank Pat Moran for taking the responsibility to ensure that the goal was met, and to thank him for a job well done in meeting that goal. Lastly I want to thank the Board members who responded to Pat’s calls and donated money to meet the goal. Job well done!” Ann Spaeth stated that all amendments should be presented for consideration in writing. The minutes were approved as amended by Tolis. Approval of Zoning Variance for 8609 Germantown Avenue. Ned Mitinger read a “resolution to authorize the support and approval of a zoning variance for 8609 Germantown Avenue [Cuba! Restaurant]. The applicant proposes to provide live musical entertainment in his restaurant during the evening hours of operation. He has requested a use certificate with a hearing to be held by Philadelphia’s Zoning Board of Adjustment.” (Martha Sharkey sent an e-mail to the Board this morning, January 24, providing information about the refusals and stating that “the Development Review Committee unanimously voted on Tuesday, January 15 to approve this zoning variance and to send this applicant to the CHCA Board for ultimate approval. The committee felt the issue was straightforward, and the discussion with the applicant was very positive.” After some discussion, and establishment of the fact that the music will end at 10 PM and will not be amplified, and also that the restaurant will be BYOB with no liquor license, the motion to approve the variance passed unanimously. Michael Quintero-Moore, from City Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller’s office, announced that there will be a “Havana on the Hill” event in Chestnut Hill on Sunday, June 22, from 11 AM to 8 PM. This event will feature live music and the hope is that it will bring many people to “the Hill.” Mr. Quintero-Moore also stated that he and Miguel Castaneda, the owner of Cuba! Restaurant, recently formed the Philadelphia Cuban Arts Society, which is organizing the June event. Written information about the event, the Cuban Arts Society, and the Cuban community living in Philadelphia was made available. Selection of Nominating Committee Members. A ballot was circulated with the names of all Board members except for the CHCA officers along with information about the Nominating Committee taken from the CHCA bylaws. This year’s committee will be chaired by Immediate Past President Ron Recko. It was determined who among those present was interested in remaining on the ballot for the Nominating Committee. The votes were tabulated by Ron Recko and Martha Sharkey; the people elected to serve on the committee (the four highest vote-getters) were Kathy Jones, Stewart Graham, Bob Rossman, and Jane Becker. Approval of List of Non-Profit Organizations. A list of non-profit organizations, most of them located in Chestnut Hill, was circulated for approval by the Board along with information about Interlocking Board members, Institutional Board members, and Student Board members. (Once approved, the list is used by the Nominating Committee to select those organizations and schools that will have representation on the Board.) After some discussion, the list was approved with several revisions: the Mt. Airy Learning Tree and Cresheim Valley Church were added, and several addresses were updated. CHCA/Local Employee 401(k) Plan Changes. On January 21, information was e-mailed to the Board about proposed changes to the employee 401(k) plan. Dina Hitchcock offered a motion to change the plan as outlined in the circulated documents. Currently there is no vesting schedule; it is 100% and effective as soon as the employee is eligible to participate in the 401(k). (Vesting refers to when an employee can collect the employer’s contribution to the plan.) The proposed vesting schedule is as follows: Discussion ensued about the proposed vesting schedule. It was established that the changes would not be retroactive (i.e., they would not apply to employees already working at the CHCA/Local). There was a motion to table consideration of this issue; this motion was defeated, with 11 votes in favor and 19 votes opposed. There was a motion to call the previous question (stopping discussion); this motion was also defeated, with 11 votes in favor. After additional discussion, there was a motion to approve the proposed revisions to the 401(k) plan; this motion was seconded and passed, with 6 abstentions. Review of Chestnut Hill Local Subscription Rates and CHCA Membership Dues. A report prepared by Tolis Vardakis and originally circulated in November 2007 was distributed to the Board again. In addition, the following written motion was offered by Ann Spaeth: At the November 10, 2006 Executive Committee meeting, now over a year ago, it was suggested to raise the household memberships from $30 to $40 per year, and businesses from $40 to $50. When concern was expressed that this could have an adverse effect on membership a motion was made to recommend these changes to the Membership Committee. This was seconded and passed. Since the Board, as yet, has received no recommendation from that Committee, the following motion is offered, expanding on that suggestion, in order to make the dues structure more realistic for the CHCA in dealing with its expenses, and, at the same time, less burdensome for the single person in the community: Moved that: The CHCA Board of Directors raise the membership dues immediately as listed below and direct the Membership Committee to create a new Membership Application form with sufficient