Cultural Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Mar 18 10:10 am Fitchburg Cultural Council Monthly Meeting Monday, July 28, 2025 MEETING MINUTES In attendance: Joe Bowen(chair), Shara Osgood(secretary), Liz Murphy (treasurer), Mike Amedeo, Ricardo Barros(virtual), Dan Dow (virtual), Jen Hemenway, Cie Moran, Millie Whitfield, Sarah Wheeler(virtual), Tamar Russell Brown (ex-officio/virtual) (view recording for details of meeting) CALL TO ORDER: Joe called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m. INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS: Joe spoke: Welcome, Mission, public meeting guidelines & protocols Public Comments: No comments NEW MEMBERS; Sarah Beth Wheeler new member. Welcome. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Annual Public Input forms available online: tinyurl.com/2025-survey-english Tinyurl.com/2025-survey-spanish GRANT REPORT: All but 7 grant agreements have been filed and 9 final grant reports have been received to date.. Myles Wilcox is working to get remaining grantee checks issued this week. Additional work to improve check processing efficiency in the FY26 grant season is actively underway.. Motion: Liz - To accept grant report as is 2nd: Mike In Favor: 9 : Opposed:0 Pass unanimously Liz signed a handful of grant agreements that were still outstanding. All will go out by next Friday at latest. TREASURER’S REPORT: ● Liz confirmed that all but 7 of the outstanding grantee checks are signed by her and sent for check processing with anticipated release date of August 1 (August 8 at worst). ● There was little activity in the FCC accounts in June ○ The local account had a deposit made in error and is being moved to the appropriate grant account. ○ FY24 grant account had three deposit errors that were funds not meant for the FCC and will be reversed and moved to their proper non-FCC account. ○ FY25 grant account had 13 grantee check payments processed. ○ Combined account balance: $48,482.12 including $2,586.47 in the local account. The majority of the rest of the funds are set to be disbursed to grantees through the aforementioned filings this week. The rest to be paid as the remaining 7 grant agreements are completed. Motion: Shara - to accept treasurer’s report 2nd: Jen In Favor: 9 Opposed: 0 Pass unanimously Finalize plans for 8/7 Public Input Meeting at FAM: Current survey status 69 paper + 19 online submissions thus far More over next few weeks Agenda for PI meeting: 1 hour (5-6pm)General introductions, introduce council & purpose, insert a few minutes to present (in slides or verbally) our new grant scoring process, cover grant season schedule & info including training dates. 2nd 15 min: grantee presentation. Derek Craig of Coff33 corp. How FCC has supported him on his journey Last 30 min: go through survey question by question. With boards & post-it notes as well as public feedback/comment At 6pm boards move to lobby while salsa dancing happens in Ansin Gallery QR codes/refreshments available as well First Thursday, museum free 3:30-5pm Growing Places (farmers market) 6-7 Marissa Montiero - free Salsa Lesson & Networking/further public input to the FCC (lobby) Sarah Beth recommended Spanish interpretation services - will be investigated MEETING MINUTES: Motion: Millie - to accept meeting minutes from 6/28/25 2nd: Jen In Favor: 9 Opposed: 0 Pass unanimously UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS: James Bunnell sent letter thanking us for support This Wednesday Concert on Common: Sheep Dip Band Movies outdoors Lowe Park Chalk Art Festival 9/13 Community Calendar @ Fitchburgmass.org Friday WPKZ radio event announcements Motion; Mike- To adjourn 2nd: Jenn Adjourn @ 5:33pm Submitted by Shara Osgood