July 2018 Board Meeting Minutes
Soulard Restoration Group Board Meeting Minutes
Date: July 18, 2018
Location: The American Legion
Officers and Directors in Attendance: Beth Bennett, Luann Denten, LeRoy Fitzwater, Venessa Kobrin, Eric Marlinghaus, Scott Plackemeier, Neil Putz, Christopher Schwarz, Stephen Shuman, Billy Tomber, Wade Weistreich.
Officers and Directors Absent: none
The meeting was called to order at 7:00pm by V. Kobrin
Motion by L. Denten, to add the following items to the agenda in “Old Business”.
· Topic requested by B. Bennett “discuss committee vs board issues”.
· Topic requested by L. Denten, “communication transparency, fairness, the Board working as a function unit”.
· Topic requested by W. Weistreich “executive decisions”
S. Shuman amended the motion to add to the end of the agenda, W. Weistreich amended motion to add these items after the treasurer’s report. Previous amendment by S. Shuman withdrawn. L. Denten accepted the amendment.
Motion passes with B. Bennett, L. Denten, S. Shuman, S. Plackemeier, W. Weistreich in favor, and L. Fitzwater, N. Putz., C. Schwarz, opposed. B. Tomber no vote cast, absent.
Approval of Minutes
June Board meeting minutes were previously approved on July 2nd by email vote.
Motion to approve minutes passed with L. Fitzwater, L. Marlinghaus, S Plackemeier, N. Putz, C. Schwarz, in favor, W. Weistreich abstaining; B. Bennett, L. Denten, S. Shuman, and B. Tomber not casting a vote.
Email Motions and Votes between June and July Board Meetings
Motion by S. Shuman, to approve of Residential Promotion’s plans and recommendations for the Soulard Royalty nomination and selection process as presented on 27 June, and to thank the committee for incorporating feedback on the issue brought forward by the Board. Second by B. Bennett.
The motion failed with B. Bennett, S. Plackemeier, S. Shuman, and W. Weistreich, in favor or the motion, and L. Fitzwater, L. Marlinghaus, N. Putz, C. Schwarz, and B. Tomber against. L. Denten not casting a vote.
Motion by B. Tomber that the drawing for the 2019 Royal be held on Saturday, July 14, 2018 in Pontiac Park after the ceremonial regicide, and be picked by a ghost royal of Residential Promotions’ choosing in front of the gathered peasantry. Second by L. Fitzwater.
The motion passed, with L. Fitzwater, L. Marlinghaus, S Plackemeier, N. Putz, C. Schwarz, and B. Tomber in favor and B. Bennett, S. Shuman, and W. Weistreich against. L. Denten not casting a vote.
Board Resignation and Appointments:
Motion by S. Shuman, to approve the appointment of L. Fitzwater as Secretary. Second by N. Putz.
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion by C. Schwarz, to approve the appointment of E. Marlinghaus as Director. Second by N. Putz.
Motion passes with L. Fitzwater, S. Plackemeier, N. Putz, C. Schwarz, S. Shuman, B. Tomber and W. Weistreich in favor with L. Denten and B. Bennett opposed.
Old Business
Suggestion Box
S. Shuman presented a procedure for handling and publishing the feedback from the “Suggestion Box” to the Board on a regular basis.
After Board discussion S. Shuman agreed to take the comments of the Board, incorporate into the document, and circulate the revised procedure for approval either prior or at the next board meeting.
Board members thanked S. Shuman for his effort in developing the procedure.
Bastille Day Review
Motion to limit the discussion to 20min no individual shall speak longer than 5 minutes. Second B. Tomber.
Motion passes with L. Fitzwater, E. Marlinghaus, N. Putz, C. Schwarz, B. Tomber in favor and B. Bennett, L. Denten, S. Plackemeier S. Shuman, W. Weistreich opposed; V. Korbin votes to support the motion and break the tie.
