Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES_May 2021 Museum BoardMinutes of the May 2021 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 1 of 5 Minutes of the May 6, 2021 Board Meeting (Approved at the June 3, 2021 Board Meeting.) The May meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum Board was held Thursday, May 6, 2021, via Zoom. President Thierman called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. The roll was taken by Administrative Assistant Theresa Books. PRESENT AT ROLL (all via Zoom): Board Members Connie Drexler, Carol Fenrich, Jim Hoffman, Vice President Gabe Loiacono, Secretary Becky Matzke, Rick Rego, Alternate Joseph Stephenson, President Jean Thierman, and School Board President Bob Poeschel joined at 4:22 p.m. Excused: Oshkosh Superintendent of Schools Vickie Cartwright ALSO PRESENT: Museum Director Brad Larson, City Manager Mark Rohloff, Assistant Director Anna Cannizzo, Auxiliary Secretary Sue Eichman, 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 April Board Meeting B. May Bill List C. Receipt and Filing of 1st Quarter Reports of Museum Funds at the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation MOTION: Adopt Consent Agenda (Drexler; second Hoffman). CARRIED: Yes (7), Drexler, Fenrich, Hoffman, Loiacono, Matzke, Rego, and Thierman. Next on the agenda was discussion and vote on the format of upcoming Board meetings, whether virtual or in-person. Mr. Larson reviewed that they must all be either everyone virtual or all in person. He recommended virtual is best, as there is no room available at the Museum to maintain Covid distances, particularly until Titanic is set up and the Lecture Room becomes available. If the Board decides for in-person meetings, a different location would need to be found. Mr. Stephenson stated he would not want to go to a different location and endorses the recommendation of staff. Ms. Cannizzo noted that even after the Lecture Room is cleared of exhibition cases being stored for Titanic, staff need that space to begin laying out artifacts for the Sports and Recreation exhibition. Ms. Thierman commented that she feels Zoom meetings are working well, including that she likes to see people’s faces, rather than masks. Ms. Drexler remarked she too likes the Zoom meeting because if she is out of the area for a meeting, she can still logon for the Board meeting. Ms. Matzke Minutes of the May 2021 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 2 of 5 agreed to the convenience and efficiency of the virtual meetings. When the discussion was complete, Ms. Thierman asked for a motion. MOTION: Museum Board meetings remain virtual until the Board chooses to revisit the decision. (Matzke; second Fenrich) CARRIED: Yes (7), Drexler, Fenrich, Hoffman, Loiacono, Matzke, Rego, and Thierman. Regarding the announcement of the Museum Director’s retirement, on April 27, Mr. Larson sent an email to the Board stating, “I had hoped to make this announcement in person, but the pandemic conditions we currently live under prevent that. Late this morning I presented Mr. Rohloff with my letter of retirement. My last day as Director will be September 2, 2021. I am grateful for the opportunity to lead this Museum for 32-years. My personal goal was to leave the Museum in a strong, stable condition and it looks like that will be the case. Anna will assume the role of Interim Director and we are working together to assure a smooth transition.” In the Board meeting Mr. Larson reported that he met with HR staff regarding the things that need to happen next to fill the Director position. City Manager Mark Rohloff then spoke to the Board. He mentioned Municipal Code states the Board Directors shall recommend a candidate to the City Manager. Working in partnership with the Board, a peer committee will be appointed to help with the search. That group will include a Department Head of the City, and Mr. Rohloff will have City Attorney Lynn Lorenson be that person. She has been a volunteer of the Museum for years and has a very good sense of the importance of the Museum. A Museum staff person will be on the committee and an outside Museum person. The Museum Board will be a separate committee, providing their recommendation to the City Manager. HR will screen all applicants and present the best candidates to the committee and the Board. HR will work closely with the Board regarding traits and most preferred strengths needed in the next Director. Mr. Rohloff opened for discussion. Mr. Larson stated that the Museum is in a good place for recruiting, it is a good time. It will be appealing to people because the Museum is working on two long-term exhibits and has the Titanic: The Wisconsin Connection and White Christmas exhibitions in 2021 for the added community awareness and revenues. Additionally, City benefits are good and not something that is offered at many private museums. Mr. Loiacono noted he appreciated the reference to the Municipal Code. He stated that it seems to say the Board would review and recommend to Mr. Rohloff, but it sounds like HR is choosing the candidates. Mr. Rohloff said HR will do the screening and present 10 or so candidates to the Board. Mr. Loiacono replied he would like to see that larger number of applications, rather than only three or so. In further discussion Ms. Drexler asked about next steps. Mr. Rohloff reported HR will deal with the job description, but he would like to know the traits the Board is most interested in seeing in the next Director. There are no specific dates at this time, however he has asked HR to put together a time line for the recruitment process. Ms. Drexler expressed it would make sense to have a special meeting of the Board apart from the next monthly Board meeting, to allow for plenty of time for Minutes of the May 2021 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 3 of 5 discussion. Mr. Rego asked if Brad is able to share traits he thinks are important to have for the next Director. Mr. Larson replied that he and HR talked through a lot of traits that are noted in the job description, but it is important for the Board to think it through. Ms. Fenrich said she’d been thinking about it and three needed traits are being a people person, having patience, and having perseverance. When discussion was complete Mr. Rohloff left the meeting, at 4:35 p.m. Ms. Thierman then requested Mr. Larson present the Director’s report. Mr. Larson began by reporting on the preparations and schedule for Titanic: The Wisconsin Connection. The Museum now