HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-10-15 Cultural Council Minutes N OPH
Town of Reading
e Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
2816 Nov -8 PM 113
Cultural Council
Date: 2018-10-15 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Pleasant Street Senior Center Location: Arts and Crafts Room
Address: 49 Pleasant Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: Version:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Donna Schenkel, Nancy Ziemlak, Nora Bucko, Mary Ann Kozlowski, Jane
Soloway, Megan Fidler-Carey, Brian Kimerer, Rosemary Lewis
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Barry Berman, Select Board Vice Chair
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Rosemary Lewis
Topics of Discussion:
Call to order at 7:04.
Minutes were corrected and approved.
No new Treasurer's report. Jane met with Sharon at the Town office to complete the LCC I'I
Voting Meeting Calculation sheet. The grant money available for awards is $7,564. There Is
$300 in administrative funds. Rosemary submitted receipts from the reception last May for lig
reimbursement.
Donna introduced Barry Berman from the Select Board, who is our liaison. All the members ISI
Introduced themselves, and Barry stated that he was present to listen and offer help to the
council. He spoke about the economic development plans for the town, which include
developing a cultural district. We discussed the various activities of the Cultural Council—
how many applications we generally receive, vs the amount of money we have to award,
new groups that have applied. The survey of townspeople was discussed. Donna
mentioned that going forward we will have to do the survey every year, Instead of every
other year. The restrictions and criteria that we use to vet the applications were mentioned.
Brian asked about the MCC's proposal to use prospective reimbursement as opposed to
retrospective as it is now. Apparently the MCC is doing a pilot trial of this, but so far it does
not affect the Reading Cultural Council. Barry asked how the Select Board could help us.
First on the list is to provide additional money for awards. Secondly, to help with publicity
and dust getting the word out about who we are and what we do. He invited a
representative of our group to attend a Select Board meeting to provide a synopsis of our
functions. This would be best after the award decisions are announced.
The next meeting, on 11/5/18, will be the Interviews with applicants. Donna asked for help
with setting up the schedule. Nancy will arrange these, starting at 6:20 pm. The business
meeting will begin at 6:00.
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RCC membership positions were discussed. The council must have a minimum of 5
members, and no more than 7 regular members. There are also 3 associate member slots,
one of which is filled at this time by Megan Fidler-Carey. Associate members can help
constitute the quorum for meetings (4). Regular terms are 3 years with one renewal.
Donna suggested it would be ideal for someone to shadow the Chair position, so that when
her term expires in June, 2020 there can be a smooth transition.
There was a short discussion about how to read the grant applications. Donna noted that
the MCC will send a link to the panel books that contain all the applications for our council.
That is promised by November 1, 2018.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm.
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