Arts Commission

Minutes of Meeting Wednesday, January 23, 2019, 7:00 P.M. Room 208, 245 deKoven Drive Middletown, CT Present Also Attending Absent Cassandra Day, Chair Thomas Hennick David Bauer Charlotte McCoid, Vice Chair Kisha M. Michael, Arts Coordinator Julia Faraci, Secretary Seb Giuliano, Council Member Barbara Arafeh Robert Santangelo, Council Member Lee Godburn Joyce Kirkpatrick Crystal Laffan Pamela Steele Franca Biales (arr 7:15pm) 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:05pm 2. No members of the public present; no public session. 3. Motion to approve Minutes of December 19, 2018 - motion by Godburn, seconded by Giuliano, approved unanimously. 4. Motion to approve Agenda as written - motion by Giuliano, seconded by Santangelo; approved unanimously. 5. Remarks by Chair – Day introduced Thomas Hennick, Public Education Officer of the Connecticut State Freedom of Information Commission, who is visiting today’s meeting to conduct a workshop to train the Arts Commissioners in Meetings and Records provisions and other FOI issues relating to their work on the Arts Commission. 6. Freedom of Information Workshop - Mr. Hennick referred the Commission to the Connecticut General Statute CGS 1-200-2 which defines an official meeting in the context of Connecticut law. He defined different types of meetings, and clarified requirements of public access to commission meetings, including posting of the agenda, meeting recordkeeping, Commission communications, and public access to minutes. He reminded the Commissioners that his office was available to answer any questions. 7. Old Business a. Budget Report - Michael said that the 2020 budget was due February 15, and was in the works. b. Program Updates: i. Grants – Four applications for Category 1 General Operating Grants were received, with the applicants requesting a total of $38,000. February interviews will be scheduled, open for all MCA Commissioners to attend. ii. Music Ambassador, Neely Bruce – A reception in Neely Bruce’s honor was held on January 10th, to celebrate his being named Middletown’s Music Ambassador. iii. City Website – no report. Some Commissioners comment noted that when a Google search was conducted for the website, all links go to a dead site. Michael took note. iv. Kids Arts – revisions to the City Ordinance relating to family qualifications for reduced and waived fees were approved by the GCC and updates were made. The revisions will go to Common Council for approval. 8. Committee Reports a. Executive Committee – no report. b. Public Art Committee – Sculptor Search - Recommendations of Sculptors for Palmer Field RFP - The Public Art Committee has compiled a list of three sculptors to recommend to Bill Russo of the  Department of Public Works. The Committee also will supply guidelines and expectations about the project, information about Middletown, and biographies of Bill Pomfret and Bernie O’Rourke to be provided to the sculptors, with a recommendation that the sculptures be created portraying the men in their prime in their respective sports. The Arts Coordinator will email the list of the sculptors to Russo. Commissioner Bauer, who was not present at this meeting, had asked why artwork was not being created to reflect the area’s historical roots. Committee members stated that the Arts Commission was involved in the recommendation only in an advisory capacity. The initial RFP was for two sculptures for the Public Works project, and the decision to honor the two sports figures had been made prior to the involvement of the Arts Commission. Wasicki paintings – Kirkpatrick commented that Mr. Kelly Robinson from the City’s Maintenance Department did a great job hanging the Adam Wasicki paintings in Room 208. Biales suggested that a plaque be placed so that the public would know about these paintings. c. Nominating Committee - no report d. Planning and Projects – Arts Advocacy Award 2019 – Godburn solicited nominations for one group and one individual that bring awareness of the arts to Middletown. Klekolo was approved unanimously for the group award. For the individual award, there were two nominees. The first nominee received five votes, from Santangelo, Biales, Godburn, Kirkpatrick and McCoid. The second nominee, Stephan Allison, received six votes, from Laffan, Giuliano, Arafeh, Steele, Day, and Faraci. Discussion ensued about the propriety