HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-05-13 Cultural Council Minutes o „ Town of Reading 'tECEIVeU
Meeting Minutes TOWNCLERK
VA
Board - committee - commission - council: 2021 JUN -8 AM S
Cultural Council
Date: 2021-05-13 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Location:
Address: Session: Open Session
Purpose: Version:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Mary Ann Kozlowski, Megan Fidler-Carey, Bharti Joy Paris, Nora Bucko,
Brian Kimerer, Katherine Lopez Natale, Kern Perry,Michael Duncan Smith,
Jane Soloway
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Katherine Lopez Natale
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was conducted via ZOOM due to coronavirus pandemic restrictions.
Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
Minutes of the April 5, 2021 meeting were approved.
The treasurer reported that the main RCC account has a balance of $18,119. Another
$1005 remains from funds given by the town and must be paid out by lune 2021. The
2020 and 2021 funds should be disbursed by December 2021. Jane Soloway reported that
when she reached out to the grantees to ascertain the delivery date of their cultural
performance most responded quickly with the information.
The Council reviewed the results of the annual survey completed by 117 respondents over
the course of 8 weeks. The results will be posted on the town website. Feedback from
respondents covered many topics. Members noted that many residents were not aware of
the full extent of activities available to them. One of the grantees, Sherri Vandenakker,
spoke recently with RCC member Megan Fidler-Carey on RCN about her project to record
the resiliency of the town through photos submitted by local citizens. She is still working to
collect enough photos from Reading citizens to complete her project.
The RCC Instagram page is now "following" several other Reading organizations - the
library, Bunratty's, Cupcake City, etc. Our Facebook page has also attracted many new
friends. Michael Duncan Smith says that the exchange of information with local residents
through media is a mutually beneficial undertaking. He also invited Brian Kimerer to send
photos of the Downtown Art walk to post on our Facebook site.
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The Council will change next year as several people end their term and others will be voted
in by the Select Board. The current secretary may exchange that role for that of the
Treasurer. Megan Fidler-Carey and Brian Kimerer will serve as co-chairs.
The Council has been looking into regulations that determine full and associate membership
on the RCC. The town charter does not contain specific language regarding RCC
membership. The town currently limits RCC to 7 members with a maximum of 4 associate
members for a total of 11. The Massachusetts Cultural Council requires a minimum of 5
members for an official vote but does not stipulate an upper limit on council membership. In
each of the last two years, three members of the RCC stepped down when they reached the
end of the maximum limit of two terms. This turnover challenges the Council's ability to
continue to fulfill its mission given the time that it takes for new members to become
acquainted with the regulations of the Massachusetts Cultural Council as well as the various
responsibilities, practices and roles of RCC. RCC voted to support expansion of full
membership to a total of 11 with up to 4 additional associate members. In addition, there
is interest in having one of the new members be a RMHS student who might receive
volunteer credit. Megan Fidler-Carey will talk to the Guidance Department about this
possibility.
The next meeting will be June 7, 2021.
Meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
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