December 2023 Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Attendees

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes 

December 19, 2023

7:05 – Elizabeth Call to order – Sonia has a conflict – Laura will lead the meeting

• Introduction & Attendance
  • Meeting ground rules

Minutes Approval

• Motion to approve minutes (Edith), Kris 2nd

None opposed – None Abstain – All in favor –

Acting Executive Director Report (Elizabeth):

• Request for Letter of Support from South Baltimore Gateway Partnership to support the new grocery store at Mt Clare Shopping Center.
  • SBGP applied for a Community Legacy Grant for $200K from MD DHCD and they awarded the grant but DHCD switched it to the BRNI program. SWP is the designated organization for BRNI grants in this area and so SBGP needs a letter of support from SWP in order to receive the grant.
  • Motion (Kurt): to approve a letter of support. 2nd by Scott
    • None opposed – Cecilia Abstained – All others in favor –
• Maryland Nonprofits Survey and Board Excellence Training
  • Please fill out the survey before January 7th
• 2024 Board Meeting Schedule
  • Proposed: 4 public meetings (March, June, September, December)
  • Remainder of Board meetings Board only
    • We would like to increase the number of in person meetings.
    • Kris offered the B&O as a space for meeting
• 2024 Governance Chair
  • Thanks to Chuck for chairing this committee during a particularly important and challenging time. We are looking for volunteers to be the next chair of the Governance Committee.

Current Draft FY2024 Budget (Elizabeth):

• Elizabeth highlighted a few points in the budget
  • Operating funds is lower than last year by $90K
  • There is a small gap left on the Poppleton rec center due to newly discovered expenses
  • There are several program items that are budgeted based on grant applications that we have submitted and expect to receive – however if we don’t receive the funding we will eliminate those budget line items. We won’t spend hte money unless we are awarded the grants.
  • Community Schools is less this year than last
  • We requested CORE money for the Housing Plan
  • Motion (Scott): to approve the budget. 2nd by Chuck
    • Cecilia opposed (concerned about ED Salary) – None  Abstained – All others in favor –

ED Search Committee (Scott):

• 2nd Round of interviews scheduled this week – very encouraged by the candidates – a fantastic group.
• Lots to get through but aiming for a start date of Feb 1st.

Community and Program Committee Announcements:

• Neighborhood Associations
  • Barre Circle (Serena) – no updates
  • Franklin Square (Edith) – no updates
  • Hollins Roundhouse – no update
  • Mount Clare – no update
  • Pigtown – no update
  • Poppleton – no update
  • Union Square – no update
• Anchor Institutions
  • B&O Railroad Museum (Kris) – Wordsmith (wrote a song) with BSO special event on MLK Day 7PM
  • Bon Secours Community Works – no update
  • Lifebridge Health (Kurt) – no update
  • University of MD Baltimore (Bill) – no update
  • University of MD BioPark (Jane) – no update
  • University of MD Medical Center (Chuck) – no update
  • Wexford Science and Technology – no update
• Committees
  • Commercial Development – no update
  • Education: – (Abigail) – no update
  • Historic Preservation (Scott) – no update
  • Housing (Cecilia) – Housing Event
  • Public Safety (Howard) – no update
  • Vibrant Streets (Donnell) – no update
  • Workforce Development (Diana) – no update

Office closed this week and next. Some staff are working from home.

8:01pm – Meeting Adjourned

Motion (Laura) to adjourn.

All in favor – Move to executive session