MINUTES

Board Members Present:

Elaine Aiello, Louis Aiello, Karen Ampomah, Robert Bacino, Jane Becker, Richard Becker, Edward Berg, Margaret Brunton, Tia Burke, Carol Cope, Mary Anna Ross Cowper,
Joanne Dhody, Janine Dwyer, Marianne Dwyer, Thomas Fleming, Stewart Graham, Jeremy Heep
(VP Physical Division), Thomas Hemphill, Dina Hitchcock (VP Operations), Kathleen Jones, Mark Keintz, Marie Lachat, Virginia Mallery, Janice Manzi, Anne McNally, Ned Mitinger, Christopher Padova, Jane Piotrowski (VP Social Division), Joseph Pizzano, Susan Pizzano,
Ron Recko (Immediate Past President), Robert Rossman, Meredith Sonderskov, Ann Spaeth, George Spaeth, Jonathan Sternberg, Kristina Sullivan (Secretary), Pam Rosser Thistle, and
Tolis Vardakis (President)

Board Members Excused: James Foster, Patrick Moran, and Walter Sullivan

Board Members Absent: John Levitties, Sarah Maneely, and Robert Previdi

Others Present: Morris Disston (Treasurer), Ed Feldman, Patrick Gallagher (Eichler & Moffly),
Jennifer Katz (Associate Editor, CH Local), Janine Kroculick (Red Cross), Joyce Lenhardt
(Co-Chair, LUPZ), Pete Mazzaccaro (Editor, CH Local), Stan Moat (Fund Trustee), Jimmy Pack (Assistant Production Manager, CH Local), Martha Sharkey (Community Manager), Noreen Spota (Administrative Coordinator), and Maia Toll and Andrew Celwyn (Apothecary Garden)

Tolis Vardakis called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM and asked for a moment of silence. Noreen Spota conducted the roll call.

Approval of Agenda. Jane Piotrowski asked that the CHCA Blood Drive presentation be given before consideration of the action items, and Chris Padova asked that an item about the recent Board resignations and replacements be added. There was a motion to approve the revised agenda. This motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

Approval of Minutes. There was a motion to approve the Board meeting minutes from September 27, 2007 as submitted. This motion was seconded and passed with one abstention.

CHCA Blood Drive. Janine Kroculick from the Red Cross gave a presentation about plans for the CHCA Blood Drive, which will be held on Monday, November 12, from 2-8 PM at St. Martin-in-the-Field Church. Ms. Kroculick emphasized the dire need for blood donations.

Approval of Traffic, Transportation, and Parking Committee. Jeremy Heep explained that the TTP Committee has been inactive for a number of years, but we are now facing serious traffic and parking problems in Chestnut Hill. The recent “Visions” program on these issues was very interesting and well-attended. During the ensuing discussion, it was noted that TTP is a standing committee of the CHCA with representation/voting rights on the Development Review Committee. Jeremy offered a motion to approve the following people to serve on the committee: Patrick Moran (Chair), Ed Berg, Angela Clemente, Jenn Follo, John Follo, Pam Learned, Philip Lecalsey, and Pam Thistle. This motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Jeremy announced that the first meeting of the new TTP would be held on Monday, November 5 at 7:30 PM in Town Hall.

Approval of Personnel Committee. Dina Hitchcock noted that the idea for this new committee arose from discussions of the Bylaws Committee. It will be in charge of reviewing and updating the CHCA/Local employee manual and recommending formation of another committee to provide a mechanism for hearing employee concerns. There was a motion to approve the following people to serve on the committee: Dina Hitchcock (Chair), Bob Bacino, Ed Berg, Kathy Jones, and Walter Sullivan. This motion was seconded. Ann Spaeth then offered a motion to table the original motion until next month’s meeting in order to determine if there are others who wish to serve on the Personnel Committee; this motion failed with 14 votes in favor and 20 votes opposed. Dina noted that anyone who is interested may attend the Personnel Committee meetings. The proposed committee members also briefly summarized their experience managing employees. The original motion passed with one vote opposed and four abstentions.

Approval of New Bylaws Committee Member. There was a motion to approve the appointment of Mark Keintz to serve on the Bylaws Committee, replacing Howard Lesnick, who resigned from the committee on October 7 and whose term was 2004-2009. This motion was seconded and passed with two abstentions (Mark Keintz and Virginia Mallery).