has 47 volunteers and has others who have contacted Marketing Coordinator Tammy Malewski but have not yet committed. Preliminary training was held in April and the book 882-1/2 Amazing Answers to your Questions about the Titanic, was distributed. The next training will be May 17, in two shifts. Ms. Malewski is now looking for a June date for training with the Oshkosh Fire Department. Installation of Titanic artifacts begins July 13 and is expected to take two days. The special premier for Amcor, Board, volunteers, and select guests is Friday evening, July 16. On July 17, Curator of Exhibitions Debra Daubert, will lead volunteers through the exhibition and offer insights and explanations to help prepare them for the opening. The exhibition opens to the public Wednesday, July 21. Next, Mr. Larson gave an update on 2021, and future, Capital Improvement Projects (CIP). Because the Museum did not receive any bids for the concrete work, and did not have any contractors for the mandatory pre-bid meeting on landscaping, both projects will have to be rebid. The concrete work cannot be done while Titanic is here, and when it ends on October 13 the window for completing the work is too short because of the potential for inclement weather. Mr. Larson emphasized the Museum would attract the highest interest level by rebidding the two projects in autumn, with work to commence in spring 2022. Assistant Director Anna Cannizzo will work with Jon Urben at City Hall to get these two projects out for bid this fall. Mr. Larson further reported that Ms. Cannizzo and Administrative Assistant Theresa Books are working with him on CIP requests for 2022 through 2026. Most of these are the same projects requested previously, so when Ms. Cannizzo brings them forward they will be familiar. Capital improvements are scheduled for Council approval in late August, with the capital budget approved in late November. The Council-approved projects will be reviewed at a Board meeting after August. As Mr. Larson helps Ms. Cannizzo transition to Interim Director, she will send the weekly Board memos and materials in August. Deep Roots, Growing City is a capital project and if the schedule can be maintained, staff will review Split Rock’s work in late August and after that Ms. Cannizzo will bring the Deep Roots, Growing City design to the Board. Minutes of the May 2021 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 4 of 5 While the general five year capital improvement list remains largely unchanged, there are a few modifications and most have been summarized in the weekly memos. Mr. Larson advised the Board to keep in mind that the next Director may propose different projects and alter this schedule. To review slight changes, Mr. Larson noted he proposed removal of Memories & Dreams and fit-out of that gallery into a multi-use space in 2023. This is because part of the multi-use gallery will become part of the introduction to the Deep Roots, Growing City exhibition. It would be challenging to complete just one section of demolition and fit-out in that gallery, especially as it relates to the ceiling and mechanical system. Moreover, doing the work to make that space the multi-use gallery in 2023 prevents staff from having to close the second floor two times, and will make the gallery available during the Museum’s 2024 Centennial. Also of importance, the Museum can maintain ADA accessibility to the second floor once the fit-out is complete. Fit-out of the multi-use gallery will be coordinated with work on Deep Roots, Growing City. Another added CIP task Mr. Larson reported on relates to masonry work. The Museum has requested funds for masonry work through the years. However, to that request Mr. Larson has added as a priority the tuck-pointing of the Sawyer home chimneys and gable ends. Mr. Larson further noted he added two new CIP projects. One is the repair/drainage of the Carriage House foundation. While not the Museum’s highest priority, it should be addressed in the coming years because the basement is very damp and shows an increasing amount of effervescence of the mortar and flaking on brick and limestone block, indicative of moisture issues. Fortunately, the Carriage House foundation repair will use the same specifications as the Sawyer home project, with some modifications, which will be a cost savings. The second project is an overhaul of the Carriage House workshop and doors. As the Board might recall, a new workshop was planned as part of the proposed building modifications and construction project with Engberg Anderson. However, since that project is not in the foreseeable future, the current workshop must be improved prior to the start of construction on Deep Roots, Growing City. In conclusion, Mr. Larson gave an update on the Ziebell Charitable Remainder Trust. The Museum is one of three recipients of the residual trust of John and May Ziebell. They had been Members, and May passed away earlier this year. Staff worked with the City Attorney’s office to complete the forms necessary to transfer the funds to the Museum. At this time we don’t know what amount the Museum will receive. Mr. Larson anticipates this will come before the Board in July. That concluded the Director’s report. President Thierman requested the Auxiliary report. Ms. Eichman reported that the Auxiliary Board has met and plans are in the works for all Auxiliary members to meet on Monday, September 13th. Also, they are hoping to hold Pie on the Lawn on July 11 and are checking with the City Fire Department to see what specific pandemic precautions need to be taken in pie prep and serving. The next Auxiliary Board meeting will be June 7th. That concluded the Auxiliary report. Minutes of the May 2021 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 5 of 5 Next on the agenda was the election of Board Officers for 2021-2022. Ms. Thierman asked for nominations for the three open positions. Ms. Matzke nominated Mr. Loiacono for President; second by Mr. Hoffman. Mr. Loiacono nominated Ms. Matzke for Vice President; second by Ms. Fenrich. Ms. Fenrich nominated Ms. Drexler as Secretary; second by Ms. Matzke. MOTION: The Board approve Mr. Loiacono for President, Ms. Matzke for Vice President, and Ms. Drexler for Secretary. (Fenrich; second Hoffman) CARRIED: Yes (7), Drexler, Fenrich, Hoffman, Loiacono, Matzke, Rego, and Thierman. With no other agenda items, Mr. Loiacono asked for a MOTION to adjourn. (Thierman; second Drexler) The vote was unanimous in favor and the motion was passed. The meeting adjourned at 4:56 p.m.