The December meeting of the Vestry of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Elizabeth City Parish, was called to order by the Reverend Donna-Mae Siderius at 6:35 pm. Present were Bettyrene Pope, Junior Warden, Kay Olson, registrar, Jay Hogg, Dave Foster, Ruth Simmons, Parkie Rice, Bill Rhode, John Chiasson, Peggy Hayes, Sukey Stephens, The Reverend Anna Noon and The Reverend Bob Gay. Also present Connie Heath, Treasurer. , Bob Harper, Senior Warden was absent.
A wonderful repast of Brunswick stew and Ham Biscuits furnished by Bettyrene Pope was just the thing for 28 degree temperatures.
Donna-Mae led the reflections with a lesson from the 3rd week of Advent “We Wait For God; God Waits For Us.” A reading from John chapter 10 verses 14 & 15. Discussion centered on the word “Waiting” and what that can mean in our lives.
Visioning Committee Report: All of the Values work group’s reports have been given to Larry Crowell. He is seeing a thread running through all the information from each group. Donna-Mae will e-mail vestry as to when Larry will be able to come for the next meeting.
Stewardship Committee Report: As of Sunday December 8, 2010, 108 pledge cards have been received for a total of $327,000.00 in pledge commitments. The committee members and vestry members will telephone those who have not returned a card sometime after the first of the year.
Senior Warden’s Report: Bob Harper was not present tonight; He attended a Board meeting at H.E.L.P.
Junior Warden’s Report: Bettyrene Pope reported the dishwasher rinse dispenser was installed and worked wonderfully during the Thanksgiving dinner and Night’s Welcome. Shelves were built in the basement under the stage for more storage. Some cleaning out has taken place.
The washer and dryer installment has been completed and has been used.
A leak has been discovered over the stove in the kitchen which Jack and John are researching. Until they can get upon the roof and check things out we haven’t located the source from whence comes the water.
John Chiasson and Bettyrene cleaned the top of the gas range Monday. Light bulbs have been changed as needed.
Bettyrene states “Jack and John are just pretty faces that help me. They have been a great asset as usual and sometimes it takes more than these three Episcopalians, myself included, to do a job at St. John’s.”
Photographer Bob Harper is now residing in his new space in the Hoffman House.
Renovation Committee Meeting: The contract with Q design to be architects for the church renovation has been signed.
Repairs were completed to the church attic by Premier Building Concepts. They installed a telescoping stairway ladder in the North balcony, a three way electrical light switch and a receptacle at the stairway. Roof rafter repairs were made as well as the addition of more catwalks to obtain better access to areas of the attic.
We are waiting the return of the slate roofers for warranty work completion and additional repairs to include sealing the two round windows, the brick masons worked on. Remove slates 2 each 2’x2’ areas to investigate where the slates are spanning. Install ice and water shield in that area. Reinstall slate. They were to begin December 13, but due to weather they did not come. Additional roof repair cost $1,280.00. Approved by email vote to go to MWT for funding.
RFP’s were sent out by Q Design for proposals for the Architectural/MEP/Structural Services. Proposal due date is this week.
Applied Laboratory Services – The asbestos/lead/mold/hazardous material studies were done last Friday. The man spent over five hours surveying. He found we have a leaking hot water heater in the sacristy. It needs to be replaces [sic] as soon as possible. Some Work to support the deteriorating floor in front of the sink will also be addressed. We are awaiting the estimate from Mason Bros. Plumbing for repair. A hot water heater that can be reinstalled when renovation of the sacristy begins will be installed at this time to fix the immediate problem.
The handicapped ramp renovation is currently at the building permit office and we are waiting issuance of the permit. Weather now may hamper this project.
Doug Miller has been appointed a Mary Williams Trustee to replace Bill Terrill.
The next Renovation Committee meeting will be on January 13, 2011.
An e-mail vote was taken on November 23, 2010, concerning approval at the November Vestry meeting of the replacement of the handicap ramp at the rear entrance to the parish house. The Renovation Committee recommends the acceptance of the bid from Premier Building Concepts in the amount of $ 22,820.00. This bid was $2,000.00 lower than other bids and Premier has done work for us in the past.