L. Denten read a statement recapping the Bastille Day events.
J. Durnell prevailed in the random drawing and accepted the position as Soulard Royal. He named, his husband, Richard Eaton as his co-Royal.
Motion by W. Weistreich to extend time for discussion by 10min, Second by B. Bennett. Motion passes with B. Bennett, L Denten, S. Plackemeier, S. Shuman, B. Tomber and W. Weistreich in favor and L. Fitzwater, E. Marlinghaus. N. Putz, and C. Schwarz opposed.
Residential Promotions Committee
The Board discussed the events around the Soulard Royal Selection in the context of the previously passed motion on the subject.
Discussion via email & motions
L. Fitzwater presented to procedural motions to resolve issues in Board deliberations over the last few months.
Motion by L. Fitzwater, to suspend board discussion on a proposed motion by email except for unanimous consent. In other words, a motion may be made by email, there is no discussion just an immediate vote. Motions made should be of a nature that do not require a second. If any board member votes “no”, or does not respond within the allocated time of the vote the motion is tabled till the next Board meeting, which may be a special meeting for discussion and disposition of the proposed motion. If ALL board members respond affirmatively, or note they are abstaining, the proposed motion passes with unanimous consent. Any motion by email must be included as part of the minutes for the upcoming board meeting and noted it was executed by email for record keeping purposes. Second by B. Tomber
Motion, passes unanimously.
Motion by L. Fitzwater, to restrict duly elected Directors and Officers as serving as committee chairs concurrently with their Board duties. Any current member of the Board must decide in which role they prefer to execute moving forward. In addition, there is an expectation that any committee chair that runs for a Board position, when elected, will resign any pre-existing committee chair duties. Second, N. Putz
Discussion:
C. Schwarz proposed an amendment that this restriction would be applied to standing committees and not ad hoc committees. L. Fitzwater accepted the amendment.
C. Schwarz proposed amendment to motion adding “an effective date within 60 days” L. Fitzwater accepted the amendment. S. Shuman proposed an amendment as changing “60 days” to “…effective at the next election cycle of any effected Board members.” L. Fitzwater accepted the amendment to the motion.
Motion passes as amended, “to restrict duly elected Directors and Officers as serving as committee chairs concurrently with their Board duties. Any current member of the Board must decide in which role they prefer to execute moving forward. In addition, there is an expectation that any committee chair that runs for a Board position, when elected, will resign any pre-existing committee chair duties. This policy will be effective at the next election cycle of any affected board members”, with B. Bennett, L. Fitzwater, S. Plackemeier, N. Putz, S. Shuman, B. Tomber, and W. Weistreich, in favor with C. Schwarz abstaining and L. Denten and E. Marlinghaus opposed.
Treasurer’s Report
C. Schwarz presented the Treasurer’s Report.
In the process of closing the 2018 books and working with the tax preparer to file our taxes
Requesting comments on the 2019 Budget process and presentation.
Motion by B. Tomber, to approve the Treasurer’s Report. Second by N. Putz.
Motion passes unanimously.
Old Business
Topic requested by B. Bennett “discuss committee vs board issues”.
B. Bennett requested item be removed from agenda, no discussion.
Topic requested by L. Denten, “communication transparency, fairness, the Board working as a function unit”.
The Board discussed at length the recent communication through emails and how to improve communication, transparency and fairness moving forward.
Topic requested by W. Weistreich “executive decisions”
The Board continued discussion on transparency and recent executive decisions. Consensus was found that the President was fully authorized to make the appointment, but there was a nonbinding request moving forward that the board be made aware of the selection criteria prior to an appointment decision being made.
Committee Liaison Reports
Soulard Station
N. Putz reported on the progress of standing up the Soulard Station Committee.
Motion by N. Putz, to adopt the Soulard Station Committee Charter as amended. Second C. Schwarz
Motion passes unanimously, with E. Marlinghaus abstaining.
Remote control for A/C has been delivered and is in the closet.
