Minutes of the Vestry Meeting - August 17, 2015

Formation

Evening Prayer and Thanksgiving & Prayer Requests
The vestry assembled in the church for evening prayer at 7:00 PM followed by offered prayers of thanksgiving and intercession.

Attendance
Present at the meeting were: the rector, Kristin Orr; the senior warden, Diane Walsh- Madden; the junior warden, Anne Edwards; vestry members Bob Burgwald, Rob Carrier, Nichole Dailor, Bob DeOliveira, Patti Pohrte, Ted Stone, Jim Whitfield, and Hans Zigmund.; the treasurer, Debbi Huggett; and the clerk, Susan Marquis. Vestry member Cynthia Turnquest was absent. Landscape architect Scott Mehaffey was present for part of the meeting.

Discussion and Decisions — Part 1

Columbarium Project
In July, landscape architect Scott Mehaffey organized a tour of several North Shore columbaria. The rector and several vestry members participated. At the vestry meeting Scott presented a slide show with pictures from those sites as well as columbarium pictures from around the world. The projects were varied, including those that were formal and informal, gardens, walls, walkways, scattering beds, vine trellises, and direct internment. Following the slideshow, the vestry discussed impressions from the North Shore tour and from the slides that were presented with special emphasis on which aspects would work best for St. John’s. Scott left after gathering information from the discussion. He said that he would return for the September vestry meeting with schematics for the project, and he encouraged vestry members to contact him with further comments during the month.

Parish Stewardship

Minutes from the June Meeting
Anne Edwards moved to approve the minutes from the June vestry meeting. Patti Porte seconded, and the motion passed.

Treasurer’s Report
Debbi Huggett reported that there was nothing extraordinary in the budget this month. By June, halfway through the year, 52.49% of the year’s budget had been spent. The Ice Cream Social took in $88.00 above expenses. Hans Zigmund moved to accept the Treasurer’s Reports from June and July. After a second from Rob Carrier, the motion was approved.

The coffee hour receipts again are falling behind expenses. When this has happened in the past, parishioners have responded to a reminder announcement. Diane Walsh-Madden offered to present a reminder at the 10:00 AM service.

Prior to the meeting, Pastor Orr electronically distributed the second quarter’s Rector’s Discretionary Account report. Jim Whitfield made a motion to accept the report, and Bob Burgwald seconded. The motion was approved.

Information

Rector’s Report
Pastor Orr expressed thanks to the wardens, Anne Edwards and Diane Walsh-Madden, for their coverage during her recent vacation.

Upcoming Events
August 23rd: Blessing of the Backpacks at the 10:00 AM service
September 13th: Jubilation and Ministry Fair during coffee hour
September 20th: Chad Senuta, from the diocese’s Youth and Campus Ministry, visits for discussion during the 9:00 AM hour. He will preach at the later service. No Sunday School classes will be held on this day.

Discussion and Decisions — Part 2 

Tuckpointing
At the June meeting, the vestry received three proposals for tuckpointing. Given that the work must be done before cold weather sets in, Jim Whitfield moved that the vestry accept the proposal from Best Brick after determining if they have workers’ compensation, insurance, etc. Tuckpointing and weatherproofing would include work on the bell tower, the exterior of the balcony area on the north side of the church, and church and rectory chimneys. Rob Carrier seconded, and the motion was approved.

Door Replacement
Prior to the meeting, proposals for the replacement of the door that leads to the back parking lot were distributed to vestry members. Proposals were from The Door Store, A Better Door and Window, and Preferred Window and Door. Discussion led to informal support for A Better Door and Window’s proposal. There were some questions about an electric door opener. Jim Whitfield will research this further.

Closing

The meeting ended at 9:30 PM following prayer. The next vestry meeting is scheduled for September 21st.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Marquis,
Clerk of the Vestry

Approved:  September 21, 2015