New Church Council Meeting Minutes – April 12th, 2007 – APPROVED MINUTES

Call to Order Frank Newman, President

Meeting called at 6:35 pm at Emanuel.

Council Members Present (11): Frank Newman, Pastor Evelyn Dahlke, Tom Fischer, Heather Fokken, Pastor Craig Pederson, Kathy Munson, Dan Scoggins, Joe Tricola, Marilyn Peterson, Adelheid Koski, Marko Fields. Not Present.

Dave Raymond – ChurchFuture.com

Transition Task Force: Andrea Stelljes, Ruth Foster, Kathy Schadendorf, Darrell Lind, Bill Speake, Intern Pastor Lori Youngvorst, Pastor Ken Defor. Virginia Schnabel.

Devotions
No Devotional. Next meeting Tom Fischer will do a devotional.

Pastor Evelyn offered an opening prayer.
Task Force Update
Virginia Schnabel • Bids obtained for carpet cleaning, washing and waxing floors. $3500.
• Painters have been bidding on painting Sanctuary, Narthex, Altar areas, the columns, the library room, and the Pastor’s Offices. Painting bid $1300 labor and $300 for paint supplies.
• A designer recommended we close off the old stairway from Sanctuary to Fellowship hall. Makes more space in back of sanctuary and removes a safety hazard for children.
• From April 28th to May 6th, the Transition Task force needs volunteers to help moving and cleaning up.

New Church processes
Frank Newman
The new church needs $5000 in operating revenue from each church. Emanuel put in the first $5000 already.
Office staff positions posted – intent letters due from each staff person by Friday, 4/13. Interviews next week.
TTF and Council continue separate meetings
(1945 hours) TTF and Council continue separate meetings.

Secretary’s Report
Dan Scoggins

Minutes from 03-29 presented.
Changes made to Oromo section, correction of Oromo members names, added the motion to approve the use of space during memorial weekend. Found in original notes as well.
In naming process section, changed Vote from Ominous to Unanimous. Motion to approve the minutes with corrections Motion: Tricola
Second: Fisher
Vote: Unanimous
Abstain: none

Job Descriptions
Heather Fokken Pastor Craig Pederson
• Custodian, Music Director, Choir Director, Congregational adimistrator, Administrative assistant completed. Youth and Family position prepared but will not be staffed until August.
• Finance Team – to design a plan to manage resources.
• Operating budget to be made by Finance Team.
Finance Team
Frank Newman
Heather Fokken
• Checking account and investment accounts opened at Wells Fargo, the current location of all three congregations accounts.
• Council members discussed that they preferred that we hold our checking accounts, or some of our assets are Northeast bank. It was also suggested that we consider socially responsible investing for any investment funds, perhaps the ELCA Mission investment fund. Frank said this is all up to the Finance Team to work out. Heather said this will be taken under consideration by the Finance team.
• An investment account was set up with President and Treasurer authorized to be able to move funds into checking account.
• Church administrators will write any checks. Treasurer will authorize all payments.
• Signors will be authorized to sign for checks. (Tom Fischer, Lane Speake, Dan Scoggins, Kathy Munson, Pam Donnelly).
• Payroll service will be used for staff payroll checks.
Motion: to open the current checking account and investment account at Wells Fargo and approve the signers Motion: Frank
Second: Munson
Vote: 10 for, 1 against (Tricola)
Abstain: none

Legal Issues
Frank Newman
• Amended articles handed out and reviewed.
• We may need to re-elect the council at the May 6th, church meeting. Frank to ask Mike Bash about this.
• We have a written legal opinion letter on why we cannot give away items from the three churches to use if there are questions from members.
• Items can be sold for fair market value but we cannot give items away if they have any market value. Motion: to approve the amended articles of incorporation. Motion: Frank
Second; Adelheid
Vote: unanimous
Abstain: none
Task force progress
Frank Newman • Publicity – signs will be in place at the new building by May 6th, for outside of the building.
• Transportation - 1993 24 passenger Ford bus with a metal bus carriage. It is insured at $756.66 per year. Asked Joe Tricola to provide some expense information on bus maintenance. The bus may not be running by May 6th. We don’t know exactly who will drive it since it requires a special license.
• Transportation rides - Marko Fields offers to make up cards for people to fill out at each church for rides.
• Banners – The Quilters from all three congregations are making banners.
• Service times – 9:15 Sunday school, 10:30 service until this summer. Summer service times are 9:30, no Sunday school.
• Volunteer appreciation event - Friday April 27th, we are helping with a volunteer appreciation dinner at Bethlehem Baptist church downtown for Community Emergency Services volunteers. Serving help needed. Contact Frank to participate.
Autistic Children
Pastor Craig Pederson A St. Paul’s member, Arlis Bresnahan uses St. Paul’s sanctuary for two autistic children from Edison High School to do work related therapy. She asks if she can continue this at the new church on Thursday afternoons. Motion: to allow us to continue this service for autistic children. Motion: Fields
Second: Fischer
Vote: Unanimous
Abstain: none
Hiring revisited
In order to fill the positions needed by May 1st , NE Community Lutheran’s Council needs to authorize the personnel committee to fill the following positions by April 29th.
Motion: to authorize the personnel team to interview and hire the custodian, congregational administrator and admin assistant positions at the rates described Motion: Scoggins
Second: Fisher
Vote: Unanimous
Abstain: none

Adjourn
Frank Newman
Closing prayer.

Meeting Adjourned
Next meeting April 26, 2007 6:30 pm, Emanuel.