of noting the name of the nominee with fewer votes in these meeting minutes. Godburn suggested that the votes be re-cast, with the order of the nominees reversed so that the name of the person with fewer votes would not have to be mentioned in the minutes. Godburn made a motion to reconsider the vote so the name of the nominee with fewer votes would not have to appear in the minutes, Giuliano seconded; Day, McCoid, Faraci, Giuliano, Arafeh, Godburn, Kirkpatrick, Steele and Biales voted aye; Laffan and Santangelo were opposed to reconsideration of the vote. Giuliano moved to award Stephan Allison the Arts Advocacy Award; Godburn seconded. Day, McCoid, Faraci, Giuliano, Godburn, Kirkpatrick, Laffan, Steele voted aye; Biales and Santangelo abstained. Godburn will contact Allison about his availability for a celebration in March. e. Music Committee – Arafeh reported that work on the Middletown Music History project is on hiatus. The Middletown Historical Society is closed while it conducts a search for a replacement for retiring Director Deborah Shapiro. Arafeh noted that Kitty Kathryn sang at the reception for Neely Bruce. The Committee also discussed music programs in the schools. They also noted the many music events in The Buttonwood Tree, area restaurants and bars. The Committee will meet again on February 11. f. Public Relations Committee – no report g. Poet Laureate Committee – no report 9. New Business a. Introduction of new Commissioner – Pamela Steele was welcomed to the Commission. She was invited to join a Committee; she will be on the Public Art Committee. b. Category 1 General Operating Grants – Michael suggested that the Commissioners schedule the interviews for the Category 1 Grants just before the next scheduled MCA meeting on February 27th. She will schedule a meeting room, follow up with the applicants, and confirm. c. State Arts Committee Reports – The Arts Coordinator has sent the Commissioners a link to Governor Ned Lamont’s transition policy working groups, accessing links to access the Arts Culture and Tourism committee reports and supporting documents. The Governor’s Transition Team has been having meetings to solicit input from community members. d. Youth in Government – Godburn noted that there have been no Youth Commissioners through the Youth in Government program for a few years, and he suggested that contact be made with Justin Carbonella of the Youth Services Bureau.  10. Miscellaneous a. Nekita Waller, State Troubadour – Godburn said that Grady Faulkner suggested recognition of Ms. Waller on her appointment as State Troubadour. Godburn agreed with Ms. Waller that it would be more appropriate to wait until she took over her duties as Troubadour. It was suggested that she attend a future Middletown Arts Event like Make Music Day or Arts Advocacy Day. Godburn moved that Ms. Waller be invited to an Arts Commission Meeting and that the Commission send her a letter of congratulations for her appointment as State Troubadour; motion seconded by Santangelo and approved unanimously. b. Announcements - Laffan recommended an immersive theater event at Wesleyan called “This Between Shadow” by Tom Pearson. She said the show was expected to return to campus in February. Laffan advised the Commission she will not able to attend the next three meetings due to family obligations. Steele announced that her daughter Jennifer Steele, a product of Middletown schools and now a Chicago-based poet, will be reading at RJ Julia on April 18. Giuliano announced that the Middletown Unified Theater will be having its show next week. Arafeh reminded the Commissioners that the Performing Arts Center is now called the Santo Fragilio Performing Arts Center. 11. Adjournment - Motion to adjourn was made by Godburn, seconded by Steele, approved unanimously. Meeting Adjourned at 9:31pm. Respectfully submitted, Julia Faraci cc: Town Clerk, Mayor Daniel T. Drew Next Meeting February 27, 2019 7:00 P.M. Municipal Building, Room 208, 245 deKoven Drive Please confirm your attendance by calling or emailing arts@middletownct.gov no later than Tuesday prior to meeting If you require special accommodations for any meeting, please call the Town Clerk’s Office at (860) 638.4910 or (860)638-4812 (TDFD/TTY) at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled meeting. The Municipal Bldg. & Senior/Community Center are Wheelchair Accessible