BOARD OF DIRECTORS MINUTES – Meeting of June 13, 2022

PRESENT:  Claire Adler, President; Steve Richman, Vice-President;  Janet Finegar, Secretary; Shakirra Clark; Jeff Hornstein, Caitlin Marrazzo; Joe Mikuliak; Matt Ochs; Don Phillips; Matt Ruben; Kevin Wilkins.

ABSENT: Alex Boland, Chastity Houston, Barbara Saverino

The meeting was called to order by the President at 7:05 p.m.

Motion: By Kevin Wilkins, seconded by Joe Mikuliak. “To approve the minutes of the May Board meeting as presented.” Passed 9-0-0 

President’s Report: Claire Adler. Written report attached and reviewed.

• The Board discussed in detail the issues regarding hiring professional staff for the NLNA. Claire summarized the thinking of the group that we should look to immediately hire an Executive Director with a certain amount of property management and fundraising responsibilities and will support committees. That ED will not be expected to be handling board communications and structure.

• Matt Ruben suggested that he and Jeff Hornstein will work to create a job description for an Executive Director and a plan for the search and funding that can be voted upon at the next Board meeting. Matt requested that Steve, Janet, and Barbara list their understanding of what the specific property management needs of the Community Center and Liberty Lands are. Based upon that list, the Board will make a strategic decision about whether we should immediately hire a property management firm to handle the CC. 

• Don reminded the Board that volunteers are needed for the music festival on the 18^th of June and also for the 2^nd Street Festival on August 7. 

NLNA President’s Report

1. PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND POLICY

• I-95: Will host another meeting to discuss the NLBID’s idea of raising I-95 on a viaduct to share and get community feedback--possibly June 23 if we can do it in the Yard.

2. FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

• NLNA Elections: Have been pushed back until the fall
• Lara’s Last Day: Will be June 20. Discussion of passing off Lara’s responsibilities.
• Hiring discussion: Brainstorming about the needs of a full time hire and next steps.
• Board recruitment: Thank you Janet for taking the lead on this. Upcoming meeting with those interested in getting involved.

3. EVENTS AND OUTREACH

• Story Slam: Was June 11--thank you Caitlin!
• Music Fest: June 18. Volunteers still needed
• 2nd St Fest: August 7

4. OTHER ITEMS

• Board Polls – Ratification of any online board polls since last month’s board meeting.

Treasurer's Report. Written report distributed and reviewed.

A. 2021-22 Budget: May Financials - table attached

• For the eight months ending on April 30, All Program and All Funds:
  • Income: $107,936 – $2,503 less than budgeted
  • Expenses: $115,007 – $1,277 more than budgeted
  • Net Income: ($7,071)  – $3,780 more than budgeted
• For the eight months ending on April 30, General Fund & Liberty Lands accounts:
  • Income: $93,842  – $1,481 less than budgeted
  • Expenses: $100,865  – $1,007 more than budgeted
  • Net Income: ($7,023)  – $1,488 more than budgeted

B. Other Items

• Insurance Policies – Status of Outreach to Agents
  • The agents for all four of our insurance policies have agreed to carry both the NLNA and the NLAC as ‘Insureds.”
  • We are still awaiting answers to the other questions we have raised about scope of coverage and limitations.
• Liberty Lands Checking Account
  • The account was compromised and fraudulent checks were presented at the bank to be cashed. The bank covered the checks, but to solve the problem it was necessary to close the current account and open a new one.

Motion: By Matt Ruben, seconded by Don Phillips. “To accept the Treasurer's report as presented.” Passed 9-0-0

Education Committee: Jeff Hornstein.

• The Kearny event scheduled for June has been postponed to September. 

Liberty Lands Committee Report: Janet Finegar. Written report attached and reviewed.