Action Taken: In an e-mail vote the vestry approved asking the Mary Williams Trust to cover the cost of a new Brick handicap ramp to be build by Premier Building Concepts in the amount of $22,820.00.
A Capital Campaign will be needed for the funding of renovation to the church building not covered by the Mary Williams Trust.
Bettyrene Pope will be the liaison with the church and architects during the renovation of the church building.
Deacon’s Report: Bob Gay said a parishioner is making progress and will need help when he is released from the hospital. Please pray for his progress.
Assistant Rector’s Report: The Reverend Anna Noon reported that she, Laura Stephens, Jenn Devlin, and Brian McMahon attended a Faith, Technology, and Communications Conference on November 17, 2010. Workshops were attended by all four of the attendees. Keynote speaker was Ann Rudig, Director of Communication, Episcopal Church Center. All of the attendees came home with a lot of new ideas of how St. John’s can move forward in this era of communications and social media.
Rector’s Report: The Reverend Donna-Mae Siderius reported our sexton, Leiron, will be having eye surgery and will be away from his duties for 10-14 days. Reverend Siderius asked vestry approval to hire Wendell Smith to fill in for Leiron in the interim.
The Annual Congregational Meeting will be January 30, 2011, following one service to be held at 9 O’clock in the morning. The breakfast will be catered by Baxter Simmons. The congregation will elect four (4) new members to the vestry during this meeting. The Reverend Siderius would like to ask the nominees to attend the January 11 vestry meeting.
The vestry was reminded about the Ordination of The Reverend Anna Catherine Noon to be held on December18, at Christ and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
Financial Secretary Bill Boyer presented the Draft Budget for the year 2011, The Draft Budget shows a decrease of $8,701.30 from the 2010 working budget. A new line item, Parish Connections has been added; the Music budget has been increased; a new line item was added in the area of Christian Formation for “Young Adults”.
There were several decreases in the area of Personnel; there were increases for line items for oil, electricity, and property repairs and maintenance.
Bill Boyer reported St. John’s did very well financially in 2010, especially when you consider the extra costs associated with 2010, the search for an assistant rector and the economy. Thanks to the efforts of Bettyrene and Jack Pope and John Chiasson our repair/maintenance cost were held to the minimum possible. The staff, clergy, and all our volunteers and lay leaders are also to be complimented for their wise use of St. John’s Resources.
Dave Foster made the motion to accept the proposed Draft Budget as presented by Financial Secretary Bill Boyer with the addition of a line item for Continuing Education for the Deacon $650.00. The motion was seconded by Jay Hogg, the motion passed.
Action Taken: Dave Foster made the motion to accept the proposed Draft Budget as presented by Financial Secretary Bill Boyer with the addition of a line item for Continuing Education for the Deacon $650.00. The motion was seconded by Jay Hogg, the motion passed.
A suggestion was made to have the Parish Treasurer be the Co-Chairman of the Finance Committee and to be the Chair in the absence of the Chairman. The Vestry agreed to this suggestion.
The minutes of the November meeting were accepted as corrected.
The Financial Report was accepted as printed.
Correction to November minutes as follows:
Stewardship Committee: Strike the report as printed and correct to read’ The Core Values Groups of the Visioning Committee had about 2 parishioners to visit the group meetings some of whom became members of the Core Value Group. Pledge cards will go out next week. There will be a follow-up letter and then follow-up calls. The gratitude cards parishioners wrote during the church service have filled three bulletin boards.
Correction to Bob Harper’s motion to pledge 10% of St. John’s operating budget for 2011 the estimated amount is changed to read $42,263.70.
Bettyrene Pope thanked all who helped with Night’s Welcome. We could not have done it without the volunteers.
John Chiasson made a motion to ask the Endowment Board for up to $3,700.00to [sic] purchase padded chairs and a half rack for storage of the chairs. The motion was seconded by Parkie Rice and approved by vestry.
Action Taken: John Chiasson made a motion to ask the Endowment Board for up to $3,700.00to [sic] purchase padded chairs and a half rack for storage of the chairs. The motion was seconded by Parkie Rice and approved by vestry.
The Dr. Chuck Tacky Light was given to Bettyrene Pope by Bill Rhode. The Mission tacky light is still visiting Sukey Stephens.
Submitted by
Kay Olson, Registrar