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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02. Oshkosh Public Museum Minutes OSHKOSh Minutes of the August 6,2020 Board Meeting Public Museum (Approved at the September 3,2020 Board Meeting.) Discover - Connect • Inspire The August meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum Board was held Thursday,August 6,2020, in the Sawyer Library of the Oshkosh Public Museum.President Thierman called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. The roll was taken by Theresa Books. PRESENT AT ROLL:Board Members Carol Fenrich,Rick Rego,President Jean Thierman,Alternate Connie Drexler. Present via ZOOM:Randy Domer,Vice President Gabe Loiacono,Secretary Becky Matzke,Alternate Joe Stephenson,Superintendent of Schools Vickie Cartwright(logged in at 4:05), and School Board President Barb Herzog. EXCUSED:Jim Hoffman Ms. Thierman appointed Mr. Stephenson to serve in Mr.Hoffman s place. ALSO PRESENT:Museum Director Brad Larson,Durow Curator of Collections/Assistant Director Anna Cannizzo,and Administrative Assistant Theresa Books recording the minutes. There were no citizen statements to the Board and none were received. Consent Agenda items included: A. Minutes of the July Board Meeting B. August Bill List C. Receipt and Filing of 1st Quarter Reports from Oshkosh Area Community Foundation MOTION: Adopt Consent Agenda(Fenrich; second Herzog). CARRIED: Yes(8) Domer, Fenrich,Loiacono, Matzke, Rego, Stephenson,Thierman, and Herzog. The next item was review, discussion and vote on the new landscape plan. President Thierman asked Mr. Larson for his presentation. Mr. Larson began by reviewing the landscape plan, explaining details in several areas. He noted that the new landscape plan will be much less costly to implement compared to the 2012 landscape plan. Mr. Stephenson asked about the difference in cost. Mr. Larson said the 2012 plan cost $1,000,000 to implement(in 2012 figures)whereas the new plan will be about$400,000. Mr.Larson noted that once the foundation repairs are complete this autumn, the site will be graded. Further landscape detail work will be bid in winter and implemented in spring 2021. There may be other Minutes of the August 2020 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum■1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901 Page 1 of 4 approval steps required for the landscape plan. Mr.Domer asked if there are ideas for the sculpture and Mr.Larson explained ideas have not been determined at this time. Mr.Domer further inquired about the Hiker monument; will it be moved? Mr. Larson replied it will not be moved. Mr. Loiacono asked if there will be any elements outside for children's play. Ms Cannizzo elaborated that there will not be a space to play, but rather a learning space with fossils. That concluded the discussion. MOTION: Approve new landscape plan. (Stephenson; second Herzog) CARRIED: Yes (9) Domer, Fenrich, Loiacono, Matzke, Rego, Stephenson, Thierman, Cartwright, and Herzog Next was the review, discussion and vote on deaccessioning five J. Frank Waldo paintings. Mr. Larson reported that Waldo was an artist who lived in Oshkosh from 1864 to 1885. Under Ms. Cannizzo's direction, the Collections Review Committee reviewed and selected Waldos which are either in poor condition,represent duplication of imagery,or have an insufficient connection with the Museum's mission. As such, they do not further the mission and they take up valuable space. Mr.Larson asked Ms. Cannizzo to review details. Ms. Cannizzo elucidated that when considering what to deaccession several things are considered, such as how the item fits into the theme and mission of the Museum, the size of objects, as well as the amount of restoration needed and what that would cost. The Museum will keep Waldo paintings that relate to the Oshkosh area, in addition to Waldo's works on paper.The recommendation is to deaccession the five paintings that the Board received information about. Proceeds would be put in the Collections Fund. Ms. Thierman asked how many will remain in the Museum collections. Ms. Cannizzo replied ten Waldo paintings will remain. Mr. Domer asked what auction houses will be used. Ms. Cannizzo said that has not yet been determined. Ms. Thierman asked where the Museum got the paintings and what size they are. Ms. Cannizzo stated some were received from Sarah James, Ben Hooper and some were in the collection that Museum records don't record. The paintings are very large, about 6' x 6' or larger. MOTION: Deaccession the five J. Frank Waldo paintings. (Loiacono;second Domer) CARRIED: Yes (9) Domer, Fenrich, Loiacono, Matzke, Rego, Stephenson, Thierman, Cartwright, and Herzog Review, discussion and vote on revised Membership levels was next