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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES_April 2021 Museum BoardMinutes of the April 2021 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 1 of 3 Minutes of the April 1, 2021 Board Meeting (Approved at the May 6, 2021 Board Meeting.) The April meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum Board was held Thursday, April 1, 2021, via Zoom. President Thierman called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. The roll was taken by Theresa Books. PRESENT AT ROLL (all via Zoom): Board Members Connie Drexler, Carol Fenrich, Jim Hoffman, Vice President Gabe Loiacono, Secretary Becky Matzke, Alternate Joseph Stephenson, President Jean Thierman, School Board President Barb Herzog, and Director Rick Rego joined the meeting at 4:04 p.m. Excused: Superintendent of Schools Vickie Cartwright Ms. Thierman appointed Ms. Stephenson, with Mr. Rego not being present at the roll. ALSO PRESENT: Museum Director Brad Larson, Associated Trust Company representatives Mike Hochholzer and Daniel Evensen, City Attorney Lynn Lorenson, Auxiliary Secretary Sue Eichman, Assistant Director Anna Cannizzo, and Administrative Assistant Theresa Books recording the minutes. Mr. Larson introduced Associated Trust Company representatives Michael Hochholzer, CFA, Senior Vice President & Portfolio Manager and Daniel Evensen, who then presented the annual review of the Durow Trust. Mr. Hochholzer reported details regarding investment of the Trust. He noted that about 25% of the Trust matures every 12 months. The Fund has remained stable through the years. He pointed out that as interest rates decline, the interest earned also declines. After opening for questions from the Board, Mr. Hochholzer concluded his report. Mr. Evensen and Mr. Hochholzer logged off after their presentation. There were no citizen statements to the Board and none were received by other means. Consent Agenda items included: A. Minutes of the March Board Meeting B. April Bill List MOTION: Adopt Consent Agenda (Herzog; second Fenrich). CARRIED: Yes (8), Drexler, Fenrich, Hoffman, Loiacono, Matzke, Stephenson, Thierman, and Herzog. Minutes of the April 2021 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 2 of 3 Next on the agenda was discussion and vote on a Collections Fund purchase of a Helen Farnsworth Mears Sculpture, titled “Echo” for $4,000. Assistant Director/Curator of Collections Anna Cannizzo explained that 2022 is the 150th anniversary of Helen Farnsworth Mears’ birthday. The Museum’s exhibit team plans to develop an exhibition of Ms. Mears’ works, highlighting the various items that the Museum has been able to collect through the years. Mr. Larson reviewed that there is money in the Collections Fund budget to cover this purchase. He noted that usually he receives questions from Board members when he recommends a purchase. However, he didn’t receive any calls or emails and suggested that perhaps everyone agrees this is a good opportunity. Ms. Drexler and others remarked they agreed that it’s a wonderful opportunity for the Museum. MOTION: Board approve purchase of the Helen Farnsworth Mears sculpture titled “Echo,” for $4,000. (Loiacono; second Drexler). CARRIED: Yes (8), Drexler, Fenrich, Hoffman, Loiacono, Matzke, Stephenson, Thierman, and Herzog. Ms. Thierman then requested Mr. Larson present the Director’s Report. Mr. Larson began by reporting that the Museum has experienced good attendance during the Star Wars: The Nostalgia Awakens exhibition. For the first quarter, the Museum had 3,341 visitors, retail sales totaling $6,614, and donations totaling $5,208. Based on the tracking of visitor zip codes, staff know that Star Wars is attracting people from communities north of Oshkosh; and from comments received at the front desk, staff know that the Museum has had a significant number of first-time visitors. This is important for the health of the Museum, for new audiences expand our reach and support. He explained that it is one reason why staff present diverse exhibitions. Star Wars enabled staff to become comfortable with Ticket Leap, which helps control the number of people in the building. As Mr. Larson explained in a weekly memo, visitor numbers will be regulated during Titanic. Next Mr. Larson gave an update on the cement work and landscaping Capital Improvement Projects. Neither project is yet out for bid but cement work should be out shortly; the bid opening for cement work is April 27. Staff are waiting on formal approval from the Preservation Division of the State Historical Society relative to the Museum’s National Register status but have conditional approval. The cement work has a work window in June and early July, because Titanic opens mid-July. The project includes tuck-pointing of the Sawyer home garden wall as an alternate bid and that work can be done at any time and is not associated with the timeframe for the cement work. Minutes of the April 2021 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 3 of 3 Mr. Larson noted that the landscaping project is more challenging. This project includes signage on the east grounds and northwest corner and he has been in discussions with Community Development regarding those signs. Code says that signs are to be set back 30’. If that is required, the Museum will simply forego the sign on the east side because 30’ would make any sign useless. Setting the northwest sign back 30’would result in loss of trees, which is to be avoided. Both signs have to go through the Board of Appeals to determine if the Museum can have a variance. The earliest that can happen is mid-May. If approved, the signs would have to be bid separately and it is very unlikely that the sign work would be done in 2021 Mr. Larson stated that while he had expected to create a bid package that included all the work to make it more attractive to contractors, the landscaping work only will be bid as soon as possible. Assuming that would go out for bid in the next week or two, Mr. Larson expects the earliest the foundation landscaping contract could be awarded would be toward the end of May. That schedule is late for landscaping work because contractors will have their summer work schedules set; and thus it will most likely be an autumn project. Mr. Larson has instructed Maintenance Technician Matt Reinke to ensure the area around the Sawyer home is well-seeded, because the Pow Wow is in two months, June 5th. This week the Parks Department removed the remains of the Sawyer fountain and graded new top soil; staff are appreciative of their help. In conclusion, Mr. Larson gave updates on the White Christmas exhibition. Ms. Cannizzo sent the draft loan contract to the owners of White Christmas and it is being reviewed. Staff do not anticipate any issues and Mr. Larson expects there will be an executed agreement by mid-April. The dates for White Christmas are November 13, 2021 through January 23, 2022. Among the grants Mr. Larson submitted to help sponsor White Christmas was an application to Community First Credit Union and it appears that White Christmas is appealing to that organization. The Museum’s application and project will be reviewed on April 14. Generally speaking, it is necessary to obtain sponsorship of a major project like White Christmas at least a year in advance. In this case, because the exhibition is so unique, Mr. Larson believes there is a good chance of obtaining some funding. That concluded the Director’s report. President Thierman requested the Auxiliary report. Auxiliary Secretary Sue Eichman reported that the Auxiliary will hold Pie on the Lawn on July 11th. The Auxiliary Board will meet again April 8th. That concluded the Auxiliary report. With no other agenda items, Ms. Thierman asked for a motion to adjourn. (Stephensen; second Herzog) The vote was unanimous in favor and the motion was passed. The meeting adjourned at 4:42 p.m.