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CHCA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Executive Committee Members Present: Lou Aiello (At-Large), Jane Becker (At-Large), Ed Berg Executive Committee Member Excused: Tom Fleming (At-Large) Executive Committee Member Absent: Moss Disston (Treasurer) Board Members Present: Jim Foster and Ann Ward Spaeth Others Present: Ed Feldman, Pete Mazzaccaro (CH Local Editor), and Noreen Spota
Tolis Vardakis called the meeting to order at 7:34 PM. Noreen Spota conducted the roll call. Approval of Minutes. There was a motion to approve the Executive Committee meeting minutes from April 10, 2008 as submitted. This motion was seconded and passed with two abstentions (Dina Hitchcock and Anne McNally). CHCA Election Procedures. Ron Recko distributed copies of the 2006 and 2007 election procedures and expressed his disapproval of the fact that the ballots were not kept in the CHCA office for 30 days after the election as required by the procedures approved by the Board. Tolis stated his opinion that only the Judges of Election have the right to handle/examine the ballots to ensure confidentiality of the voters and integrity of the ballots. He further stated that the ballots were kept out of the office because they are not safe in the office; complaints about this matter should be sent to the Judges of Election. Ann Spaeth clarified that the intention of the 2006 and 2007 rules is the same, to allow access to examine the ballots. She noted that no changes to the procedures were made in 2008. Ron stated that he finds this violation of the election procedures very disconcerting and that his concerns would appear in the Local. Other points mentioned during this discussion included: people examining unidentifiable ballots in the presence of the Judges of Election would be acceptable; the Board must finish formulating the details of the election procedures; in 2006 members had the right to see anonymous ballots; and the importance of voters signing their own ballots. There was also discussion about the gifting of CHCA memberships. Report from Vice President, Social Division. Jane Piotrowski reported that the Membership Committee is currently working on updating the membership brochure in preparation for the dues increase that will take effect on June 1. Pete Mazzaccaro confirmed that the increase in the Local’s subscription rates would also take effect on June 1. Jane also provided updates about the Senior Center, the Garden District Fund, and the Aspinwall Fund. There was some discussion about the status of the Aspinwall Fund. Jane Becker, who serves on the Water Tower Advisory Council, will seek clarification from them. Lastly, Jane mentioned that the Pastorius Park concert series brochure and poster are being updated. Report from the Vice President, Physical Division. Ned Mitinger reported that at the Board meeting on May 22, he will introduce a resolution to approve two new members of the Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee. Ned also stated his recommendation that CHCA join with other community groups in opposition to Act 193 of 2004, which limits citizens’ standing on zoning issues. Lastly, referring to the headline and article in the current issue of the Local about LUPZ “approving” plans for the Tree House Play Café, Ned clarified that this project is not ready to go before the full Board, and he described some of the issues discussed at the LUPZ meeting held on May 1. (At this point Tolis asked Ed Feldman to leave the meeting due to his repeated interruptions, after warning him several times.) The LUPZ rejected plans for a 4-story building. Without the fourth floor, the tenant may be unable to obtain financing for her business and developers may or may not decide to proceed with the plans. If the LUPZ ultimately recommends approval, the plans are re-considered by the Development Review Committee and then by the Board. Anne McNally suggested that a letter from the LUPZ explaining exactly what has been approved thus far should be published in the next issue of the Local. Report from Vice President of Operations. Dina Hitchcock distributed copies of the following document to the Executive Committee: “CHCA Executive Meeting 1. The Editor of the Chestnut Hill Local has full authority to exclude any individual Board member 2. The Community Manager of the Chestnut Hill Community Association has full authority to 3. The Business Manager, in the absence of the Community Manager of the Chestnut Hill 4. To facilitate efficient use of the CHCA staff time, all members of the Association and its Board of 5. To facilitate efficient use of the CHCA staff time, all members of the Association and its Board of Dina offered a motion to re-affirm this statement and to refer it to the full Board for consideration. This motion was seconded. In the ensuing discussion, the following points were raised: there is the expectation that CHCA staff members be available to provide information and answer questions from Board members and the general public; it is uncertain whether this policy was actually approved by the Executive Committee in 2005; staff members have the right to ask people to leave the office if they need to get their work done or if they feel intimidated. The motion passed unanimously. New Business. Jim Foster read the following statement into the record, and copies were distributed to the Executive Committee: “May 8, 2008 For the Record: On April 22, 2008 I contacted Noreen Spota, Administrative Coordinator of the Chestnut Hill Community Association with a routine request. Previously the attorneys representing the Director’s Challenge had been contacted by the senior executives of both the CHCA and CHCF requesting a formal representation of the position the attorneys would be taking regarding the CHCA and CHCF financial and management situation, past and present. The previous day a letter to that effect was sent to Jean Hemphill and Tolis Vardakis outlining recommendations that were considered essential to the remedial action that would end the director’s challenge and potential litigation. It was the intention of the directors and the attorneys involved that this letter should be a public document and for that reason I asked Noreen Spota to forward it to the Board as soon as possible. This was a routine task for communication among directors that she had performed many times and would be expected to perform regardless of subject matter as Board members have the right to communicate to each other without interference on matters of serious community or Board business. This was such a situation. I strongly object to the situation that has developed whereby I am told that Ms. Spota has been formally reprimanded and I am told had her personnel file documented with such a formal written reprimand for only performing a routine function that her job requires her to do. James H. Foster There was a motion to go into executive session so that the above referenced personnel matter could be discussed. Except for Ms. Spota, all of the people at the meeting who are not members of the Executive Committee were asked to leave the room. After the executive session, there being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 PM. Minutes prepared by Noreen Spota, CHCA Administrative Coordinator, on 5/15/08. Respectfully submitted on 5/19/08 by: Kristina Sullivan Approved by the Executive Committee without amendment on 6/12/08.
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