Decision to keep only one waste receptacles at the Station which we are currently being charged for two. C. Schwarz to execute the changes.
There are five people interested in serving on the committee.
Communication
B. Tomber reported on the activities of Communications Committee.
In addition it was noted that the deadline for inclusion in the Oktoberfest Issue of the Renaissance is August 30, 2018 and the deadline for the Parlor Tour edition, is Oct 12th
All submissions are to go to editor@soulard.org .
Suggestion Box, B Tomber to work on the electronic part of the suggestion box.
Beautification
B. Bennett reported on the activities of the Beautification committee.
Beautification Committee Fundraiser at Molly’s brought in $10K.
Garden Tour was successful, approximately 140 people came through the tour. It was very well received by those who attended.
Pontiac Park Garden, load of chat was delivered to fill in the pathways.
Marilyn Morris, has been working with intern from Brightside to pull weeds and mulch at the Memorial Garden at Soulard Market Park.
Request an agenda item for next Board meeting: Memorial Garden in Soulard Market Park
Request by L. Denten to thank Duke’s for the use of the large golf cart on the Garden Tour.
Request by L. Denten to thank Marilyn Morris for her work in the Memorial Garden at Soulard Market Park
PRT
B. Bennett reported on activities of the PRT committee.
STARS has submitted new plans to the committee for their building.
There is meeting with developers of 1015-17 Geyer the evening of July 19th. Original application to put a convenience store in this location. Demolition has already occurred and only the front wall remains.
V. Kobrin forwarded to J. Gibbs the notice of a hearing on the request by the BP station to remove the existing restriction on the sale of blunt cigars and individual cans or bottles of beer with the Board of Adjustment on July 25th at 1pm.
Motion by L. Denten, for the SRG to take an official position and oppose the lifting of the restriction of the sale of “blunt cigars or individual cans or bottles of beer” for the BP Station Board of Adjustment hearing on July 25th. Second by B. Tomber
Motion passes unanimously. V. Kobrin to attend meeting or designate a representative.
Residential Promotion
L. Denten stated that there was nothing further to report from the committee
Membership
S. Shuman reported on activities of the Membership Committee
Proposal from membership committee to deal with how new members pay dues between annual membership drive annually in May.
S. Shuman to take board input back to the committee to draft a proposed policy.
Membership is planning ice cream social near The Island August 26th from 12-4pm
Motion by C. Schwarz, to permanently move the location of the General Membership meetings to the American Legion for the remainder of the year. Second by B. Tomber
Motion passes unanimously
Legion is amicable to hosting one social per year.
The Board meetings will remain open to the membership for observation and be held at the Soulard Station.
Safety
S. Plackemeier reported on activities of the Safety Committee.
At last meeting the committee was advised that there was an arrest made on two recent previous robberies.
Next meeting the last Monday in July at the Station.
National Night moved to First Tuesday in October. City of St Louis registration website closed until August 1st. Residents can register, and request street closures, in advance of this date by mail.
W. Weistreich sent out an email to the last ~20 people on the camera list.
There are a couple of traffic issues in the neighborhood that will be taken up with J. Cotar.
Fundraising
C. Schwarz reported on fundraising activities, their next meeting will be July 19th.
“Falling Fences” will be performing at the July installment of the Soulard Market Concert 2018 Series. The “Pedestrians” will be performing next month.
The committee is aware of the Naked Bike Ride coming through the neighborhood around the time of the concert.
“Oktoberfest” and “Q in the Lou”, fundraisers coming up. The committee will need volunteers to help pour beer. More information will be coming out.
Volunteer T-shirts: reminder to make sure the names of those that have volunteered at recent events are incorporated into the spreadsheet for recognition.
Closing Remarks
Adjournment
Motion by B. Tomber, to adjourn meeting. Second by N. Putz. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 10:30pm
Respectfully Submitted,
LeRoy Fitzwater, Secretary