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Tremont West Development Corporation
Board of Directors
June 21, 2007

Present: S. Catania, K. Moss, L. McLaughlin-Murray, S. Smith, M. Hundt, M. Leslie, S. Nagy, D. Mehring, J. Chiplis, J. Boylan, H. Cook, B. Riker, C. Krosel
Staff: S. Bloom, Guest: H. Senyak ( Lincoln Heights ex officio)
Excused: P. Pavarini

President Catania opened the meeting at 6: 00 p.m. when quorum was achieved.

1. Approval of Minutes: Lynn McLaughlin-Murray noted an error in the proposal to defining the check signing rights of the executive director. The corrected portion should read "for non-recurring expenses and those checks over $500, the signature of two officers is still required."

Henry Senyak noted that his name was misspelled and requested a correction.

Lynn McLaughlin-Murray moved to accept and Scott Nagy seconded. All voted in favor.

Re: Minutes of Special Board Meeting- June 2, 2007: Correction proposed by Lynn McLaughlin-Murray and seconded by Scott Nagy - selection of executive director was done by voting rather than consensus. All voted in favor.

II. NPI/CDBG Funding: NPI has given TWDC a SII grant of $125,000 for the first year of the cycle. For years two and three, we will receive $150,000 each year, if we reach full staffing. The City has cut our share of the CBDG grant by 11%. We still will receive funding from the Councilmen. We have $80,000 from HTF to begin acquisition and home repair in HBR Model Blocks area. For compliance issues, L. McLaughlin-Murray noted that BVU accountant will help us in redrafting budget.

III. Committee Reports: Economic Development/Long-Range Planning. This committee will function in an oversight role regarding our work toward SII goals. To give economic development issues more attention, these items will be discussed first at a forthcoming meeting which was re-scheduled on June 28th.

Housing Committee: Concern over possible overlapping issues with other committees. A photographic inventory of buildings in target areas has been completed. There has been discussion re: historic districts and their values; goals can be achieved in other ways. Housing committee has recruited additional members- a resident with architectural experience. Housing Committee met with developer of Miller Court property. There were issues regarding setback and window treatment. Goals were set for HBR Model Block re-hab. Funds are available for painting, gutter repair, cleanup in Tremont Point area. Ninety-five Valley View residents and families will be returning to Tremont Point. We need to market availability of $900,000 soft second mortgage money which VCC is making available in all Tremont areas. L. McLaughlin-Murray asked that the Housing Committee create criteria for marketing.

Finance Committee: Negative balances occurred because the transfer of funds from savings had not been reflected in the reports. The Metro Lofts debt has been turned over to a collection agency. Art Walk and Art Hop are merging, so their expenses and schedule of bills may become more manageable. Lynn McLaughlin Murray has prepared a list of recurring expenses for the board before they approve the change in signing procedure.

M. Hundt and S. Smith seconded the motion that Board empower the Executive Director to sign as sole signer for routine recurring expenses under $5,000 and for non-recurring expenses under $500. For non-recurring expenses over $500, signatures of two officers are needed. All voted in favor.

J. Boylan proposed a second motion that the compliance officer will provide the treasurer with a list of all checks and amounts so the treasurer can verify that procedures are being followed. J. Chiplis seconded. All voted in favor.

Lynn McLaughlin-Murray will talk to the BVU accountant volunteer about creating reports with more accessible financial data for the Board.

J. Boylan moved to accept the monthly financial statement. D. Mehring seconded. All voted in favor.

Fund-Raising/Marketing: We earned $12,000 profit from the June Reverse Raffle.
Sponsors of the event will help next year. Marketing Committee is working on a series of events/fund-raising targets for 2007-2008. Seasonal and themed events are a possibility. Food booths at Tremont events will help. A new edition of the Visitors' Guide is being created.

Safety: S. Catania reported that the cameras will go live in the North of Literary area within a few days. McCormack-Baron is giving substantial support.
The meeting with the judge and bailiff re: crime went well, but attendance was poor.

Community Organizing: Target is a major sponsor of the Arts and Cultural Festival. Tremont Trek is on track. See newsletter for more details.

Property Management: Elie Gonzales is leaving on June 29th. Many resumes are coming for the post. REACT has given TWDC an excellent rating during its inspection of the West Side Homes.

New Business: Increasing postage costs and a growing readership of our newsletter has created a budget crisis. Can we create a neighborhood network in stores, galleries, churches, etc. for our newsletter in 44l09 and 44113 areas? B. Riker and D. Mehring have offered to redesign the newsletter so its bulk will be reduced.

Meeting with Community Development Office, Cleveland City Hall: Darryl Rush, Community Development Director, met with representatives of TWDC and Stockyards staff. Clark Metro has lost funding. There are no housing services, community organizing, paint programs, going on in most of Ward 14. City wants people served. Staff of both organizations are fully employed in their respective areas. Will there be any re-imbursement for any work undertaken, if the choice is made to do this? Will the primary responsibilities of the CDC's suffer? Where are the Councilmen in all this? Any future meeting needs to include them since they fund the C.D.C's. Jeff Chiplis stated that he has served as an independent contractor at CMDC. Chiplis stated that it was wrong not to fund CMDC and their board and executive director need to be in on these discussions.

S. Catania said the Executive Directors and the Boards must talk face to face.

New Executive Director: Chris Garland will start on July 1st. We should hold a reception for him. Steve Bloom was recognized for his hard work and generous leadership in this time of transition.

Announcements: S. Nagy reminded people of the Midwest Railway outing on June 30th.

There being no further business, L. McLaughlin Murray moved to adjourn and M. Hundt seconded. All voted in favor.


