Minutes:

29 March 2005 ­ Steering Committee

Present: Nancy Elkington, David Cunningham, Phil Huffman, Brian Shupe, Tina MacMillan, Cecilia McGuire, Joe Trenn, Holly Boyce, Whit Humphreys, John Fedor, Gil Livingston, Anne Munger, Jean Butman, Chuck Kellog, Leslie Bruce, Michael Rosen

At 5:10 PM Whit called the meeting to order.

Approve / Amend Agenda:

Add discussion of Questionnaire
Add report on Carillon Trip

Minutes of previous minutes read before the meeting. Minutes approved by consensus.

Gil Livingston addressed the Steering Committee:

Much discussion about:

Claire’s presentation
Community energy for the project
Steering Committee’s energy and efforts
Mistakes made and ways to avoid them in the future
Trust issues
Funding request letter
Minutes
Talking Points & Scripts for meetings and Steering Committee input
Possibility of VLT withdrawing from the project
Telephoning with concerns instead of writing
Gil wanting chair to be only one to contact him
Getting answers to questions of Project Team
Community Perception of this project
Project Team representing the Steering Committee
Funds and other resources available for the project
Community sensitivities about conservation

Gil told Brian and Phil to stop working on this project in early March because he didn’t know if this process would be continuing.

The Steering Committee believes it is a great project for our community. The project will continue after June, when the grant is concluded. The Steering Committee appreciates what VLT is doing. The Steering Committee has laid claim to the products, including the maps, and believes this is in Benson’s best interests.

Gil said that he will let the Steering Committee know tomorrow if VLT will withdraw from the project.

Gil requested:

1. No external written communication with world about Steering Committee’s frustrations.
2. Phone Gil instead ­ but only Chair is supposed to call.
3. Clarity about what everyone’s role in this is. What do Brian and Phil feel they can and will contribute?
4. Status of money: An accounting of Brian and Phil’s time used and available in the duration of the project.

David identified himself as vice-chair.

The next Steering Committee meeting was scheduled for 4:30 PM on 31 March 2005 ­ before the 3rd PLACE program event, and Brian will attend if the project continues.

If VLT does not withdraw from the project, Brian and Phil will bring accounting of hours to the Steering Committee on March 31st.

Gil discussed the content of the letter. He has given the OK on the following expenses:

$98 Mailing of announcement of 4 PLACE Program Events (already paid)
$35 Copying of above (already paid)
$34 Display Boards ­ blank (already paid)
$56 Photographic paper and heavy card for posters (already paid)
$70 Copying town-wide mailed questionnaire
$200 Postage on above
$266 Return-postage on above
$100 Office Supplies (copies & etc) for Steering Committee during Project

Gil offered to produce copies for free.

Gil said that there is now $750 available.

Phil said that Walter Poleman offered $300 more, which he said is $1050.

This $1050 is what we have available against the $2255 total requested.

Gil said “Spatial analysis lab will do maps for us.” (What is the spatial analysis lab?)

Gil told Brian and Phil to attend Claire’s 3rd PLACE program event on March 31st.

Phil agreed to make the introduction shorter.

Phil suggested extending the time frame for completing the project to after June.

Phil, Brian and Gil departed.

Discussion about the Planning Commission. BPPF will not have much if any impact on the PC. Their forward-looking stuff comes before ours. The Planning Commission was worried about the community “burning out” on meetings and conflicting conclusions. There are no conflicts and our surveys are benign. Whit diffused the Planning Commission’s concerns.

No response from the School Board or the Selecboard regarding our letters.

Carillon trip: David has reserved two dates: 5 and 12 June ­ both Sundays. The Carillon wants an answer by April 5. The trip will leave Larrabees Point and go to Red Rock Bay and back. The cost is $500 for up to 48 people. We don’t need to pay until that day. We can have 2 cruises on the same day. We can schedule 2 and cancel one if there is not enough interest to fill both.

Surveys were discussed. Some changes made. They will be reviewed again before testing them on people outside of Benson. They will be mailed after the 4th PLACE event on 21 April 2005, probably being mailed somewhere between 22 April and 1 May, with a return deadline of 15 May 2005.

Meeting adjourned at 7:26 PM

Respectfully submitted,

John Fedor