St. James’s Episcopal Church
Meeting Minutes
February 21, 2011
Present: Warren Huber, Carol Hilliard, John Irvine, Steve Clark, Hannah Reeves, Holly Antolini,
Donna Thompson, Anne Read, Tami Stanton, Reed Loy, Joan Jordan, Saskia Grunberger, Iselma
Carrington, Joanna Greenlee Kline
Gathering and Spiritual Reflection
Radical Welcome Signs with the Reverend Stephanie Spellers and the Crossings group.
Approval of Minutes
December Minutes
January Minutes
Anne Read moves that minutes of December and January be approved as amended (add Joan to
list of vestry members present) Donna Thompson seconds. Minutes approved as amended.
Financial Report
We are financially stable but projections for the future are worrisome as we have a projected
deficit. Immediate tasks – get statements and pledges out to congregation. John and Michael have
merged two programs that were used to track capital campaign and annual pledges. Everyone
should have statements in hand before March 1st.
One of the lessons learned was that all financial records of the parish should be in the same
program. Another thing that’s presenting an issue is that John Irvine is not on any of the accounts.
He and Michael are working to address this.
Anne Read moves that we accept the Oct, Nov, and Dec financial statements. Tami Stanton
seconds. Financial statements are approved.
Resolutions:
John Irvine moves that the vestry hereby approve the designation of the applicable portion of the
Rev. Holly Antolini’s and Rev. Edwin Johnson’s compensation be considered as a Housing
Allowance within the meaning of Section 1.107 of the IRS Code, the Canons of the Diocese of
Massachusetts and all other applicable laws. Saskia Grunberger seconds. Motion is approved.
Appointment of a second Assistant Treasurer
John Irvine motions that Michael Walters Young be appointed to the office of assistant treasurer.
Anne Read seconds the motion. Motion is approved.
Rector’s Report
Holly will need to mobilize personnel committee to do a staff review of Rashita the end of March.
Bishops are proposing to have a conversation on Race on Wednesday, May 2nd.
Reed’s mother came down and spent a day talking about church database needs and functions.
She will be preparing an analysis and options report on Church Helpmate.
There is a new copier upstairs – hooray!
Tom Tufts has recruited an interesting array of people for a new Stewardship Committee. Mark
Agard and Saskia Grunberger to lead.
Edwin and Holly head to Los Angeles next Monday to attend an expanded workshop with Eric
Law on the holy currencies. (aka stewardship)
Redesign of the coffee area – Anne Read and Reed
Deep cleaning of the sanctuary – someone needs to call the cleaning contractors and get estimates
for getting this done. Anne Read volunteered.
Church insurance inspection document on our boilers – Steve Clark
Holly had a wonderful prayer retreat.
Holly’s parents’ status is deteriorating. Holly may need to go out to CA.
Holly is about to have a spinal evaluation to put together a program for PT
Junior Warden’s Report
Assignment of Program Liaisons
Assistant Rector’s Report
Did not cover as Assistant Rector was in Costa Rica.
Regular Agenda
I. Building Envelope Restoration
Charlie Allen’s explanation of the prospectus. Will donate his time. Will charge for devising
proposal but has found that this is usually amounts to the most comprehensive, albeit often the
most costly bid. Normally we would request at least 3 different bids from different
contractors.
Anne Read has been doing some due diligence by calling around and speaking with other
historical restorations. The other two companies just wanted to base their bid on the
Thompson Lichtner report. Could we get information from Peter Merrill or from Abbott on
the state of the roof when work on the Bell Tower was done.
What is your level of confidence around assertion that $200,000 is sufficient to do what’s
required immediately?
Timeline – 6 weeks of proposal finalization – could be completed by April 15th. Hoping to
complete work by end of June, prior to Oaktree beginning construction. Charlie has a clause
in his contract that no other contractor can be on site.
Resolve that we select Charlie Allen Restorations as our contractor to perform exterior
renovation of the church based on preconstruction scope of work and documentation of
existing conditions developed by CAR in consultation with St. James’s Redevelopment
Committee and Vestry. (aka Rock and Roll)
Steve Clark motions. John Irvine seconds. Motion is approved.
II. Grillwork design for Beech St./Mass Ave undercroft stairs safety/signage refreshment on
Mass Ave.
Rick Dumont is working on a design.
III. Missions Grants approval
Agenda Item Postponed
IV. Scout Troop 56 continuing discussion
Agenda Item Postponed
V. Reports & New Business
NA
Reminder:
March meeting to be held at the Helping Hands’ Food Pantry - 362 Rindge Avenue