Vestry meeting of June 18, 2018

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Vestry Meeting Minutes

June 21, 2018

 

The Vestry meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Richard Breithaupt. Fr. Bill opened with prayer.

 

Members Present: Richard Breithaupt, Senior Warden; Don Anderson, Junior Warden; Dave Abernethy, Treasurer; Fr. Bill, Priest-in-Charge, Alan Cragg, Charlene Connolly, Yvon Hive, and Lee Perry via phone.

 

Minutes: David moved, and Alan seconded a motion that the April minutes be approved as distributed.   In the discussion which followed, Charlene requested that the last sentence in her report entitled “Potluck Brunch” be changed to read: “Charlene will notify Leissa that on Sundays in the summer her hours would be going down due to having only one morning service and one fellowship hour. The motion as amended was unanimously approved.

Financials:  After giving a recap of the financial reports, David moved, and Alan seconded a motion that the May and April financials be approved as distributed. The motion was unanimously approved.

 

New Business

 

1. Approval of Audit for 2017:

Don moved, and Alan seconded the motion to approve the audit. Richard and David both agreed that Don Anderson, Darlene Shoemaker and Joan Allison did an excellent and thorough job on the audit. The motion was unanimously approved.

 

1. Worshiping Community:

Don moved, and Alan seconded the motion to endorse the Congregation of the Holy Name of Jesus proposal to gain the Diocesan status of “Worshiping Community.”  Following a lengthy discussion about new responsibilities the Haitian Community will need to assume should the new status be granted, the motion was unanimously approve.

 

1. Outreach Distribution:

Alan moved, and Richard seconded a motion to accept the outreach Committee’s recommendation presented by Don, that the $6,000 budgeted in 2017 for Outreach be distributed as follows:

1. St. Matthew’s House    $1,000
2. Salvation Army            $1,000
3. St. Vincent De Paul      $1,000
4. Grace Place                 $1,000
5. Habitat for Humanity   $1,000
6. Meals of Hope             $   500
7. Episcopal Relief Fund  $   500

 

In the discussion which followed, the question a question was raised if the full budgeted amount should be distributed since pledged income is currently down 15% this point last year.  It was then pointed out that the approved budgeted amount was carried over from the 2017 fiscal year. The motion was unanimously approved with the understanding that amount to be distributed next year from this year’s income will be governed by the total income for the year.

 

 

 

1. Bus Stop at St. Paul’s:

Lee moved, and Alan seconded the motion to table the topic on allowing the Gulf Coast Christian Academy South to use St. Paul’s as a bus stop. More information is needed on safety of the children involved.

 

 

 

Reports

 

 

1. Treasurer Report:

David Abernethy had questions about the financial report and will talk to the accountant about the concerns. Richard said St. Paul’s is down 15% in contributions from last year. I was agreed that the Vestry needs to develop a strategy to correct this downturn.

 

1. Search Committee:

Dick reported in the next 2 weeks phone interviews will be done with the candidates.  Hopefully 2-3 names will then be sent to the Diocese for a final “Bishop to Bishop” check and a background check will be done. When the names are approved they will be submitted to the Vestry.

 

1. Congregational Integration:

Yvon’s report is attached.

 

1. Rental of Space at St. Paul’s:

Don’s report is attached.

 

1. Property:

Lee allowed Fr. Bill to report.

1. Air Conditioning System- Annual maintenance was done a month ½ ago. All Seasons recommended a few upgrades. Our maintenance specialist, Burton Tucker, suggested we wait till the next maintenance inspection and schedule it when someone from St. Paul’s is present to talk to the company about the upgrades.
2. Hurricane Insurance deductible- Lee is working on this project.
3. Phone system/internet crash of June 11- Lightening hit and incurred several bills. At this time the Parageeks bill is approximately $700. The modem, Edgewater, and switch all needed to be replaced.
4. Complaints about Rectory Property- St. Paul’s has had complaints about the lawn and vehicles at the rectory. The sprinkler system has been repaired several times due to breakage from vehicles driving over the system. It was suggested that St. Paul’s take on the cost of lawn service and irrigation, at the price of raising the rent an extra $200 a month. Alan will talk with Fr. Panel (renter) about this issue.

 

 

 

1. Fr. Bill Plans:

Fr. Bill indicated he would take vacation later this fall.

Fr. Bill mentioned he would be away the Sunday’s of June 24 and July 8. He will be attending service and celebrating at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Bonita Springs.

 

1. Farmers Market:

Fr. Bill said it is time to think about rates for renting at the Farmers’ Market. Vendors are beginning to call the office and the Administrative Assistant would like to be able to give the rates out. It would decided that a meeting with Jeff Page and the Vestry Liaison, Peter Lund be held to decide dates and rates.

 

1. Communications Report:

Darlene’s report was hi from up north and no report.

 

1.  Sunday School:

Charlene  reported that she would like more publicity on the Sunday School program. A report is attached.

 

The next Vestry meeting is scheduled for July 19, 2018.

Don moved, Alan seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 pm. The motion was unanimously approved.

