HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES (2)
MINUTES OF THE APRIL 2012 MEETING OF THE
OSHKOSH PUBLIC MUSEUM BOARD
(April 2012 minutes approved at the May 3, 2012 Board Meeting)
The regular April meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum Board was held on Thursday,
April 5, 2012 in the Lecture Room of the Museum. Board President Eugene Winkler
called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. The roll was taken:
Present: Ms. Drew Absent: Ms. Kujawa
Ms. Fenrich Ms. Moldenhauer
Mr. Haffeman Mr. Moore
Mr. Metz
Mr. Rego
Mr. Winkler
Also Present: Museum Director Brad Larson, Asst. Director Michael Breza, City Finance
Director Peggy Steeno, City Attorney Lynn Lorenson, Auxiliary President Barb Shirtz,
Leadership Oshkosh representative Steve Klegon, and Brenda Hauber recording the
minutes.
Mr. Winkler designated Ms. Drew to fill the vacancy of Ms. Kujawa.
The minutes of the March 1, 2012 board meeting were read. Ron Metz moved that the
minutes be approved. Rick Rego seconded the motion. There being no discussion, Mr.
Winkler called for the roll call vote which went as follows:
In favor: Ms. Drew Opposed: None
Ms. Fenrich
Mr. Haffeman
Mr. Metz
Mr. Rego
Mr. Winkler
The vote was unanimous in favor and the motion was passed. The minutes of the
March 1, 2012 board meeting were accepted.
The April 2012 bill listing was presented. Ron Metz moved that the bill listing be
approved for payment. Rick Rego seconded the motion. A brief discussion followed
after which Mr. Winkler called for the roll call vote:
In favor: Ms. Drew Opposed: None
Ms. Fenrich
Mr. Haffeman
Mr. Metz
Mr. Rego
Mr. Winkler
The motion was passed with a unanimous vote in favor. The April 2012 bill listing was
approved for payment.
The next item on the agenda was the discussion and vote on the management of the
Durow Fund. Mr. Larson introduced City Finance Director Peggy Steeno and City
Attorney Lynn Lorenson. Mr. Larson explained that in addition to Messes. Steeno and
Lorenson, Board President Eugene Winkler and Board member Carol Fenrich and
himself made up the committee that was formed to bring back to the board a
recommendation for the management of the Durow Fund. At that point Ms. Steeno took
over and announced that the committee recommends that Associated Wealth
Management be given this responsibility. Ms. Steeno then reviewed the process,
beginning the Request for Qualifications. After examining the responses three firms
were invited to give a presentation to the committee. Afterward references were
checked by Ms. Steeno and the committee considered these in coming to their decision
of recommending Associated Wealth Management. This was followed by a motion by
Ron Metz and seconded by Gary Haffeman that the Durow Fund be managed by
Associated Wealth Management. A brief discussion and question and answer period
followed. At the conclusion, Mr. Winkler called for the roll call vote which went as
follows:
In favor: Ms. Drew Opposed: None
Ms. Fenrich
Mr. Haffeman
Mr. Metz
Mr. Rego
Mr. Winkler
The vote was unanimous in favor and the motion was passed. The board accepted
Associated Wealth Management to oversee the investment of the Durow Trust.
Following the vote Messes. Steeno and Lorenson excused themselves from the
meeting with the Board’s appreciation.
Mr. Larson then explained the next item on the agenda: the use of Durow earnings to
send Ms. Clothier to a conference on new ways to use decorative arts in exhibits. The
conference concentrates on Midwest decorative arts so it is pertinent to our mission and
collection. He noted that the total cost should not exceed $1,200. Since this expenditure
is appropriate for the Durow Trust, he requested that the cost be covered by the
earnings in the fund. Carol Fenrich moved that the Durow Trust earnings be used to
cover the cost of Ms. Clothier’s trip to the conference. Diana Drew seconded the motion.
The board then discussed the proposed use of the Durow Fund earnings for the trip. At
the conclusion, Mr. Winkler called for the roll call vote:
In favor: Opposed:
Ms. Drew None
Ms. Fenrich
Mr. Haffeman
Mr. Metz
Mr. Rego
Mr. Winkler
The vote was 5 in favor and 1 opposed. The motion was passed. The use of Durow
earnings was approved for the conference for Sharon Clothier.
Mr. Winkler then asked Mr. Larson to present his Director’s Fund. The first item was an
amendment to the free admission policy to include children from the Boys and Girls
Club on Oshkosh and from the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization. The board then
proposed several options including half price for the “big brothers/sisters”, for groups
allowing 1 chaperone free for every 10 children in the group and that the policy be
extended to Boy and Girl Scout groups and Cub Scouts. Mr. Larson said he would work
on the proposed amendment to the admission policy and bring it back to the board at
the May meeting.
He next went on to discuss the performance measures that will be a major change in
the 2013 Budget process. The draft performance measures were given to each board
member. Mr. Larson noted that both the American Association of Museums and
American Association of State and Local History benchmarks were considered when
preparing the measures and when possible, the national benchmarks will be noted.
Next Mr. Larson explained where we are with the 2012 Capital Improvement Projects.
The landscape design Request for Proposals (RFP) will be sent out tomorrow, April 6. A
th
mandatory walkthrough has been included in the RFP for April 19. Proposals are due
on April 30, with the intention that the board will select a designer at the May 3 meeting.
As part of the Steiger foundation project, we have hired an engineering firm, Omnni
Associates of Appleton, to investigate the extent and source of the problem. Once this is
determined we can move forward with the solicitation of bids for the repair work. After
the engineering phase is paid for we will have $20,000 left for the work.
The next 2012 project is the replacing or upgrading our security and fire detection
system. The City has hired a consulting firm to do the evaluation of the museum and
another department’s system. Our budget for this project: $35,000.
The final project for 2012 is the hardwood floor refinishing. This will need to be
scheduled soon since the work must be done between major exhibits. Budget for this
project: $8,500.
A board member inquired of Mr. Larson where would the funds for the HVAC we are
having come from. Mr. Larson explained that since this would be a repair rather than a
capital purchase the funds would be coming from our operating budget.
This concluded the Director’s Report. Ms. Shirtz, President of the Museum Auxiliary,
reported that officers of the auxiliary will now hold their posts for a term of three years.
This should bring about a much more efficient leadership with the officers being in office
longer and thus gaining more experience. She also reported that the entertainment at
the May luncheon will be a choir yet to be determined. The auxiliary is also planning on
activities both at the International Museum Day and the opening of Toys. They will also
be participating in the Second Saturday events.
There were no Board member statements so Mr. Winkler entertained a motion to
adjourn from Ron Metz, seconded by Gary Haffeman. The voice vote was called for:
In favor: Ms. Drew Opposed: None
Ms. Fenrich
Mr. Haffeman
Mr. Metz
Mr. Rego
Mr. Winkler
The voice vote was unanimous in favor and the motion was passed. The meeting
adjourned at 4:43 pm.