minutes, All-Community Meeting, 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. 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. Process: explain Management duties, nominations, attributes, acceptance or decline of nomination, election. We ask that people nominated not say whether they will accept or decline until after the attributes round, in which people say why they feel the person nominated are a good candidate.
Budget
This is the last ACM discussing the budget. It will be discussed and hopefully passed at the Annual Meeting, the first meeting in January.
Since the last draft, the play structure and trees have been removed from the reserve.
$3K for tree work. Probably should reassess which trees need work given changes since the plan was pulled together two years ago. If it is decided more money is needed, it could be pulled from the float.
Q. Is the north field a club or committee? Some say it is, some say it isn't. It should be discussed. (Have they received a budget in the past, in addition to their fund raisers? Kay remembers they have, others say they have.) Q. How much would it cost to care for that area if we had to mow or weedwhack it? Should have a process by which a club morphs into a committee, not just them asking for a budget.
If we question whether the north field should be funded, we also need to question all other projects, 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. 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. 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.) Food production is a better use of community water than the lawn (although grass is a great 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 some funding.
Parents Committee hadn't requested money to replace the c.h. play structure. Reserve analyst commented on it being in poor condition. He estimated $30-40 K for a new professional structure. A lot more discussion is needed before proceeding. Vinnie estimates $600 for equipment rental.
We haven't come to any consensus on using Slack; remove the subscription from the budget.
Recommendation for money for professional conflict resolution came from Liz McGill; they put money in their budget each year although hardly ever use it. ACM isn't a good place for conflict resolution; we need alternatives.
Need to remember that we have income diversity. Some have regular income from good-paying jobs; some are on fixed incomes or have irregular cash flow. With fund raisers, people can give money if they have it and others don't need to feel guilty if they can't.
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.