Those present were: Kristin Orr, rector; Bill Bestow, senior warden; Diane Walsh-Madden, junior warden; vestry members Nichole Dailor, Gale Michael, Mark Moxley, Ted Stone, Jim Whitfield, and Hans Zigmund; Debbi Huggett, treasurer; and Susan Marquis, clerk.
Those absent were vestry members Bob DeOliveira, Steve Hofer, and Patti Pohrte.
The treasurer guided the vestry through the 2014 financial report. The notable entries were high costs for snow removal and natural gas due to a severe winter, fewer office and nursery staff hours than were budgeted, and the Youth and Family Ministry fund that had not been used.
Pledges for 2015 total $191,659, which is about what was expected. A few more pledges are likely to come in.
The vestry discussed what changes could be made to bring the anticipated expenses more in line with anticipated revenue.
Pastor Orr and Mark Moxley (spouse of Office Manager, Tracie Moxley) excused themselves as the vestry discussed cost-of-living pay raises for staff.
After Pastor Orr and Mr. Moxley re-joined the group, Jim Whitfield moved to:
- Reduce the office and nursery staff hours to their actual levels from 2014
- Leave the diocesan pledge at the 2014 level
- Decrease the Youth and Family Ministry fund to $7,000
- Increase paid staff (i.e. rector, office manager, sexton, and nursery attendant) salaries by 3%
- Reduce the utility budget by $1,000.
Diane Walsh-Madden made the following motion regarding the parsonage allowance: Whereas the Rev. Kristin Orr is employed as a minister of the Gospel by the Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist in Flossmoor IL, which, although providing a residence, does not provide the full cost of maintaining and furnishing such a residence, the Vestry resolves that of the total compensation to be paid to the Rev. Orr during 2015, $3,000.00 be designated a parsonage allowance within the meaning of that term as used in Section 107 of the IRS Code of 1986. This housing allowance will apply to the year 2015 and all future years unless otherwise provided.
Gale Michael seconded the motion, and the vestry voted to approve it.
The budget meeting ended at 12:55 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Marquis
Clerk of the Vestry
Approved: February 16, 2015
