Christ Ascension Lutheran Church
Thursday, August 10, 2006

MINUTES

Executive Committee Members Present:

Lou Aiello (VP Operations), Ed Budnick (At-Large), Maxine Dornemann (Immediate Past President), Tom Fleming (At-Large), Jim Foster (At-Large), Nancy Hutter (At-Large), Ned Mitinger (Treasurer), Jane Piotrowski (VP Social Division), Susan Pizzano (VP Physical Division), Ron Recko (President), and Ann Spaeth (Secretary)

Executive Committee Members Absent: Janine Dwyer (At-Large)

CHCA Board Members Present: Tom Hemphill, Dina Hitchcock, Marie Lachat, Joseph Pizzano,
and Meredith Sonderskov

Others Present: John Egan (Attorney for Tavern on the Hill), Pete Mazzaccaro (CH Local Editor),
Larry McEwen (DRC Co-Chair), Cecile Mihalich (Membership Committee Co-Chair), Noreen Spota (CHCA Administrative Coordinator), and Gerard Strenger (Chef at Tavern on the Hill)

Ron Recko called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.

Approval of Meeting Minutes. The minutes from the previous Executive Committee meeting (July 13, 2006) were approved with several revisions.

Variance for Tavern on the Hill (formerly Hill Tavern). Gerard Strenger and John Egan described various renovations planned for the restaurant, including a full kitchen on the basement level. Their application for a “use permit” was rejected by L&I and they have filed an appeal with the Zoning Board of Adjustment for a variance. Ned Mitinger requested a copy of the L&I rejection notice. Ed Budnick offered a motion to support the variance. This motion was seconded by Tom Fleming and passed unanimously.

Appointment to Oversight Committee. Ron announced that the final appointment to the Oversight Committee is Carl Shaifer; the vote to approve this appointment was unanimous. It was also announced that Ed Budnick has been appointed to chair the committee; this appointment was approved with one abstention.

Composition of Community Fund Committee. It was announced that this year’s Fund Drive would be co-chaired by Tom Fleming, Chris Kemezis, and Brien Tilley. It was suggested that preparation for the Fund Drive begin in September and that the goal should be to raise $100,000. Board members will be asked to contribute a specific amount (to be established), and matching funds will be sought.

Report from Treasurer. Ned reported that the first meeting of the Budget and Finance Committee was held and that they are working on a revised budget in time to be considered at the October Board meeting. The Association’s accountant, Charlie Jebran, will be contacted in order to arrange for audits for the Association/Local and Fund and to complete the necessary tax returns by November 15 (for the Fund) and December 15 (for the Association/Local).

Report from Vice President of Operations. Lou Aiello reported on various items, including the status of accounts payable, the status of an L&I citation for 8429-31 Germantown Avenue in the amount of $2,600 (these code violations have been corrected), the debt structure, employee issues, liability insurance, a pending lawsuit, and membership. Lou stated that Marie Lachat and Cecile Mihalich will co-chair the Membership Committee, with former committee chair Jane Piotrowski serving as a consultant.

The discussion about the debt structure included the option of selling the 8429-31 Germantown Avenue building after conducting an analysis of the income and expenses currently generated by the building. Jim Foster offered a motion that we should obtain an independent appraisal of the building. This motion was seconded by Ned Mitinger. Ed Budnick added an amendment that the Building and Management Committee should compile all of the data and options and be authorized to spend up to $1,000 to appraise the building. This motion, as amended, passed unanimously. Another motion was made to add Ed Budnick and Joseph Pizzano to the Building Management Committee, and this motion passed unanimously.

Report from Vice President, Physical Division. Susan Pizzano offered a motion to appoint Joanne Dhody to the Aesthetics Committee; this motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Susan then presented her written proposal to streamline the procedures for consideration of zoning and/or variance issues by CHCA committees. It was noted that businesses and homeowners currently have their applications considered by the DRC, then the LUPZ, and then again by the DRC, resulting in a “long, confusing, exhaustive, and often expensive” process. Susan’s proposal was circulated to the Executive Committee and a discussion ensued about evolution of the DRC (not a standing committee) into the “Development Advisory Committee,” which would include representatives from several CHCA committees along with representatives from the Chestnut Hill Business Association, the Business Improvement District, the Garden District Fund, the Historical Society, and the Parking Foundation. Ed Budnick offered a motion to approve Susan’s proposal, with the addition of representatives from LUPZ serving on the Development Advisory Committee. This motion was seconded by Tom Fleming and passed unanimously, with one abstention. Ron noted that the Executive Committee has the power to act on behalf of the Board at this meeting, since the full Board does not meet in August. However, DRC co-chair Larry McEwen pointed out that timely public notice in the Local was not provided for this agenda item. Therefore it was decided that this subject would be considered by the full Board at its meeting in September.

Report from Vice President, Social Division. Jane Piotrowski reported on plans for the Holiday House Tour, the Blood Drive, and AbZOOlutely. Ron stated that the Executive Committee should sponsor the duck being painted by Board member Ed Feldman, and he suggested that each Executive Committee member donate $50 for this purpose. Meredith Sonderskov, Public Safety Committee chair, announced that there will be a community meeting on Wednesday evening, September 13 at the Chestnut Hill Library regarding public safety issues.

Old Business. The following issues were addressed:

1) Zoning Regulations. Ned Mitinger circulated Philadelphia zoning regulations pertaining to Chestnut Hill (“Germantown Avenue Special District Controls”) to Executive Committee members.

2) Commerce Bank Construction Project. Jim Foster provided an update on the current situation and noted that the next Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing will be held on Tuesday, August 29. Nancy Hutter proposed that a community meeting be held prior to the ZBA hearing; this motion was approved with six votes in favor, two against, and one abstention. To provide time for notice in the Local, the date for the community meeting was set for Monday, August 28, 2006, one day before the scheduled ZBA hearing.

3) Oversight Committee. Ed Budnick circulated the initial report of the Oversight Committee and its proposed CHCA purchasing regulations. A motion was offered by Tom Fleming to approve the two documents; this motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Noreen M. Spota
CHCA Administrative Coordinator

These minutes were approved by the Executive Committee on 10/12/06.