HCMI Board Meeting February 19, 2020

Meeting minutes of Holyoke Media – February 19, 2020

Present:

• Scott MacPherson, ED
• Jennifer Myszkowski
• Carey Baker
• Al Williams
• Patty Norris Lubold
• Mike Hines
• Denis Luzuriaga
• Jason Katsoris, Holyoke Marketing Company, Guest

Not present:

• NA

Call to order: 6: p.m.

Minutes:

• Motion to accept minutes from 1/15/2020: 
  • Motion: Mike
  • 2nd: Carey
  • Vote: Unanimous

Director’s report:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=15gXInnxJsRskj922RVZvDEMR2lyHmxIN 

• Website will be launching tomorrow.
• Mass. PFML: 1099 employees don’t count. Only current staff count. 
• Concerns about building costs – may need to engage steps to reduce costs.
• Budget:
  • Through discussion, resolved open questions/issues related to the budget.
  • Motion to accept 2020 budget:
    • Motion: Denis
    • 2nd: Carey
    • Vote: Unanimous
  • Carey: Have we ever applied for facilities grant?
    • Yes, $200,000 grant. It’s a reimbursement grant.
  • We have to carry on full quarter of funding into next year when we wait for the next quarterly check from Comcast.
  • Motion to transfer $100,000 from operating account to capital account.
    • Motion: Carey
    • 2nd: Jennifer
    • Vote: Unanimous
  • Additional space: Space at 295 High Street can be used for production space.
    • Concerns because it’s not accessible? May broach the topic of remote production space with the Library, which is accessible. We can reasonably accommodate people with the same services in another space.
    • Can be used for the three weekly podcasts.
    • It’s not ideal, but it is convenient and it’s cheap.
    • There are multiple locked doors, so it’s safe. Plus there are alarms and cameras, etc.
    • Adding the space is an additional $400.
    • Any educational programs will be run in the space and in the library.
    • We need good signage that can be seen from outside the door to make sure that anyone with accessibility concerns can engage.
• City Council equipment upgrade needs – Scott has attended a meeting and is accessing needs.
  • Additional mics for the committee table.
  • Presentation system.
  • Development & Government Relations Committee – they want to provide more in Spanish. 
    • Gladys Lebron said that the meetings used to be captioned in Spanish.
    • We may need someone on staff eventually who has responsibilities for translation/interpretation, etc.
    • Scott inquiring with vendors and Comcast and doing more research.
• Membership policy
  • Scott updating based on Board feedback and discussion.
  • Motion to accept Membership policy with edits as discussed in the meeting:
    • Motion: Carey
    • 2nd: Patty
    • Vote: Unanimous
• Equipment use policy – submit any additional comments by next meeting.
• Additional policies coming in March for our review. Will plan to vote on them in April.
• Archiving video footage with Library. Will create additional outside copy. Scott will sign it.

Old Business

• SWOT responses
  • Valerie is still compiling.
  • Will have for next meeting
• Voting for officers
  • Nominations:
    • Jennifer Myszkowski, President
    • Carey Baker, Vice-President
    • Al Williams, Treasurer
  • Motion to accept nominations of President, Vice-President and Treasurer
    • Motion: Denis
    • 2nd: Mike
    • Vote: Unanimous
  • Nomination:
    • Denis Luzuriaga, Clerk
  • Motion to accept nomination of Clerk
    • Motion: Jennifer
    • 2nd: Mike
    • Vote: Unanimous
• Employee Review:
  • Scott and Denis to pull up old doc.
  • Next time, executive session about the process and next steps.

Other Business:

• Future meetings:
  • Scott will send report Friday before.
  • Board President will send agenda by Sunday before.
  • Board should review agenda and minutes in advance of meeting.
  • Scott will include deadlines in subject lines when there is a date by which he needs our feedback

Next meeting:

• Wed., March 18, at 6:30 p.m. at The Cubit CoWork space – 164 Race Street
  • Agenda:
    • Executive Session item: Employee review
    • Building estimates
    • SWOT responses
    • Committees of the Board
    • Stack of policies to discuss

Motion to adjourn:

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