TNL Committee March Meeting

JOHNSON TUESDAY NIGHT LIVE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES JOHNSON MUNICIPAL BUILDING TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025 Present: Howard Romero, Sophia Berard, Tim Mikovitz, Charles Flaum, Tom Moog Absent: Geoff Hollis Note: All votes taken are unanimous unless otherwise noted. Howard called the meeting to order at 7:07. Tim moved to approve the minutes of March 11, 2025, Sophia seconded and the motion was passed. Howard said he and Sophia recently met with others who use Legion Field – people involved with the bread oven, recreation, the skating rink, and beautification. Howard showed them a plan of Legion Field with the bandstand in a new proposed location, where the backstop is now. They are thinking the backstop will come down. Sophia said the group discussed things they want to do on Legion Field. It was the consensus that the cost of moving the bandstand and getting power to it will not come out of the $30K grant for Legion Field improvements. We are thinking of doing our own fundraising or getting our own grant. The bandstand move will potentially happen in 2026. Howard said G.W. Tatro is donating excavation services for the library. Greg Tatro said they can level the field for the ice rink while they are there and probably could try to move the bandstand as well. Howard had been thinking we would probably want a real mover instead. He plans to call New England Building Movers, the company that will be moving the library building, to find out what they think it would cost if they moved it. If the town and village moved it he thinks it probably could be done for $2K. Tom Galinat has suggested that we just count on the town to move it. The village would also need to be involved because they have the equipment to drill holes for the pilings. Howard will follow up with Greg about the possibility of G.W. Tatro moving the building for free. Howard has been considering what size shipping container we have room for and what size would be big enough – 20 ft. or 40 ft. It needs to hold a full cord of wood for the oven, lumber for the ice rink, a snow blower, skating gear, the waterproof membrane for the ice rink and the TNL equipment. Howard had been thinking that one of the major purposes for this container would be to hold all the audio equipment for TNL if necessary. Sophia said all the things the container would hold are currently being stored in people’s garages and basements. Sophia and Howard said the group talked about putting up a sign saying “Legion Field.” There isn’t one now. The sign and a mural could be on the back side of the field and the storage unit could go behind that. A shipping container would cost about $3K. Tim said he would recommend getting one with side opening doors. Sophia said they talked about budgeting to put in poles and run electricity for some 30 ft. lights for nighttime skating and the end of the TNL season. Tim said we should wire in copper for speakers so we can have public address speakers on the poles. There was discussion about whether water availability on the field can be improved. Tom asked how hard it would be to run water to the pizza oven. Howard said that would be up to the village. He doesn’t think the state or the village will cooperate with that idea. Sophia suggested that the key Howard has for the TNL Committee Meeting Minutes p. 2 March 26, 2025 water should stay with the TNL supplies. Howard suggested there should be a key lock box at the oven. Tom asked if we can at least get a hose. Sophia said the oven committee will be meeting Friday. Maybe they can get a hose with their money. Howard said he thinks the poster for this year should be 11x17 inches and full color, with graphics like a 1960s rock band poster. He suggested one base poster with two inserts, one for each show. The other committee members said they thought it would be better to have a single poster for both shows. Tom sent Carrie Cook a message about doing this year’s poster. Howard said he went to see Alan Lehouiller. Alan asked Howard to write up something with the dates of our shows and said he would do his best to make sure we have a generator. Tim said we don’t need that from Alan; he can provide one. Howard said he also asked Alan for at least 2 light stanchions. Alan said availability depends on the construction season. Lights tend to stay out for a whole project. Tim said there are places to rent lights and they are sold on Amazon for a couple hundred dollars. Howard said he is thinking we only need them for the second show. Howard said it was pointed out to him that it might be good to contact the sheriff’s department about traffic patrol for TNL since there is only one way in and out of Old Mill Park. Sophia said we should have parking signs showing where people can park. Howard said his plan is to open up the areas around the town sheds and the gravel pile for parking. People can also park all along Lendway Lane. Charles suggested hiring a couple of kids to direct cars. Tom said we could also try to get volunteers. Tim said it shouldn’t be kids for liability reasons. Tom suggested that he and Howard go and look at the potential parking places and see what needs to be addressed in each spot. Sophia said she likes the idea of a crew of volunteers. Tom said emergency egress for ambulances or fire trucks is the most important thing. Tim said he thinks we really need one person to be in charge of parking. There was general agreement that Geoff could be a good person to handle that. Tom said he will talk to Geoff about it. Howard said he did not discuss reducing Alan Lehouiller’s sponsorship amount in exchange for lights. Tom said he is not that concerned with lighting. He has worked in many fields where there is not any. He wants to visit the site and see where the street lights end and what happens when the sun goes down. Howard said Gene Richards, owner of the Woolen Mills, said he can provide blankets to raffle again and may provide other items as well. The committee discussed large sponsors still to be visited. Charles said he will see if he can get Jay Peak lift tickets as a give-away. The committee reviewed known costs for the season. We have about $3600 in the bank. Tim said the cost for the stage will be $2K per night. Tom said the cost for the bands for the first show will be $3750. With meals, the cost may be around $4K. Tom and Sophia haven’t chosen bands for the second show yet. Tom said the total for the first show and two nights of stage rental and paying Johnny Betts is $9600. If we assume the cost of bands for the second show will also be about $4K, we need $13,600. Tom said he and Johnny Betts negotiated $1400 per show for sound. Sophia had some suggested changes to Charles’ draft letter to sponsors. Charles said he would like to look over the suggestions. He may suggest tweaks. It was agreed that the letter can be sent out once Charles and Sophia agree on wording. TNL Committee Meeting Minutes p. 3 March 26, 2025 Sophia said she has an email ready for vendors. It will be sent before the weekend. Charles mentioned a food business that could bring a food truck if there is an opening and would like to be a sponsor even if they do not bring their truck. Tom said he has a backup pizza vendor if one is needed. It was agreed to schedule the next meeting for April 22 at 6:00. Tom said he found that a band has been lined up to play on the TNL stage at Legion Field on the day of the library move. Jasmine Yuris just found out they won’t have power on the stage and she is trying to find a source of power. She was going to look into bringing it from the Studio Center. Committee members agreed that will not work. Tim said Jasmine had asked him if the college could help with sound. He will be out of town. He will see if students can help, but department productions are going on that weekend, so it is likely that gear, but not personnel, will be available. Howard also has some equipment that might be able to be used. Tom said he and the band will try to find a volunteer to handle the sound. Tim suggested maybe Johnny Betts could come and Tim could provide the gear for him to use. Charles suggested Johnny might be able to write it off as a nonprofit donation. The committee discussed how things like arrangements for the library moving day show can be discussed via email. Tim said there can be one-way communication to the whole group or there can be multi-way communication in a subgroup smaller than a quorum. Charles asked about the surveys. Sophia said she has not yet tabulated them. There was a lot of positive feedback. People said the main ways they get information about TNL are Facebook, Facebook Marketplace, and word of mouth. Charles asked what the rules are about putting signs on telephone poles. Tom said it is not allowed because it can make it difficult for people who need to climb the poles. He has been able to put posters in most of the businesses in Morrisville. Charles said he can reach out to WLVB. Howard said Lois Frey has done that in the past. Tim moved to adjourn and the motion was passed at 8:41. Minutes submitted by Donna Griffiths