Approval of New CHCA Secretary. There was a motion to approve the appointment of Kristina Sullivan to serve as Secretary, replacing Nancy Hutter, who resigned on October 8. This motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

Approval of Variance for 7721 Germantown Avenue. According to the written report submitted by Jeremy Heep, the owners of The Apothecary Garden, a retail herbal store at 7721 Germantown Avenue, wish to transform their business into a “holistic health center” and are seeking a variance to allow the business to expand to the second floor, currently an apartment. The DRC has recommended approval of the variance. Ann Spaeth suggested that the Board should be able to review reports from the DRC and LUPZ in advance of any vote regarding variances. After some discussion, and establishing that neighbors are supportive of the plans, there was a motion to approve the variance. This motion was seconded and passed unanimously. A letter will be sent to the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Conditional Approval of Variance for 8623 Germantown Avenue. According to the written report submitted by Jeremy Heep and a statement from Pat Gallagher, this property at 8623 Germantown Avenue (behind Sovereign Bank) requires a variance in order to maintain the six parking spaces that border on Dr. Stephen Unger’s office. The DRC has recommended approval of the variance. Conditional approval is being sought from the CHCA Board prior to sale of the property by Dr. Unger, subject to approval by the LUPZ at its meeting on November 1. A discussion ensued, including concerns about who is purchasing the property, whether neighbors are supportive of the plan, and why the decision of the Board was being sought prior to approval by the LUPZ. There was a motion to grant conditional approval of the variance, pending approval by the LUPZ; this motion was seconded and passed with six abstentions.

Resignation and Replacement of Board Members. Noting the resignation of Board members Doug Knauer, Howard Lesnick, and Nancy Hutter, Dina Hitchcock read Article IV, Section B-1-e of the CHCA Bylaws, pertaining to the filling of vacancies on the Board. Following this procedure, Robert Rossman, Joseph Pizzano, and Mark Keintz, respectively, are next in line due to this year’s election results. Kathy Jones offered a motion to approve the three new Board members; this motion was seconded. A discussion ensued about whether Mark Keintz should replace Nancy Hutter, since Mark was already on the Board serving as an Interlocking Director representing the Chestnut Hill Parking Foundation. Because of this, Ron Recko expressed his opinion that Paul Bolno, the next person in line, should become an At-Large member of the Board instead of Mark. It was pointed out that Mark chose to resign from his position as Interlocking Director in order to become an At-Large Director. Jeremy Heep moved the previous question (immediately ending debate); this motion was seconded and passed by 27 votes, 2 more than the requisite 2/3. The original motion offered by Kathy Jones subsequently passed.

Report from the Chestnut Hill Community Fund. Stan Moat, Trustee and Secretary of the Fund, delivered a presentation about the current status of the Fund. A copy of this report will be sent to the Board and is an addendum to the minutes.

Report from Treasurer. Financial statements as of 9/30/07 for the CHCA, Local, and Fund were distributed and reviewed. Moss Disston read his report summarizing various trends in the finances of the CHCA and Local. (This report is an addendum to the minutes.) Jane Piotrowski reported that the Black and White Gala generated a net income of $33,647, which was approximately $8,000 more than projected. Jeremy Heep expressed his concern that the Local has lost over $21,000 during the first six months of the fiscal year.

Report from Vice President of Social Division. Jane Piotrowski read from her report, which focused on plans for the Holiday House Tour to be held on Saturday, December 8. Marianne Dwyer invited everyone to attend the upcoming events sponsored by Teenagers, Inc.: the Ghost Walk (Saturday, October 27), a presentation by a former Tuskegee Airman (Saturday, November 10), and A Taste of Chestnut Hill (Sunday, November 18). The Teens, Inc. trip to New York City (Saturday, December 1) has sold out. Fliers were distributed for the Ghost Walk, A Taste of Chestnut Hill, and the Blood Drive. Meredith Sonderskov invited everyone to attend the annual Senior Center Bazaar and “Almost Antique Road Show,” to be held on Saturday, October 27 from 10-2 at St. Paul’s Church.

Report from Vice President of Physical Division. Jeremy Heep reported that the Treehouse Café proposal will be coming back for additional consideration by the LUPZ. Concern has been expressed by various members of the community about the plan to serve alcohol where children are being cared for. Jeremy urged people to attend the LUPZ meeting on Thursday, November 1 at 8 PM at the Baptist Church to express their concerns.

Report from Vice President of Operations. Dina Hitchcock read from her report, which described the current status of the membership database and the Fair Housing Council complaint against the Local.

Report from Community Manager. Martha Sharkey distributed and reviewed her report, which covered the following topics: 1) membership; 2) CHCA Block in the Local; 3) CHCA Blood Drive; 4) Purple Month of October events; 5) Black and White Gala; 6) Holiday House Tour and Fund Drive; 7) new office telephone system; 8) new CHCA Information list serve; and 9) community relations.

Old Business. Tolis Vardakis reported that he gave a deposition in the 2004 lawsuit filed against the City of Philadelphia, SEPTA, and CHCA; this lawsuit is still pending.

New Business. Tolis then presented a report about membership income, Local subscription income, and newsstand income trends. A copy of this report will be sent to the Board.

CHCA: 501(c)(3) vis-à-vis 501(c)(4) entity. Following discussion, Ed Berg and Jeremy Heep agreed to provide legal advice on this question.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:20 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Kristina Sullivan
CHCA Secretary

Minutes prepared by Noreen Spota, CHCA Administrative Coordinator, and approved by the Board of Directors on 11/29/07.