Minutes of CIA Meeting May 11, 2010
Present: Lynn Nadeau, Sheryl Levenson, Peter Bowen, Don Orne, Paul Levenson,
Alexander Falk, Krena Horowitz, Bruce Greenwald, Jon Alexander, Bob Segil, Amy O’Connor, Peter Frisch, Nancy Hamlin, Allie Blodgett, Lauren Lautner
Agenda
1. Election of Paul Levenson to the board- voted in unanimously by all present-round of applause.
2. Treasurer's Report: Peter Bowen distributed spreadsheet on a separate sheet of paper passed out to everyone. Available from Peter by email. He got a round of applause for doing such a thorough job. Krena suggested Pay Pal should go directly into savings and heard that Amy and Pete were working on it.
3. Clerk's Report: Peter Frisch-elected to be the assistant clerk in charge of paperwork for the state. He brought forms and the officers signed them for a certificate of change for state filing. He said, “Have we rehired Abe Nasser to do the taxes for the CIA?”
Insurance matters were discussed about which carrier to go with. Joe Green, Twig, Betrice for liability insurance.
We are covered until May 22nd and standard and non-standard quotes were going to be asked for.
Paul mentioned, “At this time that D & O coverage can be expensive, we have to analyze the risk.” Jon asked, “Is our workman’s comp plus p & e ready?” Peter said that we need information from Rick. Jon mentioned that our fiscal year ends Dec 31st, and we have to account for money we collected under the 501(3)c. Pete Bowen will spearhead these efforts with help from Peter Frisch, Jon Alexander and Rick Patoski.
4. Recording Clerk: Don Orne-new recording secretary sent the minutes to everyone through Lynn and apologized for leaving off Paul Levenson’s name from last month’s annual meeting. He also apologized to Sheryl Levenson for mixing up the trash schedule for weekends and the summer. He misquoted her. Sorry!
5. Park Priorities and Progress: Bruce, Lauren, Sheryl
Sheryl spoke to David Cahill today. She said he and his crew cleaned up the park of trash and other littered items for us. He said he would spread sand where it was needed especially around the Sun Circle. Bruce HAS RECEIVED A BID FROM BOB DILISIO FOR THE SEAWALL REMEDIATION WORK, SHERYL IS WAITING FOR A WRITTEN QUOTE FROM CAHILL. ONCE THEY HAVE BOTH BIDS, THE PARK COMMITTEE WILL FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST PROCEED Lauren NEEDS TO FORMALIZE THE LANDSCAPE DRAWING FOR THE PARK. SHE made an on the spot topographical rendering of the park showing the ridge, the grading, the stone placements and plantings, hardscaping
"I am new to all this wording and a little confused about how it will all look, but I have total confidence in Bruce’s ability to create beauty," said Don.
Bruce showed the design by Peter Williams FOR THE SEAWALL REMEDIATION. Much discussion followed about size and placement of rocks, sand, plantings, etc. FOR A PROPOSED ADDED ARC OF STONES TO BE PLACED AROUND THE WATER SIDE OF THE SUN CIRCLE AS PROTECTION AND TO DIVERT WATER THROUGH THE PARK TO THE STORM DRAIN AT THE STREET.
Allie said,”It has to look like a Robert Frost Wall.”
Bruce said it will be a simple rock wall with two-foot boulders which are 18” high to protect and divert the water and provide seating. It was decided that whether Cahill or Dilisio get the job, that Peter Williams will be consulted.
Krena said, “It was Cahill’s idea for a rock wall.”
Paul mentioned that the first step in the process is to talk to the guy that did the plan to begin with.
Krena said, “Time is of the essence.”
There will be another park meeting, which will be open to the board, and then perhaps an emergency meeting to get this done.
