MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING

MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING: THURSDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2005
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Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Officers:
Christopher Doozan, Moderator
Mark Babcock, Associate Moderator
Amy Bachelder, Clerk

Governors/Vice Governors:
Jane Williams, Governor Interior Maintenance
Beata Lamparski, Governor Adult Programs
John Amberger, Vice Governor Membership
Diana Kohler, Governor Religious Programs
Tim Beckett, Governor Finance
Melanie Deeds, Governor Music Committee
Ron Barry, Governor Public Relations
Lisa Green, Vice Governor Youth Programs
Randy Block, Governor Social Responsibility
OTHERS PRESENT:
Rev. Kimi Riegel, Minister
Jan Price, Director of Religious Education
Michael Brown
Ted Danielson, Treasurer
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
Peter Staples, Co-Governor Exterior Maintenance

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CALL TO ORDER:
Mark Babcock, Associate Moderator, called the Board of Governors of Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church to order on Thursday October 27, 2005 at 7:35 p.m.
OPENING:
Kimi read from a reading that wished for peace.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Tim Beckett asked that the Board approved the new budget under new business. Beata Lamparski asked that the parking lease be added to new business. The agenda was approved with the addition of the above items.
Moderator Chris Doozan arrived at 7:45 PM and took over chairing the meeting.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS:
Mark Denney asked the Board to submit it requests for budgets for the next fiscal year. The budgets should reflect some expansion thinking. They will only be used to draft the marketing campaign for the canvass.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Beata Lamparski moved to approve the minutes of the Board meeting of September 22, 2005 as amended and emailed. Seconded by Julie Stitt. Motion passed.
ORAL AND WRITTEN REPORTS:
Minister-Kimi gave updates on Doug and Erin Gobeski. Kimi has a list of four possible candidates to fill two slots on the Committee on Ministry; she asked the Board to prioritize the names. Shawn and Fran were coming off. Sam and Colleen were staying on. Kimi left the room while the Board discussed and voted. It was agreed that Mark Babcock will speak with and ask the top two candidates.
Religious Education - Jan reviewed her summary memo.
Finance—Tim Beckett deferred to the treasurer. Ted Danielson noted the financial packet with monthly and year-to-date figures. Ted noted that the auditor will produce the audit results and recommendation letter by the next Board meeting. The package will be sent to the Moderator. The audit results will need to be discussed by the Board.
REPORT ON THE GROWTH PROJECT:
John Amberger reported that there has not been another meeting of the growth committee. Ron Barry did spend one Sunday morning putting NWUU bumper stickers on cars with the owner’s permission. John reminded Board members to talk to newcomers after the service. Also, any committee meetings held on Sunday should wait until 12:15 PM to begin.
COMMITTEE SHARING:
Social Responsibility – Randy Block reported that NWUU raised $1400 for Katrina Relief and that $1200 would be used to purchase $20 Target gift cards. The remainder will be used to put on a pot luck dinner for the refugees here in Southfield.
Religious Programs – The committee and Kimi decided to focus on one UU principle per month. Diana Kohler asked the other committees to think how they might tie into the principle theme.
Membership – John Amberger will act as Vice-Governor til Doug’s status is known.
Interior Maintenance – Michael Brown made a motion to raise the rental rates 10% for those renters without an agreement. Seconded by John Amberger. Discussion. Motion passed.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Building Renovation – Beata reported that the site plan was approved with conditions by the Southfield Planning Commission on 9/28/05. There were several questions that the architects fielded. One resident who lived behind the church spoke about traffic concerns and overflow parking. The plan passed unanimously. The plan goes to the city council. First step is the council site plan review subcommittee, which met at 9:30 AM on 10/16/05. There were many questions about exceeding our occupancy capacity and therefore overflowing our parking lot. There were also compliments about the environmental design of our sanctuary. The plan will come before the entire council on Tuesday, 11/01/05 at 7:30 PM. The application to go before the ZBA was submitted as well. We are looking at a date of 12/6/05 to appear on their agenda. Beata attended the monthly meeting of the homeowners association for the sub behind the church on 10/19/05. There was a group of 20 or more homeowners. They listened nicely and asked a lot of questions. They voted to oppose a sidewalk on Mapleridge. The president promised to send a letter to the city with their decision. The response was gratifying.
Board Retreat – Chris Doozan passed out a summary of the discussion and action items from the Board retreat on 9/24/05. The Board agreed that the next step would be to prioritize the goals. Mark suggested that the Board take a minute to prioritize the goals right now. Three candidates for 0, 1, 2, 3, & 5, with 5 being the most important. Chris collected the marked up papers and promised to tabulate the results. It was also agreed that discussion about bigger picture is important at each board meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
Refrigerator – Motion by Beata Lamparski, second by Julie Stitt to accept the donation of a used refrigerator from Xina Stewart. Motion passed.
Agenda for Congregational Meeting – There are three items on the agenda: revised budget, by-laws changes and a sanctuary report. Mark indicated that he will be unable to attend the meeting so someone else will have to present the by-law changes and prepare any refreshments. Mark indicated that a by-law change requested by one member was not forwarded by committee for consideration by the congregation. This member may try to introduce language from the floor. Chair will need to rule if someone tries to introduce a new item as this is contrary to the church’s by-laws. Melanie offered to prepare refreshments for the meeting attendees. Michael will have coffee crew leave coffee and tea out.
Revised 05/06 Budget – Motion by Tim Beckett, second by Chris Doozan to increase the current year’s budget by $5000 in order to give the staff a one-time bonus. A recommendation for the allocation of the available funds will be made by the Personnel Committee to the Board. The funding comes from a fund balance for the 04/05 budget year. Discussion ensued regarding the details of the minister’s salary and benefits split and the tax implications. Motion passed. Motion by Beata Lamparski, second by Michael Brown to ask the Board to make the allocation of supplemental funds by the December 2005 board meeting. Discussion ensued that it was important for the newly constituted Personnel Committee to be formed and meet and take up this matter. There was insufficient time to allow the process to occur. Motion failed.
Parking Lease – Beata asked the Board whether it wanted to honor the lease that has been executed to allow us to use 20 parking spaces at 23999 Northwestern Hwy. It appears that we will get site plan approval without needing a formal agreement. Motion by John Amberger, second by Diana Kohler to table this item until the February 2006 meeting. Motion passed.
Sexton - November 2005 is John Amberger
December 2005 is Chris Doozan
The next Board meeting will be Thursday November 17, 2005. A week earlier than usual.
The December Board meeting will be Thursday, December 22, 2005.
Adjourned at 9:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Beata Lamparski, Substituting for Clerk