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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-28 Cultural Council Minutes rq Town of Reading KtGrlVEU = Meeting Minutes TO n WN CLERK P r. MA. 2021 JAN 19 PM 5: 41 Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Cultural Council Date: 2020-12-28 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Location: Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: Version: Attendees: Members - Present: Mary Ann Kozlowski, Nora Bucko, Brian Kimerer, Katherine Lopez Natale, Kern Perry, Jane Soloway Members - Not Present: , Michael Duncan Smith, Megan Fidler-Carey, Bharti Joy Paris Others Present: Heather Gay, Quannapowitt Players Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Katherine Lopez Natale Topics of Discussion: This meeting was conducted via ZOOM due to the Corona Virus Pandemic restrictiions. Meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. Minutes of the November meeting were approved. The treasurer updated the balance in the RCC accounts. $8210.96 remains encumbered for grant projects yet to be completed or submitted for payment and includes interest. The balance in the Reading town grant for FY2021 is $7816.33. Earliest requested reimbursements will be taken from the town account. The state funds for 2021 are reported to arrive in the next week or two. In the meantime, the treasurer is completing the annual report and will work with Ann Kozlowski to obtain the list of last year's meeting dates which are needed for the report. Town Hall, Brian Kimmerer, and Nora Bucko have all played a role in informing residents of the change in application dates through notices via the town website, email, and public postings. Mary Ann recognized the effectiveness of their efforts in light of the increase in applications since December 1a'. Heather Gay from Quannapowitt Players attended the meeting as a visitor and was asked to speak. QP ran a summer theater experience from July through the beginning of June. It took place in the parking lot and was observant of the COVID restrictions. Over 950 people attended, many from Reading, but others from nearby communities, including many new faces. Attendees were asked to "pay as you can", QP has submitted a grant request to cover the cost of licenses for which they were charged at the regular rates despite the pandemic. Looking ahead to the next meeting, one member asked if the Arts Reading small request to pay for a fiscal agent was an appropriate application for a cultural grant. Mary Ann said that she would pose the question directly to the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Page 1 1 Applicants will be invited to meet with the council via Zoom on January WI or 5t" by selecting a time between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. on Signup Genius. Mary Ann asked everyone to review the applications to consider any questions that they might have for the applicants. She will request permission to use the town Zoom account so that we can have a longer meeting. A third January meeting for the purpose of voting on applications has been tentatively scheduled for January 11, 2021. Brian will invite Selectman Vanessa Alvarado to visit one of the planned January meetings or the March meeting. Meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Page 1 2