Board of Trustees

Wednesday, August 10, 2005 Meeting Minutes

Church Social Hall, 7:00p.m.

 

In attendance:

                                                        Elizabeth Bouldin-Clopton               Shelly Canterbury

Ruth Douglas                               Brian Haluska                                     Nick Laiacona                  

Josie Loyd                                     Dave Stoner                                        Sally Taylor

                                                        Mary Beth Wiley                               David Takahashi Morris            

Leslie Takahashi Morris            Leia Durland-Jones                                                    

                                           

Not present:               Elizabeth Breeden, Mark Usry

 

Board of Trustees Focus for 2004-2005

§         Leadership/Communication: Strengthening leadership development and fostering better communication between the leadership structure and the congregation, and within the congregation.

§         Community/Inclusiveness/Outreach: Support the continued growth of a sense of the church as one community, inclusive and reaching out to a diverse wider community.

§         Vision/Mission: Make mission and vision central to Board work; foster a deeper awareness of the relationship of our mission to congregational life.

§         Growth -- Planning/Response: Take leadership in congregation's planning for and responses to growth.

 

Set Up – Elizabeth Bouldin-Clopton

 

I.                   Welcoming Activities

A.     Devotions – Mary Beth Wiley

B.     Check-in

 

II.        Opening Meeting  

A.     Review of agenda:  Removed Long Range Planning Discussion;  Added Remembrance Garden Committee Item

B.     Minutes from June 8 and July 13, 2005 meetings were approved, as amended to include “6%” in IV. C. discussion of the 6-month budget.

 

III.       New Business

A.     Executive Session: Report on job evaluations and Letters of Agreement discussions (Dir. of Music, DRE, office administrator) with members of the Personnel Committee. 

 

David and Leslie were asked to stay by the Board.  Personnel Committee members Lynn King and Steve Arata and Doug Loyd gave a brief overview staff reviews.  Letter agreements and job descriptions were approved by the Board

 

B.     Congregational Meeting agenda and logistics discussion– including bylaws changes.

 

Discussion of proposed bylaw changes ensued.  The Board agreed to change to requiring only one annual congregational meeting in May, to correspond to the switch to a July 1 – June 30 fiscal year.  This will be the “business” meeting to approve budgets, electing officers and other key positions, while other non-mandatory meetings can be held as desired throughout the year.  Sallie will review the Bylaws for other changes relating to this change.  The Board deferred voting on these changes until the next meeting. 

 

The congregational meeting agenda and logistics discussion was deferred to the next meeting.

 

C.     Treasurer Report, including discussion of six-month budget.

 

Treasurers report attached.

 

Shelly raised the issue of an approximately $4500 balance remaining for several years in the “Backyard Project Account”.  Suggestion was made to transfer this balance to general building funds, since it appears not to be used for the Backyard Project.  Dave Stoner raised the point that this was a gift specifically to the Backyard project and volunteered to take the issue up with the donor, to ensure they are OK with this approach.

 

A discussion ensued regarding the six month (Jan-June 2006) budget.  A “flat” budget (i.e., no program or staffing changes) really requires a 6% increase, due primarily to the timing of annual UUA payments (due in June 2006), but also to account for cost of living salary increases, and escalating expenses (i.e. utilities).  The Board expressed concerns about not being able to ask the congregation for a “flat” budget for this 6-month period.  The Board generally agreed with the concept of basing the canvas on a “flat programs and staffing goal”, but which recognized the reality of escalating expenses.

 

D.     Board retreat (August 27) agenda and planning, including governance planning

 

The planned Board retreat was discussed briefly;  agenda is to include time for governance discussion; to be held Aug 27 from 9-3 as a potluck at Josie’s house.

 

E.      Switch of co-ministers to ¾, ¾ time instead of full and ½ time.

 

Leslie and David discussed Ministers report, attached.  The Board passed a motion that would split the ministers packages to two ¾ time positions vs. one  full time and one ½ time position, as it is currently.

 

Break – (8:20 p.m.) Mary Beth Wiley

 

F.      New Agenda Item – Rememberance Garden Committee Letter - Shelly discussed a request by the Remembrance Garden Committee for the Treasurer to concur with placing $6000 from Committee’s funds into a CD account for 1 year.  A discussion ensued about possible improvements in the communication/relationship/fiscal roles between Finance and the Committee. 

 

G.     Next steps capital campaign

 

This discussion was tabled for now.  Several members thought we needed further thought on related issues including discussing timelines, follow-up with David Rickard, relationship to Facilities and Long Range Planning Task force work, possibly forming a committee, etc.

 

IV.              Old Business/Reports

 

A.     Personnel Policy Manual

 

Draft changes to the Personnel Policy Manual were presented and are attached.  The Board approved these changes, as modified, with section XXI 5 being changed to require that any policies recommended by the technology committee  be approved by the Board.

 

VI.       Questions pertaining to received reports  (8:50 p.m.)

 

A U House Update is attached.  Josie – my handouts and memory fail me here – do we have such a handout???

 

VII.           Adjourn (9:10 p.m.)

 

Next Executive Committee meeting: August 31, 2005, 7-8p.m., church

 

Next Board of Trustees meeting: Wed., September 14, 2005, Social Hall, 7:00p.m.

 

Meeting adjourned 9:15

 

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Tentative Agenda Items for Future Board Meetings:

 

September Meeting:

Space use data, policy and potential fees

Fund raising policy

Governance

LRP Committee discussion

Capital Campaign discussion

 

October Meeting:

Safe Congregations (presented by a member/members of ministerial committee)

MM discussion

 

November Meeting: