Minutes of Meeting Board of Directors May 12, 2015

Directors present:  Chris Heintz, Paul Brown, Dave Pearson, Rob Geiszler, Eric Solsaa, Deborah Morse, and Andrew Salamon 

Others present:  No visitors.

Our meeting was called to order a 7:08PM

Paul made a motion to accept past meeting’s minutes of the 4-11-2015 meeting. Dave seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.

 Treasurer’s Report
Chris Heintz led the discussion in Christina Gilman’s absence.

•        The Treasurer’s Report has a balance of $38,543.29. No Raffle revenue was posted.  Chris will discuss the Raffle revenue with Christina and if necessary discuss it with Casselton State College.

Family Selection Committee
Rob Geiszler led the discussion.

·         The Habitat Family Candidate withdrew from the formal Habitat financial qualification process.  The reason for their withdrawal was that the process took too long.

·         Jessica Cecot of the Family Selection Committee is this candidate’s contact.   Jessica and/or Rob will investigate the applicant’s withdrawal and hopefully will learn additional reasons why they withdrew.

·         The Family Selection Committee needs help finding new Habitat Family candidates.

·         Chris will speak to the Fairhaven Rotary Club and Impact Fairhaven Organization.  He will discuss with each of them Habitat’s organization, mission, and then solicit for volunteers to the Board of Directors and solicit for Habitat Family Candidates.

·         Dave and Deborah will speak to the Poultney Rotary Club.  They will discuss Habitat’s organization, mission, and then solicit them for help for the Board of Directors solicit for Habitat Family Candidates.

·         Andy will speak to the Killington Rotary Club.  He will discuss Habitat’s organization, mission, and then solicit them for volunteers to the Board of Directors and solicit for Habitat Family Candidates.

·         Chris will send the PPT that Rob created to Dave, Deborah, and Andy to use as the basis of their presentations to the Rotary Clubs.

Construction Committee
Rob Geiszler and Eric Solsaa led the discussion of the 30 West Street, Fairhaven property. 

Eric described the construction activities and costs would be to rehabilitate the existing building. 

·         Rehabilitate the existing building – estimated cost = $80,000

o   Eric and Al Williams, Habitat’s Construction Manager, reviewed the property several times.

o   The small rear addition will be removed from the main house.

o   Move staircase going upstairs to the center portion of the exterior wall.  The staircase will have a landing and a switch-back going up.  A new staircase to the basement will be located under the switch-back of the upstairs staircase.

o   Remove the front porch and its roof.  Note, the porch is not connected to the main house.

o   Construct a back porch, possibly using the materials from the front porch.

o   The kitchen will be enlarged due to the relocation of the staircase.

o   The chimneys on the roof serve no purpose and will be removed.

o   Some internal walls on the first floor will be moved to enhance the space.

o   There are plaster walls upstairs that will have to be removed and replaced with sheet rock walls.

o   Triple glazed windows will replace the older windows.

o   New plumbing and electrical services will be required in some areas.

o   A new foundation wall will be poured along the side where the new staircases will be.  This will be done by a local contractor, Don Smith.

o   The entire foundation will be sprayed with foundation insulation.

o   New plumbing from city water and sewer to the house is required.

o   The old slate roof will be removed and a new roof will be installed.

o   A new furnace will be installed

o   New exterior siding will be installed.

o   Flooring will be refinished or new installed as required.

o   New exterior siding will be installed.

o   New Kitchen appliances and cabinets will be installed.

o   New trim work where needed will be installed.

o   All rooms will be painted.

Rob Geiszler described the construction activities and costs to tear-down (demolish) the existing building and start from scratch and why that may be a viable alternative.

·         Tear-Down (demolish) existing building – estimated cost = $80,000 to $90,000

o   There will be no hidden surprises.  The new building would be entirely new.

o   A complete new foundation will be poured.

o   The new building would be pre-fabricated modular wall sections.

o   This will eliminate the need for hazardous materials safety precautions taken on the job (lead paint, asbestos, mold, etc.)

·         This building will be our showcase home until more are built. 

·         Work days on this property will be on Wednesdays and Saturdays

·         Castleton State University’s Habitat Club will volunteer on this project.

 

Paul brought a motion to the floor to rehabilitate the existing structure, not tear it down.  Dave seconded the motion.

A discussion followed about energy efficiency including insulation and heating furnace efficiency.

The motion passed with 6 for the motion, and 1 abstention by Rob Geiszler

 
Deborah brought a motion to the floor to approve hiring Al Williams as a self-insured, independent contractor that would work 2 days on site (an average of 10 hours a day) as Habitat’s Construction Manager; and be paid a weekly stipend of $400.00.   Paul seconded the motion.

A discussion followed concerning a stipend for Al Williams, Habitat’s Construction Manager. The discussion addressed the question, “Should it be a stipend, an hourly wage, a weekly salary, how much money, and how many hours?  Andy read highlights of a Construction Manager’s job description from Habitat of Burlington County, NJ so all have a feel for what this job entails.  

The motion unanimously passed.

Other 30 West Street, Fairhaven Business
Chris Heintz led the discussion.

•        We need to set a target date in June to hold a “kick-off event” at 30 West Street, Fairhaven.  Chris suggested June 20th.  We also have to plan this event.  We will have a planning meeting for this event on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 @ 6:00pm.  A description of the kick-off effort (raking the lot, building a storage shed, having a BBQ, hanging a Habitat banner, and other publicity activities) will be planned.

Properties
Stonegate Lots
Dave led the discussion on this property.

•        Dave met with Caprice Hover, an original home owner in the Stonegate development.  She indicated that there are absolutely no environmental concerns what-so-ever in the Stonegate development.  There was a rumor about an oil spill.  That oil spill occurred approximately 800 yards away from the development and best to our knowledge does not exist today.

•        Jeff Guvin, Habitat’s lawyer, will work out the details for Habitat to take ownership of the lots.  Once that transfer takes place, then Habitat will be obliged to pay $3,000.00 of back taxes that Mr. Griswold, the owner will pass on to RHFH. 

 

Rob brought a motion to the floor to accept the home owner’s declaration that the environmental condition is sufficient for Habitat to proceed in acquiring these lots.  Paul seconded the motion.

The motion was unanimously approved.

 

Other Business
•        Chris charges each member of the Board of Directors to bring forth the name of someone to be involved with the Board of Directors or on a Committee by next monthly Board meeting.

 

Note—our next board meeting will be Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at 6:00pm.

Chris adjourned the meeting at 9:02PM.

 

Minutes respectfully submitted by Andrew Salamon