Liberty Lands Committee

• Short report for May/June
• Bruce is planning an in-person Liberty Lands meeting this month – he will send out a message about it soon. The meeting will NOT be tomorrow (Tuesday the 14^th) as usually scheduled: watch for the message.
• The OurNation festival had some glitches due to the organizers failing to read their reservation materials properly, but they were resolved. Thanks to Don for going over and talking to them (and to the neighbors who alerted us to the problem). Remember that Liberty Lands is a community park – don't be afraid to, as a community member, assert the core rules that are always true! 
• The music festival and flea market this Saturday (June 18) could still use volunteers for set up and cleanup (especially!) Let Don know if you can help. 
• There seems to be a slow leak in the water line at the westernmost hose tap. If anyone has some minor plumbing (and digging skills) and could investigate that, it would be wonderful. 
• Rachel has some family issues that forced her to step back from City Harvest. Anyone able to volunteer to help with food deliveries? Let Mary Claire (or the new City Harvest volunteer whose name I can't remember) know. 
• That's all I (Janet) can think of at the moment, but please respond to the group with any updates I missed so we all are aware of things going on! 

Membership Committee Report: Shakirra Clark.

• The committee has been making plans for tabling and sales at the Music Festival on the 18^th. 

Operations Committee Report. Written report attached.

Attendees:  Lara, Rachel and Barbara 

• Office Update:
  • Rentals 
  • Repairs:  Terry out to fix both tenant's air conditioners.  Lara fixed the dehumidifier in the basement.
  • Office time has been spent on Liberty Lands account.  

• Rentals:  Rachel is working with several recurring renters and working on several months out scheduling.  Also working with NLArts as they gear up for summer camp season/use of the center/yard. Barbara or Rachel will follow up with Larry regarding upcoming Zoning meetings and scheduling to get on calendar. Discussion on main room painting.
• Vacation Schedule: Lara will be away 6/20 and returning July 26. (Updated: Lara has resigned: 6/20 will be her last day.)
• Apartment:  Don's lease is up June 30.  Rachel will be following up with Chris Sommers regarding the starting of the rental process. Apartment will need to be cleaned and painted.  Will look to see if/what maintenance is required.  
• Mailbox Store: Discussion included Barbara providing an update on cleaning of property (occurred June 4) and items that had been placed outside by tenant for city trash removal over the past few weeks.  Drywall and painting is next.  Rachel asked if Terry would be doing work. Lara to follow up (after cleaning) and would be when business is closed.
• Bench: Barbara shared recommendations from the designer with Bill Russell and Joe Mikuliak.  Committee appreciates their interest and thoughtful plan.  The work will be done when it is cooler weather.

Public Safety Committee Report: Matt Ochs. Written report attached and reviewed.

• There have been requests from the community for a public meeting about the carjackings or crime in general, but the sense of the Board in general was that such a meeting would not be productive. The Board thanked Matt for his quick action on contacting the police districts.

Matt reached out to Captain Craig of the 6th District to discuss the uptick in car jackings, specifically around Green and Brown between 2nd and 4th .

He believes that the incidents in Northern Liberties may be connected to a few other jobs in other parts of the city. The overall investigation involves a few different area detective divisions along with the Major Crimes Carjacking Task Force. Despite their manpower woes, the PPD is dedicated a significant amount of personnel to this issue. Additionally, 6th District personnel have been fully briefed on this pattern. The officers who are assigned to that service area have been instructed to aggressively patrol the area. Furthermore, in almost all carjacking investigations, a email containing a detailed description and stock photo of the taken vehicle are disseminated department wide. A few of the vehicles taken have been recovered, and processed for Latent Prints/DNA evidence.

Kris Kennedy is setting up a time for the 6th and 26th Captains, and the BID/NLNA Board reps to meet up. With the boundary between precincts and detective divisions being Poplar, there have been coordination issues in the past. People will post about crime on the neighborhood FB pages but don't call it in, so we may be seeing trends and photos that the police are not seeing. We are going to work to funnel info to them and bring their feedback to the community.

Zoning Committee Report: No meeting for May/June.

Old Business

• Caitlin reported that the Story Slam was a great success with a nice turnout and people expressing interest in becoming involved with the organization. Donations for snacks and beverages were collected: $33 in cash plus probably some money in Paypal. She may try to schedule one sooner than the fall, based on the enthusiasm. 

• Janet suggested that the volunteers who have signed up be invited to the upcoming general meeting about I-95 on June 23 and combine those events. General agreement to do a 6 p.m. meet-and-greet and invite both the volunteers from the Google form and publicize the meet-and-greet to everyone as well.

• It was noted that the repairs to the Cement Park mural wall have begun!

New Business

• Joe suggested that it be a standard policy for General Meetings to conclude with a question whether anyone has new business to discuss. 

The meeting was adjourned by acclaim at 8:40 p.m.