Arts Commission

Meeting Minutes Wednesday, January 22, 2020, 7:00 pm Room 208, Municipal Building Middletown, CT Present Barbara Arafeh Franca Biales Cassandra Day Julia Faraci – 8:23 pm Lee Godburn Joyce Kirkpatrick Crystal Laffan Charlotte McCoid Pamela Steele Also Present Kisha Michael Cheryl Hale Ed McKeon, Council Ed Ford, Jr, Council Absent John Basinger David Bauer 1) Call to Order 7:00 pm 2) Public Session: None 3) Minutes a) December 18, 2019 – Correction to minutes i) Barbara Arafeh asked to have minutes amended to reflect music committee nominated three candidates for music ambassador. Motion to approve with changes by Barbara Arafeh, seconded by Ed McKeon, approved unanimously. 4) Approval of Agenda a) Move Bylaws Review from Committee Reports to Old Business Motion to approve agenda with changes by Joyce Kirkpatrick, seconded by Franca Biales, approved unanimously 5) Remarks from the Chair – None 6) Old Business a) Budget Report – to be submitted by February 14, 2020 b) Program Update i) Arts Calendar – moving along ii) Grants – Met requirements need to set dates and select panel iii) Kids Art – Kids Arts registration forms will be going out soon. c) Bylaws Review i) MCA’s policy and procedures conflict of interest review (1) Joyce felt we should all review the Code of Ethics and Conflict of Interest statements. 7) Committee Reports a) Executive Committee – No report b) Public Art Committee – Charlotte reported an assessment of public art has not been done since 2012, discussion on public art catalogue and purchasing art. We need to schedule another meeting. c) Nominating Committee – No Report d) Planning and Projects  i)March 31, 2020 is Arts Advocacy Day. A vote was taken and Noah Baerman and Richard Kamins were chosen. e) Music Committee – Barbara reported she spoke to Joe Samolis and Carol from the Historical Society. They are meeting on January 23, 2020 to decide next move since Deborah Shapiro retired. f) Poet Laureate Committee – Cheryl participated in the Acoustic Pirates on December 28, 2019. She will be participating in the Take a Child to the Library Day on February 1, 2020 at 2 pm. She is also working on programs with the Buttonwood Tree and she read a poem at the meeting. g) Grants Process Review – No Report 8) New Business a) GOS/PSG Grant Interview Date – February 26, 2020 b) Grant Panel Assignments – Crystal, Charlotte, Cassandra and Franca as alt. c) MCA Checking Account – Approval for est. new checks, motion by Lee Godburn, Seconded by Ed McKeon, passed unanimously 9) Announcements i) Steve Allison working on a honorarium for Poet Laureate ii) February 18, 2020 Middletuners Ready for Spring Tour iii) Modern Opera – Wesleyan Bach Concert iv) Teen Talent Search – Oddfellows, January 25, 202 at 7 pm v) Mayors Ball – April 18th vi) Max 650 will be continuing as an arts venue vii) Pierre – opening in New Britain viii) City of Hartford has a new Poet Laureate 10) Adjournment – 8:40 pm Respectfully Submitted, Pamela Steele, Secretary Cc: Town Clerk, Mayor Florsheim