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Minutes of the March 7, 2019 Board Meeting
(Approved at the April 4,2019 Board Meeting.)
The March meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum Board was held Thursday, March 7, 2019, in
the Lecture Room of the Oshkosh Public Museum. President Hoffman called the meeting to order
at 4:00 pm.
The roll was taken by Ms. Books.
PRESENT AT ROLL: Board Members Connie Drexler, Carol Fenrich, Jim Hoffman, Gabe
Loiacono, Rick Rego,Joe Stephenson,Jean Thierman, and School Board President Barb Herzog.
EXCUSED: Board Members Randy Domer, Becky Matzke, Superintendent of Schools Vickie
Cartwright, Leadership Oshkosh Adjunct Board Nathaniel Shuda.
Mr. Hoffman appointed Ms. Drexler and Mr. Stephenson in place of Mr. Domer and Ms. Matzke.
ALSO PRESENT: Museum Director Brad Larson; Registrar Emily Rock, Durow Curator of
Collections Anna Cannizzo, Curator of Exhibitions Debra Daubert, Auxiliary President Kathy
Wuest;and Administrative Assistant Theresa Books recording the minutes.
Mr. Larson then introduced Mike Hochholzer and Daniel Evensen of Associated Wealth
Management. They presented to the Board the annual review of the Durow Trust earnings. The
return was approximately 1.4%.
There were no citizen statements to the Board.
Consent Agenda items included:
A. Minutes of the February Board Meeting
B. March Bill List
MOTION: Adopt Consent Agenda(Rego; second Fenrich)
CARRIED: Yes (8) Drexler, Fenrich, Herzog, Hoffman, Loiacono, Rego, Stephenson, Thierman.
Next was discussion and vote on the recommended amendments to the Collections Fund Policy.
Mr. Larson noted that the main change is to increase the amount the Museum Director can approve
from $1,000 to $2,000 without Board approval. Spending is kept within the annual budget
approved by the Board. He noted that all Collections decisions go through the Museum's
Collection Review Committee(CRC),so there is always a check and balance.Mr.Larson mentioned
that he will continue to keep the Board informed on the various decisions through his memos. Ms.
Cannizzo further reviewed that the Collections Fund has built in limitations;the funds can only be
used for items for the Collections, shipping of those items, or restoration/preservation of
Collections items. Mr. Hoffman opened for discussion.
Minutes of the March 2019 Museum Board Meeting
Oshkosh Public Museum■1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901
Page 1 of 3
MOVED: The Museum Board approve the amendments to the Collections Fund Policy as
presented. (Herzog; second Stephenson.)
CARRIED: Yes (8) Drexler, Fenrich, Herzog,Hoffman, Loiacono, Rego, Stephenson, Thierman.
Mr. Hoffman requested Mr. Larson present the monthly Director's Report.
Mr. Larson began by reporting that excellent progress is being made on Menominee Clans Story
exhibition. Exhibit Technician Greg Witthun and Graphic Designer Daniel Fiser have a window to
work on this, before staff attention must turn to the summer exhibition, Cemetery Tales. With the
background mural ready for gluing but not yet installed, they have turned their attention to
crafting the rocks,which are being built in segments in the shop. The rocks are crafted from epoxy-
covered foam rather than from plaster and will hold paint well. Mr. Larson has regularly updated
Mike Hoffman.
Mr. Larson anticipates the Membership/Marketing Coordinator position will be posted in a short
time. With good fortune, the new person could be on staff in early May. In the meantime, these
responsibilities were assigned to five other staff, plus Mr. Larson.
Updates on capital projects was next. Mr. Larson noted Common Council approval of the contract
($180,800)with Engberg Anderson Architects is expected at the March 12 meeting.The anticipated
start is at the April 4 Board meeting,which would begin with an overview and discussion. Among
the outstanding questions is scheduling public input session(s) and other ways of encouraging
citizen participation. Staff expect to meet with Architect Alex Ramsey about every three weeks and
the project will move along swiftly.
The agreement with Facility Engineering for developing the specifications and documents for
masonry repairs does not need formal Council approval, but will be announced at the March 12
Council meeting. In addition to preparing the specifications and bidding documents, Facility
Engineering will coordinate the masonry tasks with that of roof replacement, which is especially
important as it relates to the chimneys. The Museum CIP has a total of$85,000 for masonry work,
and while most of the work focuses on the Carriage House,the Sawyer home and Steiger Wing are
also being assessed and areas of masonry may be repaired as well. Additional funding may be
necessary in the 2020 capital improvement budget. Mr. Larson noted that roof replacement on the
Carriage House is not in the Museum's capital budget, but rather, is part of the General Services
budget. The Museum is providing input and helping determine the correct and appropriate scope
of work.
Next, Mr. Larson reviewed that the assessment of the Sawyer home foundation (2018 contract)
will be completed by Facility Engineering as soon as weather allows. The final step is limited
Minutes of the March 2019 Museum Board Meeting
Oshkosh Public Museum■1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901
Page 2 of 3
excavations at key points to establish the extent of wall deterioration and thus determine correct
repair methods. This process will ascertain whether there are old and working drain tiles,which is
unlikely. If tile is needed,the best solution at this point seems to be what is termed a"French drain"
instead of a sump pump system. When the assessment is completed,Facility Engineering will then
develop specifications and bidding documents and the repair work will be bid. The 2019 capital
improvement budget includes$60,000 for repair work on the foundation.
In conclusion, Mr. Larson noted the 2019 Capital Improvement budget includes $75,000 for the
Sporting & Recreation exhibition. Split Rock Studios is now under contract ($17,500) for
conceptual design and this part of the project kicks off in early April. As reported, the Museum is
digitizing the Paine Mill Model, which is included as part of the $75,000 budget. The digitized
adaptation of the model will become part of Deep Roots, Growing City. After staff have an approved
concept design for Sporting&Recreation, Mr. Larson anticipates starting some basic fit-out work in
that gallery late this year. That concluded the Director's Report.
President Hoffman did not have anything to report.
Mr. Hoffman then requested that Ms. Wuest present the Auxiliary Report.
Auxiliary President Kathy Wuest said she did not have anything to report this month.
With no other agenda items, Mr. Hoffman asked for a motion to adjourn. Ms. Thierman so moved
and Mr. Rego seconded the motion.
The vote was unanimous in favor and the motion was passed.
The meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
Minutes of the March 2019 Museum Board Meeting
Oshkosh Public Museum■1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901
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