6. Guide to Beach Bluff Park 2010: Ads, material -Krena
“We are just about done with the copy portion. It is a 44-page book, and we have $5,125 in ads so far. Alexander won with the most money brought in while Krena and Bruce brought in the most ads (14). We are extending the deadline until May 15 for ad copy. Proceeds could exceed $6,000 when we are finished. Lynn managed to get Marblehead Bank as an advertiser. Thanks Krena for all your leadership on this with Lynn.Allie asked if we had a spot in the book to thank advertisers for their support. Don suggested we take up a small collection from the attendees at the meeting and provide the money for that- thank you. Ten dollars was immediately collected for a total of $140 and the content of the ad was left to Don to choose. Allie suggested that we need to put a place for the date of the checks when writing thank you/tax donation receipt notes.
7. Memberships: Amy
Amy encouraged all members to get their membership money in asap. She said, “All my cash is with Peter (the new treasurer). The cost for the mailing was around $400 this year, and there were only 49 responses so far”. She said,
"Old mailing list and emails should be weeded out to save on time and postage. Thirty percent is trash."
Peter mentioned, “We have a large membership on email now.” Jon Alexander has a list of the life members and questioned whether the mailing was worth it. One person has opted out. Peter said, “We need a cost benefit analysis. May and December are A good time to contact the membership at large." Amy reminded us that we are vital in participating in our own renewal and that planks are a great present at any time for any occasion. Bob Segil said, “Texting is overtaking email now and what are we doing about dealing with that avenue?” Nancy said, “It’s a combination of mail, email, and texting that is needed”. Sheryl suggested that we put an application for FUTURE ads in the 2010 book this year for those that look at the book and want to place an ad after reading it."
8. Agents at the Parking Lot: Jon Alexander, “We have not gotten too far with the candidate selection. No interviews last week. I’d like to get them this coming week. "We have one candidate, Jake, who is at Mt. Hermon," said Peter Frisch.
Lynn said we need 3 agents to start Memorial Day weekend. Discussion on hours and money and time were discussed. Peter asked, “What is the policy for non-action in the parking lot?”
Lynn added, "We want the kids to work while they are there and sometimes it is hard to find something for them to do.” Krena said that maybe they could help stuff envelopes for next year's membership drive. Lynn said “ We are not guaranteeing them pay on rainy days at this point. The pay is $8 an hour, and we have 3 attendants for a total of 42 hours a week. Which is $336 a week or about $112 each per week provided they work the full time. Peter Frisch suggested they need a “head honcho” to be in charge of the others and fill in if one can’t make it. Then Peter mentioned that he has three kids ages 18, 18 and 22 that could use jobs this summer. Paul spoke about the bad economy and the fact that the quality of the agents and their age may improve because of it.Peter said, “If your sitting on your rear end, we are not paying you.”
9. June 3 Fundraiser at Spirit of 76 Bookstore: Krena
It would be nice if everyone could just drop in for a moment to lend support and meet the author Janet E. Spurr from 6-8p.m., Thursday on Pleasant Street in Marblehead. Her book is Beach Chair Diaries, and we would get 20% of the total sales for the night from the sale of her book and other books. This will be a party as well as a fundraiser. Lynn mentioned that we need someone to sit at a table there and try to sell memberships to the CIA. (It comes with a free water pistol for the first 33 to sign up.) We will have food and drink.
10. Sacred Site Events: Don
The big event that hopefully many will attend will be the Summer Solstice. This year it is on June 21st which is a Monday morning at 7:28 a.m. The actual sunrise ceremony is at 5:06 a.m. Both are important, and the sunrise is spectacular through Bruce’s ten lovely ladies standing tall against the storms of time.
11.The Butterfly Garden-Dennis Curtin and Lauren was not discussed at this meeting.
12. Bob Segil passed out his memorandum to all present to consider. Thanks, Bob.
13. Our next meeting is Tuesday, June 8th, 2010 at 7:15 at Amy’s house
NOTE: Be careful how you park. Parking tickets were given out to the tune of $25 for those who parked near her house pointed in the wrong direction.
Respectfully submitted,
Don Orne-clerk
