HCMI Board Meeting May 15, 2019

Meeting minutes of Holyoke Media – May 15, 2019

Present:

• Scott MacPherson, ED
• Denis Luzuriaga
• Jennifer Myszkowski
• Al Williams
• Carey Baker

 

Not present:

• Mike Hines
• Ali Pinschmidt

 

Minutes

• Motion to accept minutes from 3/13: 
  • Motion: Carey
  • 2nd: Denis
  • Vote: Unanimous

 

Director’s report

• https://drive.google.com/open?id=1geJBVtVOR5enJ8iUoWE_yyE0Z–ukmlS 
• Grant received: $200,000 – Cultural facilities grant
  • Formal announcement: coming soon. 
  • We will promote at a certain point.
• RFP for building demo. 
  • Associated Wreckers’ proposal: https://drive.google.com/open?id=12tJGWbiGHX9e3HYpDJnrZ832AOIU0ePO 
  • Mowry & Schmidt will send to 3-4 more providers
  • Once a company is chosen, time will be required for permits, etc., related to asbestos abatement.
• Work on Arts Hub has continued.
  • We’re hosting a listening session at Nueva Esperanza. Ascertainment to be sure we’re targeting the right thing and meeting artists’ needs.
  • Assisting in organizing other events at other locations as well.
  • Will be final soon.
  • Board action: Review MOU for planning process for Arts Hub by Monday, 5/20.
    • https://drive.google.com/open?id=1SjHF29eYpDjtUarw6bPoLMzYF8z6lLsY 
    • Return comments to full board and Scott.
    • If Scott doesn’t hear from any member of the Board by 5 p.m. on Monday, 5/20, he will proceed without us.
• We’ve received 2 other grants:
  • $500 for a video about MassBike.
  • $10,000 for an installation “Our Grandmothers.”
  • Submitted for $65K grant to do health literacy grant.
• There’s $63K for us in the municipal account.
  • 3 specific proposals for spending from this account:
    • $4,023 repair of equipment at high school
    • $29,000 for digital archiving system to help a relationship with the library.
    • $7,500 for continuing the relationship with the grant writer
  • Motion to spend $40,523 out of the municipal account for the items outlined above:
    • Motion: Denis
    • 2nd: Mike
    • Vote: Unanimous
  • We need to have understanding of how these dollars can be spent once the dollars can become available to Holyoke Media.
    • Scott will continue the practice of reporting $$ spent quarterly to the mayor.
    • Dollars stay in the account; they don’t get transferred into our account.
• Formal PILOT has not yet been completed.
• Personnel:
  • Scott consulted with lawyer re: person filming city council meetings.
    • This person cannot be an independent contractor legally.
    • Scott would like to make it a staff position. This means FICA, workers comp, unemployment.
    • Scott will update the budget to reflect this, create job description, etc.
  • We need to revisit personnel policy about part-time employees.
    • Scott to make revisions for us to react to for next time.
• Celebrate Holyoke
  • We’ll be fiscal sponsor for 5% = $4,000
  • They’ll give us access to performers in advance.
  • They’ll give us vendor space for tabling and truck
  • They’ll bring along their own accountant
  • Scott will proceed with accepting.
  • If it turns into more work than purported, we’ll revisit the decision for next year.
  • How should contracting be handled? When they sign a contract with a performer, we’re on the hook for $$. 
    • Scott to confirm that we won’t be on the hook and that the contract protects us. Will talk to lawyer.
    • Scott will ensure that we are insured. Indemnity.
    • Board will vote on contract by email.
• Who will have access to the truck
  • Are we paying for DOT physicals? 
    • Yes, for staff people. 
    • No, for board members.
  • When should it be used?
    • With board approval for board members
    • With Scott’s approval for staff members

 

Membership Form

• Scott will send for Board approval

 

Meeting with Superintendent 

• Will be scheduled once the taxes are done.
• Scott wants to do 2018 and 2019 meeting this summer. They will review the full last two years.
  • Al suggests setting dates a now with Superintendent and Mayor.
• Then meetings will happen each summer going forward and will be fully up-to-date.

 

New Board seats

• Mayor appointed Jennifer
• Superintendent appointed Mike
• Still awaiting City Council appointment

 

Adjourn

• Motion: Carey
• 2nd: Denis
• Vote: Unanimous

 

Next meeting:

• Wed., June 19 at 6:30 p.m. at 295 High Street
  • Agenda:
    • Personnel policy revisions
    • Building status
    • Approval of demo contractor
    • Updated timeline on taxes
    • Website