on the agenda. Mr. Larson reported that it has been since 2010 when membership costs were changed. The recommendation is an increase of $10 for each level, and to add a new Corporate Level at $250. If approved this would go into effect January 1,2021. Marketing Coordinator Tammy Malewski compared what Minutes of the August 2020 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum■1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901 Page 2 of 4 levels and costs other area museums currently have. The spreadsheet the Board was given in last week's Board Memo shows the details. Even this increase would keep the Oshkosh Public Museum at the lower end of pricing. MOTION: Increase Museum membership rates by$10 and add a Corporate Level. (Rego; second Fenrich) CARRIED: Yes (9) Domer, Fenrich, Loiacono, Matzke, Rego, Stephenson, Thierman, Cartwright, and Herzog Ms. Thierman then requested Mr. Larson present the Director's report. Mr. Larson began his report with a review of the 2021 Operating Budget. As mentioned in the weekly memo,each department is required to submit two versions of the 2021 budget.One budget will show a"zero"increase,and the other a 5%decrease in the tax levy portion.The reason for this is a possible reduction in state shared revenue due to declining revenues resulting from the pandemic. Mr. Larson explained that for the Museum, a 5% reduction of the tax levy segment of the Museum's budget is roughly$50,000. It is not possible to reach that figure by decreasing line item expenditures. Normally that would require a reduction in tax levy funded personnel. However,Archivist Scott Cross announced his retirement yesterday,effective late September.Our intention would be to keep that position open for enough months to reach the 5%. The City will not know the amount of its shared revenue for 2021 until September. If shared revenue is not impacted,then we will move to fill the Archivist position, assuming the new Archivist would join the staff in January 2021. At this time the 5% reduction is an exercise in the event a reduction is necessary. Ms. Cannizzo is participating in our budget tasks and discussions and will accompany Mr. Larson to the budget reviews so she is familiar with the whole budget process. Mr. Larson then addressed the Trust & Fund requests for the 2021 budget. As part of next year's budget and in addition to the reductions just discussed,earnings on trusts are extremely low.Even when the market recovers,the resurgence will have little impact on city-held earnings.His primary focus for the budget review is ensuring the Museum is able to retain Assistant Curator Katrina Achilli on staff.There are funds to cover that position in 2021. While the Museum has received generous contributions to the Membership Fund and it remains positive, it is essential to be prudent with 2021 expenditures. The primary Membership renewal effort is coming up in autumn, as is the annual appeal.Due to circumstances it must be anticipated there will be some level of decline in renewals and in general giving.When the Board receives the proposed budgets for the September Board meeting, they will see that the focus is on core tasks. Minutes of the August 2020 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum■1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901 Page 3 of 4 In conclusion Mr. Larson updated the Board on Sporting &Recreation exhibition design. The full design will be presented at the October meeting. However, he anticipates that he will be able to share some preliminary drawings next month. Mr. Larson expects that staff will start fit-out in autumn and the exhibition might open prior to Titanic. If Sporting is not opened prior to Titanic, staff will be unable to work on Sporting &Recreation until November 2021. Staff anticipate strong admission revenue from Star Wars, the opening of Sporting&Recreation, and of course, Titanic.This should put the Museum in an excellent financial position for 2021 and beyond. That concluded the Director's report. President Thierman then presented her Report. She noted that Scott Cross has been with the Museum for 22 years.He has worked on many projects and substantially increased the archive and online records; as well as always being responsive to requests from the public for photo images. She encouraged the Board to show their gratitude. Ms. Weust was not in attendance so there was no Auxiliary Report. With no other agenda items, Ms. Thierman asked for a motion to adjourn. (Herzog; second Rego) The vote was unanimous in favor and the motion was passed. The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m. Minutes of the August 2020 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum■1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901 Page 4 of 4