Minutes
Board of Trustees
First Unitarian Society
Madison, Wisconsin
February 21, 2007
7:00
p.m.
Lower
Meeting House
Present:
Officers:
Pat Anderson, President
Laurie Joiner, President-Elect
Sue Radtke, Treasurer
Tom Detmer, Secretary
Alan Knox, Past President
Council Trustees:
Barb Avery
Chris Glueck
Kathy Luker
John Mathis
Nancy Kosseff
Jim Christensen
Hilary Cronen, Youth Representative
Ministers:
Michael Schuler, Minister
Kelly Crocker, Associate Minister
Scott Prinster, Associate Minister
Staff:
Susan Koenig, Church Administrator
Wendy Cooper, Social Justice Coordinator
Observers:
Doug Mitchell
CALL TO ORDER
After an
opening and chalice lighting by Alan Knox, Pat Anderson
called the meeting to order at time 7:00 p.m. and reviewed the agenda.
The Board toured the Annex in anticipation of a discussion of options for the Annex later in the evening.
CONSENT ITEMS
MOTION by Kathy Luker to approve the following Consent Items:
- Approval of minutes from February 1, 2007 – Exhibit 1
- Motion CARRIED
DISCUSSION OF BUDGET PROCESS FOR 2007-2008
Susan Koenig presented a tentative budget schedule. She also talked about the issues we face in trying to develop a working budget for the coming year and the difficulties of incorporating our strategies into the budget. Susan expressed frustration with how vague some of the working priorities are in helping her to decide what the priorities are when making budget cuts or in controlling the budget within our means. Some Board members felt that we made a good start last year in writing goals to provide some guidelines for us to use in the budget process. However the goals that were created do not always provide the specificity needed to handle practical budget questions that arise. We made a good start and the follow up was lacking. This gets to the question of the specifics that exist inside our vision and how do we measure when we have achieved our goals.
John Mathis pointed out that it is what the congregation thinks that is important and not just what the Board thinks. The budget process has involved the Board but we can’t lose sight of what the congregation wants. This is the Board’s job.
There is a back and forth process that involves sorting priorities and looking at what we can raise. We can’t know exactly what funds we will have available because the annual campaign process overlaps in such a direct way with the budgeting process. About 85% of the budget is salaries. It would be nice to start this the annual campaign process in the fall and get more input from the Councils and others with a stake in the budget. Then we could finish the budget in the spring knowing what funds we will have and what the needs of the councils and other stakeholders are going to be.
This year there has been a budget adjustment process. This is the result of receiving so a larger amount of our capital contributions earlier than expected so that our debt service is lower than expected. Various adjustments have allowed us to come up with about $18,600 to use. Two items that were cut when we thought we had less money and that we would like to restore are raises (that were reduced) and the fair share contribution to the UUA. A spirited discussion followed about what we can do to restore raises to staff and how it should be done. It was also pointed out that we are uncertain how the annual campaign will be affected by the capital campaign. It follows on the heels of the capital campaign so the latter item could affect this year’s annual campaign. Our number one goal is to treat our staff equitably on compensation and benefits. Yet, we should have a budgetary goal of achieving fair share.
It is MOVED to use the surplus in the budget of $18,193 to provide additional raises of an additional 1% for all staff not subject to a contract plus provide the difference between that amount (which Susan will calculate) and $18,193 towards salary increases to improve staff salary equity (this will partially or completely achieve the goal of a making a $9000 adjustment that was originally budgeted for the current fiscal year). The motion was SECONDED. The motion CARRIED.
It is the sense of the Board that Michael Schuler should communicate to the UUA that we want the UUA to more effectively use its income to support large congregations. The Board also wants Michael to state if and when appropriate that we have a goal of achieving a fair share contribution. Susan pointed out that we should look at the fair share contribution as outreach funds.
ANNEX STUDY REPORT
Sue Radtke and Nancy Kosseff prepared the annex study report. The tax assessment on the building is $300,000 and much of our data is several years old. Several stakeholders who use the building were contacted and asked for their opinions.
We have a problem with zoning. Part of the building has to be used for residential purposes under the current zoning for the building. Sue feels that we should not forget the teens and their investment in this building. The janitor and then the security person have lived in the annex. The people doing these jobs would not have to live in the annex.
Nancy stated that the social justice council would like to consider the apartment for transitional housing. Given our mission and our own lifestyles it would be good to provide something for housing for others as well as for us.
John Mathis observed our space needs force us to consider this area for our own use for the near term. For example if the building can be used to help relieve our office shortage then we should consider that use.
Michael will talk with Peter Hans, president of Shorewood Hills, about what might be done about the zoning. That is a first step that will affect other decisions. We should also get an appraiser to evaluate the building and tell us what should be done to upgrade the building to residential, commercial and office space uses can be considered. Susan will work on that in the next four weeks. We also have a potential resident who could work on the construction upgrade.
It is the sense of the Board to take advantage of the space for our needs the next two years as a priority use. The teen use of the building should be considered part of this use.
AUDIT UPDATE
We are proceeding apace.
MINISTERIAL UPDATE
We have seen one candidate and have two more to come in.
FACILITIES
There will be a March 11 forum. Sustainable features will be a key focus. We have approval from the Historical Society. We have $5 million pledged.
LEADERSHIP TRAINING DATES
The key dates to put on the calendar are May 19, July 21 and August 18.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by
to adjourn. CARRIED
Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Minutes by, Tom Detmer, First Unitarian Society Board Secretary
EXHIBITS
- Minutes from February 1, 2007
- Budget process timeline
- Annex study report
