Common House minutes: 2010-11-20

Minutes:

CH meeting 11/20/10

Present: Becky, Heather, Mary Ann


Agenda:
*Donation from Family Farms
*Discuss/decide if we want to lower our budget request based on the
last community meeting
*Hot Tub email
*Pam's email re soap dispenser
*Faucet status
*Schedule
*Ways to empower TS adults to make sure go kids following rules in
the kids room


Donation
Family Farms donated $400 to the CH! The card is now posted on the
bulletin board. With our new understanding of taxes, this money will
need to go to maintenance items. However, we have money in our
Improvements line item that we were NOT spending because we were over
on maintenance this year. So, we will put this towards maintenance,
and then spend the equivalent amount out of our Improvements line
before the end of the year

Katie has raised through donations all but $90 for the nice wooden
kitchen set. Becky suggests that we fund that, plus either some of
the artwork or 1 foam cube this year. All agreed to the kitchen,
because there has been lots of support in the past to partially fund
this.

Heather would like to do some poster collages, of seasons at GO and
one of events, plus frames for adding more color. Plus, putting a
down payment on the paintings for next year. This will have the
effect of lowering what we are asking for in the 2011 budget.


Budget
At the community meeting, the budget was almost approved. The
community was OK with the CH portion, but then as we went further, it
seemed like folks wanted to keep the increases down. When we got to
the grounds budget, there was lots of discussion about how to lower
the bottom line, without hindering the enthusiasm folks have for
getting projects done. On the floor, Becky from CH suggested that we
could lower the amount that we are asking for in the kitchen
improvement fund. There was some support for this idea, but since it
was very late in the process the community wants us to discuss this in
committee and then bring it back for the (hopefully) final budget
meeting.

Jim was unable to attend today, but his email suggestion is that we
lower the cable package even more. Discussion. Plan is to determine
which channels we would lose, send to community to get feedback. If
not strong objections, then we will drop down to next level. But we
will do this separate from the budget process to give us and the
community time to make the decision.

So, changes to our proposed 2011 budget
Drop a total of $400 from our improvements line item because we are
able to do those improvements this year.

As for the Kitchen Improvements fund, we decided to give the community
3 levels to choose from. $1000, 750, or 500. We would be happy with
any of these levels. Remember, we are saving up to do both small and
big changes. We can also do some fund raisers, and coordinate with
Meals.



Hot Tub
Jillian sent a great email with a list of suggestions for improving
the use of the Hot Tub. Here is her list:
- the minimum kid age was more like 10 instead of 5 - much lower
chance of kid pee - and knowledge that this is communicated to parents
of kids under that age. OR, it is designated an adult-only space, no
one under 18. (Our teens don't seem to have any interest in using it
in any case...)
- they understood how to test the water themselves to confirm that the
chemical levels are good
- the hottub chemical and cleaning schedule is widely known and
publicly confirmed to be being done
- there was an info session each work season about how to test the
water etc.

Over email, it was pointed out that families with kids are some of the
highest users of the hot tub. We discussed this, and we don't think
we should change that particular policy at this time. However, we
love all the other suggestions. Becky will task the hot tub cleaner
to come up with a plan for educating the whole community on how to
test, as well as recording when it has been cleaned/tested.


Pam's email
Noted in her email that the soap dispenser is dripping soap on the
floor, causing damage to the marmoleum. Plus, both floors are
stained. We should add to the next 2 work days to strip and reseal
both bathrooms (not on the same workday tho!) Prioritize east
bathroom first, as it has never been done. Should also do the
laundry room floor at the same time.

Discussed, decided to install small shelf under it. Then we would put
a plastic tray on it to catch any drips. Tom will also check to make
sure the dispensers are working properly and replace if necessary.

NOTE we have received a report that one of the dryers isn't working,
but it appears from other emails that it does, just has to be closed
in such a way as to engage both latches.

Faucet - Tom knows about it, and will fix soon.

Peter has agreed to be our maintenance guy for next work season- yay!


Schedule
Since we didn't have a big turnout, we only set the next 2 meetings
dates. Saturdays, Dec 4 and 18 at 10 am in the sitting room

TS Empowering
On the 1st monday of each month, TS has an evening community meeting.
Recently, the kids are getting wild in the kids room, both GO and TS.
Some of the TS adults don't feel comfortable telling kids they don't
know to quiet down, or to follow the rules. Heather will print
another copy of the rules to post in that room so any adult can refer
to it. Also, TS will try reminding us on their meeting nights so
parents can explain to the kids to be a little more quiet.

Future Topics:
*Some people are frustrated with our existing donation vs fee policy
for the common house. We have agreed to revisit this
*Some people are concerned with the offices. Several different issues
here: taxes, renting to non-members, the length of the lease we let
Melisa sign (2 years) and also the desire to just have fewer offices
so we can use the space for other things. There was enough concern
about the taxes and Melisa that Becky has agreed to give the history
at an upcoming community meeting.