January 2020 Board of Directors Minutes

 

• Welcome and Introductions

 

Kelleigh opened the meeting and all the guests introduced themselves.

Jane Shaab – Gregg just had a baby – Henry. That’s probably why he is not here today.

 

 

• Approval of the Minutes

 

Motion by Jane S. to approve the minutes from December, 2nd by Nancy. All in Favor – the motion passes.

 

 

• Treasurer

 

Kelleigh nominated George for the vacant Treasurer position, 2nd by Dan R.

All in favor 

 

1. Budget

Michael – Michael 2020 Budget just one page

• Partnership pledges proposing $175K from anchors
  • Each committed $35K some time in the summer.
• Goldseker awarded a grant that breaks out in a couple different categories
• The City committed last year a $50K grant we anticipate getting for this year – it did not come through last year.
• West Baltimore Street contract is in place and we should be able to start billing against it – a catalyst project – funding a staff person to do main-street type activities but not quite a main street designation – 
• Abell grant for Lord Baltimore Theater
• Community school coordinators from Baltimore City Schools
• Salaries is the biggest expense – large increase because of lots of new people
• The partnership offices are planning to go to Littlepage’s building
  • Utilities might be a little more at Littlepage’s than on Hollins street
  • Everything else is basically the same
• Richard question: personnel expense has more than doubled – why did they double?
  • Michael: We doubled our staff for all the community schools and West Baltimore Street – we had five employees and we’ve added five new employees
  • RP: This budget was prepared by the finance committee? – MS: not exactly it was prepared by Michael and then reviewed by the finance committee
• Bill M. – does the anchor contribution line item include all the anchors.
• It does not include the B&O. They have not historically contributed and it is unlikely they will contribute at a level similar to the other anchors.
• Jane S – Thinks that the B&O should make a contribution they did not last year.
• Scott – We should ask them for a contribution – every other group including the community associations are supporting the partnership financially.
• Ashley – are there other ways to ask them to be more involved in an in-kind 
• Michael – Let’s ask the new fund development chair to make this a first item – make an ask of the B&O as first order of business.
• JR: Annual and Semi Annual meeting $10K for each what are we paying for 
  • Why are we having a cash bar. 
  • If we have a committee maybe we can pull it off for a bit less.
  • MS: Two items the staff has raised: We would like to see the board more involved:
    • In the two annual meetings
    • Communications with our news letter and our marketing that goes out under the name of the partnership.
• Scott Motion to approve the budget: 2nd Jane B.
• We should talk about the annual meeting: We should establish a committee
• Promotions committee – Marketing and Events and Communications 
• Abigail – not the dept of Education anymore. City Schools
• Richard abstained the budget vote. All others voted in favor.
• Jane S recommended a targeted Task force to simply look at the annual meeting. 
• Ashley, Sonia, Jane B, Jane S, Donnell and JR. volunteered for task force.
• Donnell what is the issue – exactly is the issue with the cash bar or is it participation in the committees
• What Jane is thinking is that the task force look at the event as a group and what went well and what worked well and what could be better, to do a better job…
• Richard can we write mission and purpose of the task force and share with the board?
• Have a separate committee – JR volunteered to chair and Ashley is going to look for professional assistance at the University

 

1. Fund Development Chair

Kelleigh Nominated Lou Packett to be our fund development chair – Ashley 2nd – 

Lou was active in the committee and is looking to have a very active roll in developing the funding we need to move projects forward.

 

Dan R. abstain all others approved – Thanks Lou.

 

 

• SWP Board of Directors Orientation

 

Kelleigh – New board members will get a binder – all other board members will get flash drives. With copies of all the organizational documents.

• Articles of Incorporation. 2014. Are available on line at SDAT
• Kelleigh reviewed the bylaws and the and the code of conduct/ conflict of interest policy
• Bylaws last updated in 2019.
  • Layout the rules of the organization – 3 levels of each category of memberships
  • Bylaws also establish the committees – Standing and Program Committees
• Committee chairs must keep good records of votes and decisions – no committee can act on behalf of the partnership without approval of the board
• 4 Officers – President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer
• Michael (Executive Director) oversees the staff.
• Political activities as an individual are ok but you should not be fundraising or supporting a candidate in your official capacity as a rep of SWP
  • Reviewed Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest.
  • Sometimes confidential information is being shared please be good stewards of the information. 
• Please bring back the signed copies of the Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest forms to next meeting
  • Please write jobs, other boards, or other conflicts or items that might be conflicts or could be seen as conflicts and return to us.
• Khandra – Active participation is important
• Show up and be prepared.
• Reviewed the responsibilities of the board members – and committee chairs.
• Bill makes a motion that Khandra be an advisory board members…
• And 2nd Jane 
• Scott requested that we table till next month…and have a broader discussion about advisory board members as a whole…
• Bill accepted and removed his motion for now.
• Bill welcome to the board to all the new members!

 

1. Executive Director Report

Michael – 

1. • Update from last meeting Church of Nativity – raised $400K for the Rec Center in Poppleton.
     1. The cost of the renovations will be $1M.
     2. Having discussions from the foundations – request the board to be supportive of resolution to submit applications 
     3. Richard motion and Jane S. 2nd
     4. Scott – Can we broaden this conversation to other rec centers. 
     5. Michael and others think that it would hinder the ability to fundraise for this at this moment.
     6. Ashley who is maintain it – Ivan and Poppleton would program and run the center.
     7. We are not responsible for the programming and ongoing maintenance.
        1. All in favor.
   • Memorandum of understanding – with Civil Justice – Eden Forsythe – assistance with tax sale foreclosures…bring certain legal expertise to SWP…
     1. Tax Sale process…We now have a lawyer 
     2. Some of the tax sale work is delayed so he has excess capacity. 
     3. Lord Baltimore and Nuisance abatement around the neighborhood
     4. Amend the memorandum of understanding to expand to be able to tackle those items…and give Michael the authority 
     5. Edith motion Kenneth 2nd
     6. All in favor —
   • BRNI – money has come out…
   • Would the partnership – lend Michaels time to convince legislators that maintaining this funding is important
   • Advocacy in Annapolis – everyone thinks this is a good idea…
     1. Edith motion that Michael – 2nd by Kenneth

 

1. 1. New Business/ Old Business
      • Ashley: Dan Rodricks just wrote a column. McHenry and Gilmor is listed on google maps as a drug corner – it might be the first time a drug corner is listed on google maps – but the article also mentioned the SWP and all the great work that the community is doing to counter the negative situation.
        1. Scott Kashnow that is exactly the kind of thing that a Marketing committee should be reacting to.
      • Bill the boulevards committee – are moving ahead.
      • Romona Brown – realtor bringing credit smart classes to MT Clare
      • Bill: Special election Feb 4 – voting is important

 

• Adjourn

 

Motion to Adjourn by Scott