Chestnut Hill Library
Thursday, June 22, 2006

MINUTES

Board Members Present:

Elaine Aiello, Lou Aiello, Jane Becker, Richard Becker, Ed Budnick, Carol Cope, Maryanna Ross Cowper, Joanne Dhody, Maxine Dornemann, Janine Dwyer,
Ed Feldman, Tom Fleming, Jim Foster, Stewart Graham, Jeremy Heep, Tom Hemphill, Dina Hitchcock, Kathy Jones, Bright Judson, Marie Lachat, Howard Lesnick,
John Levitties, Virginia Mallery, Sarah Maneely, Janice Manzi, Ann McNally,
Ned Mitinger, John O’Connell, Christopher Padova, Jane Piotrowski, Joe Pizzano,
Susan Pizzano, Ron Recko, Meredith Sonderskov, Ann Spaeth, Frank Steele,
Jonathan Sternberg, and Walter Sullivan

Board Members Excused: Robert Bacino, Tia Burke, Marianne Dwyer, Nancy Hutter,
Stanley Moat, Gina Sannicandro, and Sister Carol Jean Vale

Board Members Absent: James Baker, Amelia Carter, James Gleason, Elspeth Lodge,
and Lawrence Walsh

Others Present: Betty Brady (CHCA Community Manager), Bill Briggs, Jennifer Katz
(CH Local Listings Editor), Richard Maloumian (Chair of CHCA Aesthetics Committee), Pete Mazzaccaro, Bob Previdi (CH Business Association Executive Director), Barbara Sherf (CH Local writer), Lou Sirianni (Water Tower Advisory Council), Mike Smith (Lulu Shrines / Hiram Masonic Lodge), George Spaeth, Noreen Spota (CHCA Administrative Coordinator), and Kris Sullivan

As they arrived, Board members were given the following items: 1) calendar for 2006-2007;
2) mission statements for the CHCA and CHCF; 3) a list of the current Executive Committee;
4) a list of the current Board of Directors; 5) a list of the CHCA and Local staff members; and
6) financial reports for the month ending May 31, 2006.

The President, Ron Recko, called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. The Secretary, Ann Spaeth, conducted the roll call. Noreen Spota was introduced as the new CHCA Administrative Coordinator.

Approval of New Editor. A motion was made and seconded to approve the Executive Committee’s recommendation to hire Pete Mazzaccaro as the new Editor of the Local. Pete gave a brief overview of his professional background, and Board members made positive comments about the prospect of him becoming Editor. Board members then asked him various questions, such as how he would evaluate his own performance, whether he plans to publish a weekly editorial, how he would handle legal and staff issues, what changes he plans to make, and
whether he would be in favor of including a “Community Bulletin Board” page in each issue for CHCA meeting agendas, financial reports, and events. The vote in favor of hiring Pete as the new Editor was unanimously in favor, none opposed, and no abstentions.

Local Advisory Committee. Ron described the need to establish an ad hoc Local Advisory Committee, composed of people with experience in the newspaper industry. This committee would meet once per month with the Local’s staff in order to examine personnel issues, and report to the President, who would then report to the full Board. Board members expressed their opinion that this committee should not have the authority to determine editorial policy or tell the Editor how to do his job, but rather should be a resource for the Editor as he sees fit. A motion was made to table this proposal until next month’s Board meeting so that a mission statement for the committee could be formulated. This motion was seconded and passed.

Establishment of Ad Hoc Oversight Committee. The need to establish an ad hoc Oversight Committee was addressed by the Executive Committee at its meeting on June 7, 2006. Board members agreed that there is a need for oversight, but questioned whether adequate guidelines had been formulated for such a committee. A motion to close the discussion passed, with 23 votes in favor and 9 votes opposed. A motion was made to authorize the President to establish an ad hoc Oversight Committee. The initial vote was 14 in favor, 14 opposed, and 5 abstentions. A second vote was taken which resulted in 14 votes in favor and 15 votes opposed (there was no call for abstentions).

Establishment of Public Safety Committee. Meredith Sonderskov and Susan Pizzano spoke of the need to establish a Public Safety Committee, citing the recent examples of daytime armed robberies in Chestnut Hill. Susan proposed a “Walk and Watch” program using donated cell phones pre-set to dial 9-1-1, to supplement the Town Watch program.

Bylaws Committee Membership. Maryanna Ross Cowper and Ann Spaeth noted that there is some confusion about the current membership of the Bylaws Committee. Ron Recko asked that they work to resolve this issue.

Report from the Treasurer. Ned Mitinger read the following Board Resolution, which was also presented at the Executive Committee meeting on June 7, 2006: “Resolved that the Board approves members of the Budget and Finance Committee for the fiscal year June 2006-May 2007. This action is in accord with the Chestnut Hill Community Association Bylaws approved by the general membership at its meeting on April 29, 2004. The members of the Budget and Finance Committee will be: Ned Mitinger, Treasurer, Harry Johnston, Stanley Moat, Judy Morgan, Chris Padova, and Ann Spaeth.” This motion was seconded and approved.

Report from the Vice President, Physical Division. Updates were provided about the following on-going issues:

1) Construction at 18 Hilltop Road. Susan Pizzano reported that fences and signs have been erected and the LUPZ Committee has no objections to the process so far.

2) Renter's License. Lou Aiello reported that a renter's license must be obtained for the Fund's property at 8431 Germantown Avenue and that he and Community Manager Betty Brady would be meeting with L&I.

3) Construction by Commerce Bank. Jim Foster provided a history of the process, noting that CHCA had sent an appeal to L&I regarding the bank's zoning permit. Construction cannot proceed until a decision has been issued on the appeal. A hearing will be held on July 25, 2006 by the Zoning Board of Adjustments. It was recommended that an attorney for CHCA be present at this hearing.

4) Hokka Hokka Restaurant. Susan Pizzano reported that the restaurant's planned exhaust system and parking arrangements are being addressed by the DRC.

5) PennDOT Repairs of Germantown Avenue. Bob Previdi reported on the plans to rebuild Germantown Avenue between Mermaid Lane and Allens Lane and also described changes proposed by Winston Road near neighbors to address safety concerns (e.g., speeding).

6) Appointment of Committee Chairs. The Board approved John Haak and Larry McEwen as co-chairs of the LUPZ Committee, and also approved Richard Maloumian as chair of the Aesthetics Committee.

Report from the Vice President, Social Division. Jane Piotrowski reported that the Black and White Gala, originally scheduled to be held in September, has been postponed to the Spring of 2007 so as not to conflict with AbZoolutely events. She then circulated a statement to the Board entitled "Memorandum of understanding between the Chestnut Hill Community Association and the Chestnut Hill District with respect to AbZoolutely Chestnut Hill and subsidiary events to be mounted or held in Chestnut Hill, Fall 2006." This document states that proceeds from AbZoolutely events will be divided as follows: the first $15,000 will go to the Chestnut Hill Community Fund, the next $15,000 will go to the Chestnut Hill District, and any remaining funds will be divided equally between the two. A motion was made to approve this memo; this motion was seconded and passed. (The full text of this document is attached to the minutes.)

Report from Vice President of Operations. Due to the late hour, Lou Aiello offered to send his report to the Board via e-mail. He also stated his intention to reactivate the Building Management Committee (formerly the Building Oversight Committee), and circulated a list of those who served on the previous committee.

Having run out of time, the meeting was adjourned at 10:00 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Ann Ward Spaeth
CHCA Secretary


Prepared by Noreen Spota, CHCA Administrative Coordinator, and approved by the Board of Directors on 10/26/06.