ACM minutes, December 14, 2022

Topics: budget

All-Community Meeting, Wednesday, December 14, 2022, 7:00-8:45 p.m.

Present: Eliza (fac), Larraine, Kerry, Lynda, Caroline (guest), Marina, Joe, Kay (notes), Linda, Joe, Cheryl, Vinnie, Victor, Vicky, Jorge, Lauren, Alex, Myste, Coleen, Beth, Laura, Mike

If you'd like to add something to the storage bin, submit it online or contact a member of ACM Planning. Topics in storage bin include a fire pit proposal, using Slack, nonresident parking, civility proposal.

Election

Management is recommending an 8% fee increase.

Along with the budget, the other agenda item for the Annual Meeting is electing three members for Management.  The election process is 1) explain Management duties, 2) nominations, 3) attributes, in which people comment on traits that are useful for service on Management or why they feel a person nominated is a good candidate, 4) acceptance or decline of nomination, and 5) election.  We ask that people nominated not say whether they will accept or decline until after the attributes round.  The community has found this process, although not as quick as some, gives good results (that is, persuades good people to accept nominations). 

Budget

This is the last ACM discussing the budget prior to the Annual Meeting, the first meeting in January.  It will be discussed again there; hopefully the discussions will have resolved many concerns, allowing us to pass the budget.

Since the last draft, the play structure and trees have been removed from the reserve. Management decided these need more discussion before changes are made.

Trees.  The budget draft has $3K for tree work. Which trees need work should probably be reassessed, given the plan is two years old and trees change. If it is decided more money is needed, it will be found. [The budget is designed to balance against income during the year, and ignores money left over from previous budgets -- which we have.]

North Field Garden.  Q. Is the north field a club or committee?  Some say it is, some say it isn't.  This should be discussed.  We should have a process by which a club morphs into a committee, not just them asking for a budget. The area would be a cost within the landscape budget if the North Field garden didn't exist; consider how much it would cost to care for that area if we had to mow or weedwhack it.  

Point and Counterpoints: The $365 requested is about $2/mo/unit; people say it's just a little money. Feel like a grinch questioning whether the community should pay for it.  If we question whether the north field should be funded, we also need to question all other funding, like Underutilized Spaces wanting to repair the dog run.  Previously, the north garden group did all the same things mentioned (taking care of the space, giving vegetables to the community) but didn't expect funding. Why don't we pay for other passion projects, like a throwing wheel for a crafts group?  Safety & Security submitted a request but isn't given funds in this budget. (Management feels what Safety & Security is proposing is worthwhile but needs more fleshing out and discussion before funding.)  Food production is a better use of community water than the lawn (although grass is a highly effective weed barrier).  Should ask east garden to refund for their water use since those are individual beds; would resent the east garden being expected to pay for its water when north garden not only gets water but funding.  Produce from the north garden is offered to the community, but some east gardeners also provide produce to the community.

Play Structure.  The reserve analyst commented on the south play structure being in poor condition.  He estimated $30-40 K for a new professional structure. Parents Committee had not requested money to replace it before that. A lot more discussion is needed before proceeding.  Vinnie estimates $600 for equipment rental to remove the old unsafe structure. Decision: $600 children's budget.

Slack.  We haven't come to any consensus on using Slack. Decision: remove the subscription from the budget.

Conflict Mediation. Recommendation for money for professional conflict help came from Liz McGill; her community puts money in their budget each year although hardly ever use it.  ACM isn't a good place for conflict resolution; we need alternatives.

Fee Increases.  Please keep our income diversity in mind. Some households have regular income from good-paying jobs; some are on fixed incomes or have irregular cash flow and have to count pennies. With fund raisers, people can give money if they have it and others don't need to feel guilty.

Underutilized Spaces, dog run repairs.  Switch dog run repairs to be done by fund raising.

Committee Reports

Underutilitized Spaces.  Looking for holiday decorations.

Management.  Working on policies/procedures for large spending and for vendor payment process.

Maintenance.  Vinnie will be convener. Other members Scott, Kay, Cheryl, Jorge

Events

Friday Dec 16, Gift exchange.  Don't spend anything on what you bring.

Saturday Dec 17, party starting at 3:00 in common house, hosted by Victor.

Friday Dec 23 Christmas caroling starting 5:30 at common house.  Need singers and audience. Will have hot drinks and soup.

Sunday Dec 25 ACM is canceled. 

Tuesday Dec 27 Cheryl having a family party in the c.h.

Sunday January 8, Naomi's gratitude event.  11:00 ceremony, brunch to follow. Looking for a volunteer to collate photographs for projection.  Please RSVP.

Wednesday Jan 11 is Annual Meeting.

Emailed 12/17/2022.