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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05. Museum Board Minutes 7/9/15�:�r■ -- r Minutes of the July 9, 2015 Board Meeting -""'� "t��i�.�US��m (ApprovcdattheAugust13,2015BoardMcctingJ The July meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum Board was held on Thursday, July 9, 2015, in the Lecture Room of the Oshkosh Public Museum. President Rego called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. The roll was taken by Ms. Books. Present: Present: Mr. Domer, alt. Mr. Haffeman Ms. Drew, Secretary Mc Hoffman, Vice President Ms. Fenrich Ms. Matzke, alt. Ms. Cryan (arrived after Mr. Rego, President roll call) Excused: Ms. Thierman Absent: Mr. Mack Mr. Dedow Also in attendance: Director Brad Larson and Administrative Assistant Theresa Books recording the minutes. With Ms. Thierman out Mr. Rego appointed Ms. Matzke. With Ms. Cryan out Mr. Rego appointed Mr. Domer. (Ms. Cryan arrived shortly after the appointment had been made.) Consent Agenda items included the folbwing: A. Minutes of the June Board meering B. July sill List C. Receipt and Filing of 2^�' Quarter OACF Reports (If available) Because the 2^d quarter reports were not available, they were struck from the Consent Agenda. Ms. Fenrich moved that the Consent Agenda be approved for items A and B. Second by Mr. Hoffman. The vote went as follows: In Favor: In Favor: Mr. Domer Mr. Hoffman Ms. Drew Ms. Matzke Ms. Fenrich Mr. Rego Mr. Haffeman Against: None The vote was unanimous in favor and the Consent Agenda items were passed. Next on the agenda was discussion and vote on allocaHng Collections Fund money for the restoration of Robert Brand/Arion Band flute for $1,985, and a piccolo for $995; to be completed by the Midwest Art Conservation Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mr. Larson noted that these are very significant instxuments in that the Museum has the entire story of the owner. Discussion followed. Oshkosh Public Muscum � 1331 Algoma Boulevard � Oshkosh, Wiswnsin 54901 Page 7 of 5 Ms. Fenrich moved that the Board approve allocating Collections Fund money for the restoraHon of the Robert Brand/Arion Band flute for $7,985, and a piccolo for $995; to be completed by the Midwest Art Conservation Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Second by Mr. Haffeman. The vote went as follows: In Favor: In Favor: Against: Mr. Domer Mr. Hoffman None Ms. Drew Ms. Matzke Ms. Fenrich Mr. Rego Mr. Haffeman The vote was unanimous in favor and the vote carried. Next on the agenda was discussion and vote on allocating Collections Fund money for the treatment of the 1898 Woodworker's Union banner, to be completed by the Midwest Art Conservation Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Because the cost for treatment is not yet available, the Board will further discuss and vote on this topic at the August meeting. Next was discussion and vote regarding moving forward with design development for a new Museum entry, as presented at the June meering. An important part of the Board's responsibilities is to review potential capital improvement expenditures and establish priorities for funding to assist the City Manager and Common Council in the development of the capital improvement budget. The Museum submits requests to the City Manager as part of the annual departmental budget process, but there is no guarantee a proposed project will be funded. To move the entrance project forward or to withdraw it from consideration requires Board acrion. Ms. Drew commented that the Museum has many projects in the works that are taking time. If the Board agrees to proceed with this, her concern is that it would be shelved. Mr. Larson explained he would prefer that projects not take so long, projects do get slowed down for various reasons and therefore shows the importance of getHng things started. Mr. Haffeman said he worked with a school district for many years and is aware that projects often take time, but when they finally come to fruition people are delighted and wonder cvhy things weren't done years ago. Ms. Fenrich said she met with City Manager Rohloff and shared her thoughts. Ms. Drew expressed that she believes it is important for Board members to express their thoughts to City government in order to be heard and to not have it thought that we are content with what we have. Ms. Fenrich recommended that if the Museum moves forward, a committee should be assembled to work through details. Discussion followed. Ms. Drew moved that the Board approve moving forward with advocating for an expanded Museum entry, should funds be made available. Second by Mr. Hoffman. Oshkosh Public Muscum � 1331 Algoma Boulevard � Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Pagc 2 of 5 The vote went as follows: In Favor: In Favor: Mr. Domer Mr. Hoffman Ms. Drew Ms. Matzke Ms. Fenrich Mr. Rego Mr. Haffeman Against None The vote was unanimous in favor and the vote carried to move forward with planning for an expanded Museum entry, pending funding. Next on the agenda was discussion of the Schreiber House owned by the Paine Art Center and Gardens. Mayor Cummings had brought up the idea of the City obtaining the house and moving it to the site of The Hiker monument, for the Museum to then use. After seeing the house Mr. Larson expressed that it is not appropriate for the Museum to take it on, and, while beautiful, would not be useful. It would add expenses and staff rime. Board members agreed. Ms. Cryan then shared her prepared thoughts on the Schreiber House and asked it be recorded into the minutes. Remarks by Jane Cryan, 7/9/15 OPM Board meeting, discussion of Schreiber House: First, let me correct some misinformation that is on-line and in print: The house is in the Colonial Revival style, not Georgian. The house was built in 1911, not 1913. Mr. Schreiber did not build his house. It was built by C.R. Meyer Construction to the specifications of William Waters, architect. Mr. Waters' original drawings oE the Schreiber house are, reportedly, in the possession of one R. Nebel who was bom in Oshkosh but has been absent from the city since 1980. Mr./Ms. Nebel maintains a website entitled "williamwatersarchitect.blogspot.com" which provides no way to contact he/she. Next, I am strongly, no, I am vehementiv opposed to the Oshkosh Public Museum taking on this house because true historic preservation would not be served if the building is amputated from its