Administration Ministry Team
Meeting Minutes by Moderator Newman McAllister.
The Administration Ministry Team met on January 19, 2023. Those present were Pastor Darlene Avery, Moderator Newman McAllister, Treasurer Sunde King, Member Linda Seger and Member Vaughn Drinen.
Pastor assisted in the tree lighting ceremony in Green Mountain Falls and Christmas is always a busy season for any pastor. She has been doing many visitations and continues to be active in cementing the church’s ties and relations with the community. She and Teresa Allen have planned all services for the church calendar that began with Epiphany through Ash Wednesday, which is February 22.
Sunde reported the November results. All income was $7,052.81 and all expenses were $11,224.73, for a negative balance for the month of $4,172.92, and a negative balance for the year of $7,961.56. There was discussion about whether this comparison gives a complete view. It was pointed out that another proven method to see how the church is doing financially is to look at the statement of assets and liabilities, month-to-month, or year-to-year.
Carla Chapman has things set up for construction to solve the downspout-ice problem in front of the church. First, Bob LaRoche, the electrician, ran a hot wire that ends at the pipe that empties into the parking lot, so that it no longer ices up. Thereafter he installed 220 wiring running through the conduit to the outside wooden sign. This is necessary to power the mat which will be underneath the concrete swale, to keep the water warm and run it to the street. The asphalt will be cut next week, the mat will be installed, and the concrete will be poured over it. That is expected to eliminate the ice patch in the parking lot that has plagued the church for many months. This will be paid for from the Kirkpatrick grant. Both boilers are working now and one of the thermostats was replaced in the sanctuary. There was discussion about whether programmable thermostats everywhere in the church would save on heating bills. Newman will look into it.
The wedding packet was finalized and Pastor is working on a memorial packet before the February team meeting. Newman, Laurie Guido and Carrie DeValk evaluated Pastor for 2022, and a good discussion among them and Pastor took place. The evaluation was overall highly positive. Linda Seger will talk again with Katie Gardner about a “History Corner” in Patchell Hall. Membership reaffirmations are being completed. Bonnie Sipp says there is no use for the upright freezer in the food pantry, and she recommends it be sold. Upon motion by Vaughn, seconded by Newman, and unanimously carried, the sale was approved, providing that Bonnie lets the team approves the sales price. The freezer was purchased with pantry funds so the money from the sale will go to the pantry.
The church has a fee schedule, by the hour, for rental of various rooms in the church. However, historically, the fee schedule is not followed for community groups. For instance, TOPS, which meets weekly, contributes approximately $150.00 per year as a donation. Turning Point pays $2.00 per person present, each week. On the one hand, any monies are better than the space sitting empty. On the other hand, the church’s expenses for heat and light have increased dramatically. Prior to the next meeting the team will ponder exceptions to the fee schedule.
Newman signed a contract to sell the Sallie Bush Community Building, with an effective date of January 16, 2023, to the Historic Green Mountain Falls Foundation, LLC, for the sum of $500,000.00. This approval was gained through e-mail with team members. The contract sale of must be approved by the congregation. Also by e-mail, the team agreed to a special congregational meeting on January 29, 2023, immediately following morning worship. Notices of the meeting were sent out 10 days’ prior to the meeting, as prescribed in the bylaws.
Linda made the following motions, which were seconded by Sunde, and unanimously approved:
The decision to call a special congregational meeting was ratified.
Newman’s signature on the contract of sale was ratified.
The team recommends that the congregation approve the contract of sale.
The 2022 year-end financial report will be available at the time of the meeting and will be presented to the congregation by Sunde.
The next regular meeting is on Thursday, February 23, 2023, at 3:30 p.m.
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