	Tremont West Development Corporationnn

	*"To maintain and improve the living, business, and cultural conditions for all of Tremont."***
		Tremont West Development Corporation Board of Directors June 21, 2007 Present: S. Catania, K. Moss, L. McLaughlin-Murray, S. Smith, M. Hundt, M. Leslie, S. Nagy, D. Mehring, J. Chiplis, J. Boylan, H. Cook, B. Riker, C. Krosel Staff: S. Bloom, Guest: H. Senyak ( Lincoln Heights ex officio) Excused: P. Pavarini President Catania opened the meeting at 6: 00 p.m. when quorum was achieved. 1. Approval of Minutes: Lynn McLaughlin-Murray noted an error in the proposal to defining the check signing rights of the executive director. The corrected portion should read "for non-recurring expenses and those checks over $500, the signature of two officers is still required." Henry Senyak noted that his name was misspelled and requested a correction. Lynn McLaughlin-Murray moved to accept and Scott Nagy seconded. All voted in favor. Re: Minutes of Special Board Meeting- June 2, 2007: Correction proposed by Lynn McLaughlin-Murray and seconded by Scott Nagy - selection of executive director was done by voting rather than consensus. All voted in favor. II. NPI/CDBG Funding: NPI has given TWDC a SII grant of $125,000 for the first year of the cycle. For years two and three, we will receive $150,000 each year, if we reach full staffing. The City has cut our share of the CBDG grant by 11%. We still will receive funding from the Councilmen. We have $80,000 from HTF to begin acquisition and home repair in HBR Model Blocks area. For compliance issues, L. McLaughlin-Murray noted that BVU accountant will help us in redrafting budget. III. Committee Reports: Economic Development/Long-Range Planning. This committee will function in an oversight role regarding our work toward SII goals. To give economic development issues more attention, these items will be discussed first at a forthcoming meeting which was re-scheduled on June 28th. Housing Committee: Concern over possible overlapping issues with other committees. A photographic inventory of buildings in target areas has been completed. There has been discussion re: historic districts and their values; goals can be achieved in other ways. Housing committee has recruited additional members- a resident with architectural experience. Housing Committee met with developer of Miller Court property. There were issues regarding setback and window treatment. Goals were set for HBR Model Block re-hab. Funds are available for painting, gutter repair, cleanup in Tremont Point area. Ninety-five Valley View residents and families will be returning to Tremont Point. We need to market availability of $900,000 soft second mortgage money which VCC is making available in all Tremont areas. L. McLaughlin-Murray asked that the Housing Committee create criteria for marketing. Finance Committee: Negative balances occurred because the transfer of funds from savings had not been reflected in the reports. The Metro Lofts debt has been turned over to a collection agency. Art Walk and Art Hop are merging, so their expenses and schedule of bills may become more manageable. Lynn McLaughlin Murray has prepared a list of recurring expenses for the board before they approve the change in signing procedure. M. Hundt and S. Smith seconded the motion that Board empower the Executive Director to sign as sole signer for routine recurring expenses under $5,000 and for non-recurring expenses under $500. For non-recurring expenses over $500, signatures of two officers are needed. All voted in favor. J. Boylan proposed a second motion that the compliance officer will provide the treasurer with a list of all checks and amounts so the treasurer can verify that procedures are being followed. J. Chiplis seconded. All voted in favor. Lynn McLaughlin-Murray will talk to the BVU accountant volunteer about creating reports with more accessible financial data for the Board. J. Boylan moved to accept the monthly financial statement. D. Mehring seconded. All voted in favor. Fund-Raising/Marketing: We earned $12,000 profit from the June Reverse Raffle. Sponsors of the event will help next year. Marketing Committee is working on a series of events/fund-raising targets for 2007-2008. Seasonal and themed events are a possibility. Food booths at Tremont events will help. A new edition of the Visitors' Guide is being created. Safety: S. Catania reported that the cameras will go live in the North of Literary area within a few days. McCormack-Baron is giving substantial support. The meeting with the judge and bailiff re: crime went well, but attendance was poor. Community Organizing: Target is a major sponsor of the Arts and Cultural Festival. Tremont Trek is on track. See newsletter for more details. Property Management: Elie Gonzales is leaving on June 29th. Many resumes are coming for the post. REACT has given TWDC an excellent rating during its inspection of the West Side Homes. New Business: Increasing postage costs and a growing readership of our newsletter has created a budget crisis. Can we create a neighborhood network in stores, galleries, churches, etc. for our newsletter in 44l09 and 44113 areas? B. Riker and D. Mehring have offered to redesign the newsletter so its bulk will be reduced. Meeting with Community Development Office, Cleveland City Hall: Darryl Rush, Community Development Director, met with representatives of TWDC and Stockyards staff. Clark Metro has lost funding. There are no housing services, community organizing, paint programs, going on in most of Ward 14. City wants people served. Staff of both organizations are fully employed in their respective areas. Will there be any re-imbursement for any work undertaken, if the choice is made to do this? Will the primary responsibilities of the CDC's suffer? Where are the Councilmen in all this? Any future meeting needs to include them since they fund the C.D.C's. Jeff Chiplis stated that he has served as an independent contractor at CMDC. Chiplis stated that it was wrong not to fund CMDC and their board and executive director need to be in on these discussions. S. Catania said the Executive Directors and the Boards must talk face to face. New Executive Director: Chris Garland will start on July 1st. We should hold a reception for him. Steve Bloom was recognized for his hard work and generous leadership in this time of transition. Announcements: S. Nagy reminded people of the Midwest Railway outing on June 30th. There being no further business, L. McLaughlin Murray moved to adjourn and M. Hundt seconded. All voted in favor.








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