foundation and moved from its site of construction. The matter is made worse by the fact that a 25-space parking lot would take its place. Further, I believe that the Museum's director, staff and resources would be strained well beyond a breaking point with the maintenance, repair and function of the house. Algoma Boulevard must not be defiled with yet another parking lot! The boulevard of Oshkosh's pioneers south of Woodland has been turned into a dog's breakfast of parking lots and buildings completely out of scale with the narrow roadway. The Paine owns seven buildings in the Algoma Park Historic District occupying six lots which take up 11.4101 acres of land. Of these properties, all are tax-exempt except Oshkosh Public Museum � 1331 Algoma Boulevard � Oshkosh, Wiswnsin 54901 Page 3 of 5 the residence at 1431 Congress once owned by the late Senator Jack Steinhilber. The Paine has ample opporhxnity to build a nearby parking lot on one of these lots. Further, and I must say this, whatever good The Paine dces for our community, and it is considerable, has been tamished by The Paine conducting operations in a manner that reduced the quiet enjoyment of the family who lived in and owned the Schreiber House which eventually caused the family to leave the house. Added to The Paine's apathy toward preservation of the Schreiber House has been the removal of a significant part of the Paine Mansion's history. Do you know that the video visitors are encouraged to view has been erased of the Union workers strike while the building was under construction? All thought out work by City planners beginning in the 1950s has brought us to this discussion today and you may be wondering what you can do to stop the certain demolirion of the treasured Schreiber House. Before we come to that point I ask you, as Museum Board members and keepers of Oshkosh history, to consider being in contact with Catherine Reed, whose masterpiece of a letter to the editox of The Northwestern describes what the Paine could do with the house. Mrs. Reed is trying to organize an effort involving Oshkosh citizens to save the Schreiber Mansion. If you can, please offer to help her. Let us not allow the Schreiber House to go down. And IeYs not allow the house to be foisted upon the Oshkosh Public Museum. That concluded Ms. Cryan's comments. Mr. Rego then requested that Mr. Larson present his Director's Report. Mr. Larson began his repoxt with an update on People of the Waters explaining that he has not yet received approval to move to the next phase with Split Rock Studios However, Mr. Larson will soon be discussing the project with City Manager Rohloff and Lynn Lorenson. On a positive note, Mr. Larson said that the delay is not going to waste because in the meantime Museum staff conrinue to research and plan for People of the Waters, and the postponement works out advantageously for the dismantling of Wetlands & Waterways. However, the staff is eager to begin work with SRS and start People of the Waters. Next, Mr. Larson updated the Board on the Landscape project. The project was broken into three smaller projects: masonry work; meta] work; entry walk. The City is currently obtaining quotes for the work which are due o� Thursday, July 23. If the quotes come in within budget, then the Board may look at other Phase I tasks. Oshkosh Public Museum � 1331 Algoma Boulevard � Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 4 of 5 As an update on the exhibition preparations for Great War to Great Gatsby, Mr. Larson noted that Exhibit Technician Bill Radig was able to complete the majority of the artifact mounts and exhibit components prior to June 30. The Museum contracted with Laib RestoraHon for construction and installation of the false walls, work Bill normally did, and these were installed the week of June 29. The e�ibit is on schedule and on budget. Mr. Larson reviewed that Bill and Building Maintenance Custodian Nick Rhoden worked together on Deck the Halls and Nick, with some help, can assemble the Deck the Halls cases. Given that, we are not overly concerned about the Christmas exhibit. The Board was reminded that the Exhibit Technician position will remain vacant through the rest of 2015 as part of the Museum's cost-saving measures for the 2015 budget. Mr. Larson plans to adverHse and interview candidates in late autumn, with a proposed start date in early winter. Mc Radig has indicated his willingness to return to help train the new person, as well as his willingness to work on Museum projects on a task by task basis, especially artifact mounts for People of the Waters. Mr. Larson plans to include these costs in the 20] 6 budget. In conclusion, Mr. Larson reported regarding the 2016 Exhibition Funding. The Museum has been unsuccessful thus far in obtaining sponsorship for the proposed traveling exhibit Be the Dinosaur for early 2016. The Exhibition Fund is low and Museum trusts and funds are committed to other projects. Given that fact, Mc Larson decided to do the annual Exhibition Fund solicitation earlier this year, in July rather than autumn. The goal is to raise enough money to allow the Museum to contract for Be the Dinosaur, and hopefully another museum will not take our preferred Hme slot of February through Spring 2016. Mr. Larson noted that the Museum continues to look for full or partial sponsorship for this exhibit. That concluded the Director's Report. Ms. Barb Shirtz, Auxiliary President, reported regarding Auxiliary activities. This Sunday, July 12�'�, is Pie on the Lawn. The new board met June 22°�' and all went very well; this group will work very well together. Goals are set and two significant goals include; 1. Auxiliary Board would like to meet with Mr. Larson and discuss investment options for the Auxiliaries funds. They would like to make more than they currenfly make with it in the bank. 2. The Auxiliary will clean out the items in the kitchen storage, keeping just what is needed. Ms. Shirts noted that the 2015 Gala is set for Thursday, November 19, and that thirty Red Hatters will be joining the Gala group. The next Auxiliary Board meering is set for July 20. That ended the Auxiliary Report. With no other agenda items Mr. Rego asked for a motion to adjourn. Ms. Matzke so moved and Mr. Hoffman seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous in favor and the motion was passed. The meeting adjourned at 522 p.m. Oshkosh Public Muscum � 1331 Algoma Boulevard � Oshkosh, Wiswnsin 54901 Page 5 of 5