space for each individual in one household to be listed with their individual e-mail addresses. This form is to be printed in the Local within the next month. The various classes would be as follows: Individual = $20 Ann’s motion was seconded and a discussion ensued. (It was clarified that the Local would receive $20 from each membership; it currently receives $15 from each membership. It was also established that the last dues increase was in 1996.) Some of the opinions expressed included the following: * some felt that $50 for household membership is too high and others felt that it is reasonable An amendment was proposed for Ann Spaeth’s motion to increase membership dues from $30 to $50. This amendment was seconded and defeated with 13 votes in favor and 15 votes opposed. Another amendment was proposed to raise the dues for household membership from $30 to $40; this was not seconded. Tom Fleming offered a motion to table Ann’s motion; this motion was seconded and passed. Report from Treasurer. Moss Disston reported that: 1) due to the continued absence of Sue Kowert recovering from surgery, no financial statements are ready for Board review; 2) grant applicants for the Chestnut Hill Community Fund are being interviewed by the Budget and Finance Committee; 3) auditors from the St. Clair firm will issue their final report in the next two weeks and will present it to the Board at the meeting on February 28; and 4) in the very near future, he (Moss) and Pete Mazzaccaro will begin preparation of the Local’s budget for the next fiscal year (April 1, 2008 through March 31, 2009). Report from Vice President, Social Division. Jane Piotrowski reported that Janine Dwyer and Philadelphia musician Grant MacAvoy will co-chair this year’s Pastorius Park concert series. Janine stated that this year’s series will be shorter (June 18 through August 1) and thanked Tia Burke for all of her hard work during the previous four years. Report from Vice President, Physical Division. Ned Mitinger reported that the Traffic, Transportation, and Parking Committee will meet next week and that chairperson Patrick Moran will report to the Board in February. Joanne Dhody reported to the Board about the activities of the Aesthetics Committee, emphasizing the importance of working together with community groups and businesses, and being pro-active with aesthetics issues and guidelines. Mary Anna Ross Cowper suggested that Joanne submit her report to the Local for publication. There was a motion to approve the following 11 members of the Aesthetics Committee: Joanne Dhody (chair), Allia Dhody, Robin Dove, John Levitties, Harriet Palmer, Jane Piotrowski, Joe Pizzano, Meredith Sonderskov, Jonathan Sternberg, and George and Ronna Tyndall. This motion was seconded and passed. It was pointed out that one more member can be added to the committee. Patrick Moran then noted that the TTP had its first meeting in the late fall and the committee agreed that a process is needed to address community concerns. The committee has developed a mission statement and the list of committee members will be circulated at the February Board meeting. Ned Mitinger stated that he has had no success in reaching the Tree Committee chair, but he congratulated Patrick Moran for becoming the new President of the Germantown Historical Society. Report from Vice President of Operations. Dina Hitchcock reported that a temporary bookkeeper has been working in the CHCA office and announced that the CHCA Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 23 at the Presbyterian Church. Dina also stated that the goal is to send proposed bylaws amendments to the Board via e-mail in the next two weeks so that discussion can be held at the February Board meeting. Report from Community Manager. Martha Sharkey distributed and reviewed her report, which covered the following topics: 1) Fund Drive ($47,701 was raised as of January 18); 2) database; 3) grant allocation process; 4) various office issues, including the new telephone system and renovation work at Fabrics on the Hill; 5) the CHCA page in the Local featuring CHCA committees and opportunities to volunteer; and 6) community relations. Old Business. CHCA Representation. Tolis Vardakis reported that Susan Pizzano will no longer represent the CHCA on the Business Association Board; instead, she will represent the CHCA on the Historical Society Board. Bob Rossman will now be the CHCA representative on the Business Association Board. Kathy Jones clarified that topics under “Old Business” must be introduced by a current Board member. New Business. CHCA Political Committee. Bob Rossman offered a motion to re-institute the Political Committee and that the CHCA co-sponsor, with the East and West Mt. Airy Neighbors, a candidates’ forum in March. After some discussion, this motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Several Board members expressed disappointment that a Town Hall meeting organized by State Representative Cherelle Parker and held at United Cerebral Palsy was scheduled in direct conflict with tonight’s Board meeting. It was agreed that action should be taken to ensure that future scheduling conflicts are avoided. The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 PM. Minutes prepared by Noreen Spota, CHCA Administrative Coordinator, on 1/29/08. Respectfully submitted on 2/11/08 by: Kristina Sullivan Approved by the Board of Directors without amendment on 2/28/08. |
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