 

  

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Bev Whiteman                                                                         

Clerk of the Vestry 

 

Deborah Avery

Recording Secretary

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Vestry Meeting Minutes

June 21, 2018

 

The Vestry meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Richard Breithaupt. Fr. Bill opened with prayer.

 

Members Present: Richard Breithaupt, Senior Warden; Don Anderson, Junior Warden; Dave Abernethy, Treasurer; Fr. Bill, Priest-in-Charge, Alan Cragg, Charlene Connolly, Yvon Hive, and Lee Perry via phone.

 

Minutes: David moved, and Alan seconded a motion that the April minutes be approved as distributed.   In the discussion which followed, Charlene requested that the last sentence in her report entitled “Potluck Brunch” be changed to read: “Charlene will notify Leissa that on Sundays in the summer her hours would be going down due to having only one morning service and one fellowship hour. The motion as amended was unanimously approved.

Financials:  After giving a recap of the financial reports, David moved, and Alan seconded a motion that the May and April financials be approved as distributed. The motion was unanimously approved.

 

New Business

 

1. Approval of Audit for 2017:

Don moved, and Alan seconded the motion to approve the audit. Richard and David both agreed that Don Anderson, Darlene Shoemaker and Joan Allison did an excellent and thorough job on the audit. The motion was unanimously approved.

 

1. Worshiping Community:

Don moved, and Alan seconded the motion to endorse the Congregation of the Holy Name of Jesus proposal to gain the Diocesan status of “Worshiping Community.”  Following a lengthy discussion about new responsibilities the Haitian Community will need to assume should the new status be granted, the motion was unanimously approve.

 

1. Outreach Distribution:

Alan moved, and Richard seconded a motion to accept the outreach Committee’s recommendation presented by Don, that the $6,000 budgeted in 2017 for Outreach be distributed as follows:

1. St. Matthew’s House    $1,000
2. Salvation Army            $1,000
3. St. Vincent De Paul      $1,000
4. Grace Place                 $1,000
5. Habitat for Humanity   $1,000
6. Meals of Hope             $   500
7. Episcopal Relief Fund  $   500

 

In the discussion which followed, the question a question was raised if the full budgeted amount should be distributed since pledged income is currently down 15% this point last year.  It was then pointed out that the approved budgeted amount was carried over from the 2017 fiscal year. The motion was unanimously approved with the understanding that amount to be distributed next year from this year’s income will be governed by the total income for the year.

 

 

 

1. Bus Stop at St. Paul’s:

Lee moved, and Alan seconded the motion to table the topic on allowing the Gulf Coast Christian Academy South to use St. Paul’s as a bus stop. More information is needed on safety of the children involved.

 

 

 

Reports

 

 

1. Treasurer Report:

David Abernethy had questions about the financial report and will talk to the accountant about the concerns. Richard said St. Paul’s is down 15% in contributions from last year. I was agreed that the Vestry needs to develop a strategy to correct this downturn.

 

1. Search Committee:

Dick reported in the next 2 weeks phone interviews will be done with the candidates.  Hopefully 2-3 names will then be sent to the Diocese for a final “Bishop to Bishop” check and a background check will be done. When the names are approved they will be submitted to the Vestry.

 

1. Congregational Integration:

Yvon’s report is attached.

 

1. Rental of Space at St. Paul’s:

Don’s report is attached.

 

1. Property:

Lee allowed Fr. Bill to report.

1. Air Conditioning System- Annual maintenance was done a month ½ ago. All Seasons recommended a few upgrades. Our maintenance specialist, Burton Tucker, suggested we wait till the next maintenance inspection and schedule it when someone from St. Paul’s is present to talk to the company about the upgrades.
2. Hurricane Insurance deductible- Lee is working on this project.
3. Phone system/internet crash of June 11- Lightening hit and incurred several bills. At this time the Parageeks bill is approximately $700. The modem, Edgewater, and switch all needed to be replaced.
4. Complaints about Rectory Property- St. Paul’s has had complaints about the lawn and vehicles at the rectory. The sprinkler system has been repaired several times due to breakage from vehicles driving over the system. It was suggested that St. Paul’s take on the cost of lawn service and irrigation, at the price of raising the rent an extra $200 a month. Alan will talk with Fr. Panel (renter) about this issue.

 

 

 

1. Fr. Bill Plans:

Fr. Bill indicated he would take vacation later this fall.

Fr. Bill mentioned he would be away the Sunday’s of June 24 and July 8. He will be attending service and celebrating at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Bonita Springs.

 

1. Farmers Market:

Fr. Bill said it is time to think about rates for renting at the Farmers’ Market. Vendors are beginning to call the office and the Administrative Assistant would like to be able to give the rates out. It would decided that a meeting with Jeff Page and the Vestry Liaison, Peter Lund be held to decide dates and rates.

 

1. Communications Report:

Darlene’s report was hi from up north and no report.

 

1.  Sunday School:

Charlene  reported that she would like more publicity on the Sunday School program. A report is attached.

 

The next Vestry meeting is scheduled for July 19, 2018.

Don moved, Alan seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 pm. The motion was unanimously approved.

 

  

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Bev Whiteman                                                                         

Clerk of the Vestry 

 

Deborah Avery

Recording Secretary