April 10, 2001
Vestry Meeting Highlights
Episcopal Church in Almaden
Vestry Meeting: April 10, 2001
Attendees:
Ann Avoux, Belinda Byerly-Robins, Alex Dershimer, Beverley Deveaux, Russ
Petruzzelli, Ginger Redman, Nolan Redman, Dave Thomas, Roberta Verderico, Len
Whitlock, Warren Willard.
Absent: Bonnie Ashurst, Vickie Jones, Natalie Mena, and Joan Wagner,
vestry clerk.
Minutes Approval
The March 13, 2001 vestry meeting minutes were read and approved with no
corrections.
Junior Warden’s Report / Joint Venture Churches Report
1. Work to find an interim janitor to fill in for Bill McDonald is
ongoing. Nolan asked if anyone on the vestry had received any complaints
from the congregation regarding building upkeep. No vestry member has
received any complaints.
2. The Spring work day was held April 7th. Many people turned
out to help.
3. Building Committee news: The building committee is scheduled to meet
Wednesday. Pete Mayo will report back from his visit to the city planning
office. Robert Hum has joined the committee. One more person from ECA is
still needed. The committee is still collecting facts towards the
recommendation it will make to the joint venture board.
F.I.S.H. Reports
Finance
1. Approval of Financial Report:
The ECA vestry reviewed and approved the financial report. No red flags were
noted. Additional pledges to cover our shortfall are coming in and people
are aware of the campaign to have people make incremental donations
throughout the year.
2. Investment Committee Report:
The Shaddinger Fund has weathered the economic downturn fairly well.
While it has decreased some, the investment manager has avoided large
losses. The vestry accepted the report. (Educational note to all: This
committee report is not voted on, only accepted.)
Illumined:
Warren reports that we need to rejuvenate our advertising efforts.
Shine: The committee continues to seek suggestions from the
congregation on fellowship activities they would like in the coming year.
House: Work to renovate the rectory yard is ongoing.
Senior Warden’s Remarks:
On May 5th at Saint Timothy’s Episcopal Church, the Canterbury
Ministry at SJSU will hold a fundraiser. Michael Reardon will give a
presentation on the Gospel of Mark. The cost is $10. Information will be
available on the bulletin boards and the web page, www.eca-sj.org.
Rector’s Remarks:
- Nolan asked for discussion on Diocesan Budget Priorities. The diocese
budget has two areas: fixed administrative costs, and flexible costs that can
be spent in various program areas. Vestry members were asked what they would
like to see the Diocese give priority to in the flexible area. Replies
included young adult activities, greater support of the "Alpha"
Christian educational program, and to be more involved in the community.
-- In conjunction with this, Ginger reported also that a workshop will be
held on May 5th called "Strengthening Congregational
Life".
-- Ginger, Nolan and Ann Redman attended the Diocesan Conference on
"Revitalizing the Congregation" last week. Discussions included the
quality of our worship experience.
- In the most recent utility bill, PG&E charged the church for usage
from a "child" electrical company that had not billed us for several
months. This resulted in a suprisingly large charge. Nolan urged people to
conserve energy by turning off unneeded lights and keeping the outside doors
closed when the heat is on.
- Ken Wratten, field educational student, has written an interesting site
analysis on ECA. Copies were distributed to vestry members.
New Business:
1. Kudos and many thanks to Penny Sabin for a wonderful Holy Week Service.
The vestry thanks her for her leadership.
2. A motion was unanimously passed to have Dave Thomas lead a committee of
four people from throughout the congregation to create a profile of ECA.
3. A motion was passed with 8 ayes, zero nayes, and 1 abstention (senior
warden) to "offer the Redmans the option of early retirement with a
preliminary lump sum package." Recognizing a potential conflict of
interest, Ginger Redman did not participate in this discussion or vote. (Note:
During the period between the vestry meeting and the writing of these minutes
a letter outlining the vestry’s offer was delivered to the Redmans. Nolan
accepted the offer.) The following paragraphs explain the vestry’s decision
process.
In compassionate consideration of the diagnosis of Ann Redman’s health
condition (see previous month’s minutes) the vestry held a special meeting
without Nolan or Ginger to discuss the possibility of offering Nolan and Ann
early retirement. The senior warden was asked to discuss this with Nolan and
Ann and to report at this meeting. Len Whitlock and Alex Dershimer were asked
to look into the financial implications and report at this meeting.
Alex and Len distributed a sheet outlining their monetary recommendations
based on their discussions with Nolan. (See Attachment.) During the discussion
it became clear that everyone present desired to provide a gift to Nolan and
Ann that would allow them to retire without incurring large financial losses,
including the lessening of health benefits and the retirement stipend and the
loss of two years normal income. (Nolan’s scheduled retirement had been July
2004. The earliest feasible retirement date that would allow Nolan to meet the
eligibility requirements of health benefits is July of 2002.)
To arrive at a recommendation of an adequate and appropriately sized gift,
Alex and Len considered the financial status of the Redmans. It is a common
practice when entering into a contract with a rector to include a portion of
the appreciation of value in a rectory when determining severance
compensation. However, in the original agreement between the vestry and the
Redmans, the Redmans had not been given this opportunity to participate in the
appreciation of the rectory. Considering the long-standing relationship of the
Redmans to the Shadingers, the vestry agreed to use these memorial funds to
finance a gift that coincidentally – had the Redmans continued to normal
retirement – would have been commensurate with the gains that would have
come from the usual participation in the capital gains on a rectory.
To say it another way, if anyone had concerns regarding the size of the
gift the vestry decided upon, consideration should be given to the fact that
it is close in value to what would have, in most other rector-vestry
contracts, been afforded to the rector anyway.
The concerns of Pete Mayo and Ed Criner were heard.
- a smooth transition from the current rector to the next
- that we will need a current profile of the congregation ASAP
- that we have someone in place when Nolan and Ann leave
- that the search committee start immediately
- encouraged the vestry to offer Nolan and Ann time off to ease the
burden.
3. The next Vestry meeting will be held May 8th, 7:30 pm, at the rectory.
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Open Action Items |
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Action Item |
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Date Opened |
Date Closed |
Responsible
Ministry |
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ECA profile |
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02/03/01 |
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Dave Thomas, & committee of 4. |
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Rector Search |
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04/10/01 |
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Search Committee |
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Respectfully Submitted:
Russ Petruzzelli
Acting Vestry Clerk
