Attendees

Serena Watters

Kelleigh Eastman

Edith Gilliard-Canty

Howard Hughes

Sonia Eaddy

Laura Dykes

Abigail Breiseth

Scott Kashnow

Cecilia Gonzalez

Donnell Nance

Richard Parker

Ryand Smith

Jane Shaab

Chuck Callahan

Gregg Herlong

Bill Joyner

Rebecca Altman

Charisse Lue

 

  • Adam Block – Attorney with Gallagher, Evelius, Jones

Minutes Approval

  • Motion to approve (Jane),  Rebecca 2nd
      • Abigail – please correct the report from the Education committee. 
        • The original appeal was made in March 2022. Recently – The SH parent appellants and coalition filed an exception to the ALJ’s recommendation to dismiss the appeal. That automatically gives each side 10 minutes to argue their case in front of the MSBE (state board of ed) and is scheduled for March 28.
  • All approve.

Project Updates and Discussion: Lord Baltimore Theater

Elizabeth and Adam Block (Real Estate Attorney)

  • SWP Purchased in 2019 from Cecil Clarke $1M 
    • $500K up front – (paid)
    • $500k due April 2024 (outstanding debt)
  • $15K Annual Costs
  • $300K Stabilization grant spent and closed out
  • SOWEBO LORD BALTIMORE LLC owns the theater – SWP owns the LLC
  • SWP has $250K available in the Governor’s Budget to spend on the project for design or construction. Can not spend on existing debt
  • The tax assessment values the property at $400K
  • April 2021  – BMAC Concept agreement 
  • June 2021 – MOU signed with BMAC – 
  • BMAC Board members: JR, Catherine, Roger

 

The Board discussed the history of the project, the community development reasons for purchasing it, and the impact that the revitalization will have on the revitalization of the W Baltimore St commercial corridor.

 

While the Board had been committed to the Baltimore Movement Arts Center concept for the building, which will be a 15-20 million dollar capital campaign, the draft feasibility study indicates that it will be challenging to successfully implement, especially with the upcoming deadline to pay off the debt. However, there are other possible uses for the building besides the BMAC concept and that there may also be options for doing the project in phases – perhaps the retail spaces on Baltimore Street first.

 

Given the outstanding debt on the property that will be due next spring, the Board will need to actively explore a range of options to ensure that the property is developed and that the organization is not negatively financially impacted. Consensus that there needs to be active exploration of all possible options for the Board to prioritize next steps, and that the Board cannot solely be committed to the BMAC concept for the property.

 

Motion (Scott):

  • Release an RFP for partners on the redevelopment of the Theater
  • Begin a conversation with the note holder to explore options
  • Advise the BMAC board what the board has decided.

 

Ryand 2nd.

 

The Board discussed the motion

 

Scott amended the motion 

New Motion: 

  • Authorize the staff to release an RFP to redevelop the theater.
  • Advise BMAC Board that SWP Board will be releasing an RFP for other ideas to redevelop the theater

Charisse 2nd.

 

More discussion…RFP should be amended to an Expression of Interest

 

Scott accepts the amendment offered by Gregg to release an ‘expression of interest’ – a less detailed version of the RFP 

 

All in favor. None opposed or abstaining

 

Motion (Cecilia): Create a team to begin the conversation with the note holder. 

Scott 2nd

 

Board discussed the motion, including how to determine priorities as a Board and any limits for negotiation, as well as the makeup of the team.

 

Cecilia: Amends Motion to include – and empower the team to strategize on and have initial conversations with the note holder.

 

Serena 2nd

 

All in favor. None opposed. No abstentions.

 

Executive Director’s Report – Elizabeth

Standing Committee Updates

Fund Development Committee

  • No Update – Scott to call Jane this week to discuss initial meeting

 

ED Search Committee

  • Scott – the search committee will be meeting soon to finalize the position description and advertise the position
  • also discuss schedule which will likely be:
    • 3/1 Release position description
    • 3/31 Responses due
    • Interviews – 
      • week of 4/11 – 4/20 1st round 
      • week of 4/24 – 4/28 2nd round 
    • 5/1 – 5/5 – check references and final candidates meet with staff
    • 5/16 meet the board
    • Start date Jun 1
  • Serena has requested to join the committee.
  • Motion (Scott): To add Serena to the Search Committee
  • Donnell 2nd
  • All in favor. None opposed – No abstentions
  • Bill suggested listing the salary range in the position description when it is released.
  • Brief discussion of salary
  • Elizabeth can offer budget options to the search committee to consider adding to the advertisement.
  • Serena also has salary information from the market that she can share with the committee

 

Governance Committee 

  • Chuck presented Proposed Bylaws changes that were included in the meeting agenda – expect to approve them next month.
  • Proposed Bylaw changes for March Ratification (draft bylaws with changes and comments)
    • Section 6.01. Executive Director. “On a routine basis, the President Executive Committee shall be responsible for oversight of the executive director.”
      • Replace President with Executive Committee for oversight of the executive director
    • Section 3.13. ​Quorum. “​Fifty-one (51) percent of the directors shall constitute a quorum and four-member organization representatives of the neighborhood associations and at-large directors must be present to create a quorum. 
      • Add at-large members to the required neighborhood representation to create a quorum

 

Community Updates (2 minutes each)

  • no updates

Anchor Updates (2 minutes each)

  • no updates

Program Committee Updates (2 minutes each)

  • Historic Preservation – Scott 
    • CHAP District conversation is ongoing
    • St Lukes
      • Sonia shared: SLYC is working with Episcopal Diocese to stabilize and redevelop the church, clergy house, and campus.
  • Education – Abigail – Wants to flag the level of service (effort) that committee members and others are putting into the work. (especially Steuart Hill to Franklin Square transition)
  • no other updates

President’s Report

  • Sonia would like to have a meeting with the anchors, the community associations, and the committees to discuss the purpose, needs, and contributions of each. She will be setting the meetings soon.

9:30pm – Meeting Adjourned

Motion(Scott)

Abigail 2nd 

All in favor

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