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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER MEETING OF THE OSHKOSH PUBLIC MUSEUM BOARD (Approved at the January 5, 2012 Board Meeting) The regular December meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum Board was held on Thursday, December 1, 2011 in the Lecture Room of the Museum. Board President Eugene Winkler called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. The roll was taken: Present: Ms. Drew Absent: Ms. Fenrich Mr. Haffeman Dr. Viegut Ms. Kujawa Mr. Lemberger Mr. Metz Ms. Moldenhauer Mr. Moore Mr. Rego Mr. Winkler Also in attendance: Museum Director Brad Larson, Asst. Director Michael Breza, Auxiliary President Barb Shirtz, Leadership Oshkosh representative Steven Klegon and Brenda Hauber recording the minutes. Mr. Winkler designated Diana Drew to fill the vacancy of Carol Fenrich. There were no Citizen Statements. The minutes of the November 3, 2011 meeting were read. Ron Metz moved that the minutes be approved and Gary Haffeman seconded the motion. There being no discussion, Mr. Winkler called for the roll call vote which went as follows: In favor: Drew Opposed: None Haffeman Kujawa Metz Moldenhauer Rego Winkler The vote was unanimous in favor and the motion was passed. The minutes of the November 3, 2011 meeting were accepted. The next item on the agenda was the reading and vote upon the December 2011 bill listing. Ron Metz moved that the bill listing be approved for payment and Rick Rego seconded the motion. Following a brief discussion, Mr. Winkler called for the roll call vote which went as follows: In favor: Drew Opposed: None Haffeman Kujawa Metz Moldenhauer Rego Winkler The motion was passed with a unanimous vote in favor. The December 2011 bill listing was approved for payment. rd The next item on the agenda was the receipt and filing of the 3 quarter reports on the three museum accounts held with the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation. Ron Metz moved to receive and file the three reports and Rick Rego seconded the motion. After a brief discussion, Mr. Winkler called for the roll call vote. In favor: Drew Opposed: None Haffeman Kujawa Metz Moldenhauer Rego Winkler The roll call vote was unanimous in favor and the motion was passed. The third quarter reports from the OACF were received and filed. Mr. Winkler then asked Mr. Larson to present his Director’s Report. He began with the 2012 budgets: operating and capital improvement. The Museum’s proposed 2012 budget was approved by the Common Council last week. The budget has one major change in that transfers from other funds will be transferred to cover approved expenditures. Last spring the board authorized use of Endowment Fund earnings to cover the cost of a 2012 marketing intern. We are currently moving forward with filling the position so the intern can start as soon as the spring semester begins. One project will be a review of the membership program. Mr. Larson then explained the approved capital improvement projects for 2012. Refinishing hardwood floors ($8,500)  Replacement of our oldest boiler ($81,000) General Services will handle this  Structural foundation improvements to the area of the archives ($25,000)  Replacement of security and fire detection system ($35,000)  Landscape planning and design, including in-ground watering system and  fountain improvements ($45,000) Mr. Breza has already begun planning two of these projects and we will be working with Purchasing on the specifications so we can put the projects out for bid as soon as practical. Just a reminder: Capital Improvement bids are now approved by the Common Council. The next topic on the Director’s Report was the 2012 exhibit schedule. After Bling! closes on March 4 the removal will begin and it will be a lengthy project in view of the special care that must be accorded the gowns when being prepared for storage. After the gallery is emptied we will use that time for the refinishing of the hardwood floors. Most likely the museum will have to close for a week during the time this work is being done. The summer exhibit will be a traveling exhibit entitled Toys: The Inside Story. We are still working with the lender on the start and end dates. For the fall we will be featuring a selection of special highlights from the museum collection. A date has not yet been set. The rest of the schedule includes upgrades to our long-term exhibits including Memories & Dreams, Wetlands & Waterways and Grandma’s Attic. We need to allocate resources to changing and improving parts of our long-term exhibits. In conclusion Mr. Larson said that staff time will also be allocated for an annual fundraising event. th Mrs. Shirtz then presented the Auxiliary Report. First the 85 anniversary event went very well and was very successful. They had 48 paid attendees and 8 new members signed up. They made a $183 profit on the event. The free admission day (November 25) saw a lot of children participating in the Auxiliary-sponsored children’s activities, and the Auxiliary made $100 on the bake sale. Board Member’s Statements was the next agenda item. At the request of Janet Moldenhauer at the December meeting, she wanted a discussion of the eventual use of the plans and drawings prepared for the proposed expansion. She explained that she wanted to see something done. Mr. Larson stated that while we’d all like to see the project move forward sooner rather than later, the plain fact of the matter is that this is a difficult time to push this forward. He stressed the fact that the money expended on this project has not been wasted as it created a sound plan based on fact, needs and professional planning services. Mr. Larson stated that he believes that City Manager Mark Rohloff understands the need for the museum to change, but that museum projects must be placed within the overall priorities and schedules of the City. Mr. Larson also noted that we will be looking into the possibility of a phased expansion, in which case the plans we have in file will be essential. Since they are completed, we would not have to hold up the process in order to have them done. Mr. Larson concluded by saying that in order to continue to serve the community, now and in the future, the museum must change, and that we are fulfilling our responsibilities by laying the groundwork for those improvements. With no further business before the board, Ron Metz moved and Diana Drew seconded the motion to adjourn. The voice vote went as follows: In favor: Drew Opposed: None Haffeman Kujawa Metz Moldenhauer Rego Winkler The voice vote was unanimous in favor and the motion was passed. The meeting was adjourned at 4:38 pm.