Sachem Fund Board

Sachem Fund Committee 1/13/09 Room 335 Meeting Notes Attendees: Co-Chairman Alderman Bill Nash, Co-Chairman Bill Quidgeon, Jr., Mohegan Tribal Member, Joseph Ruffo, Comptroller, Mark Brown, Ambassador Mohegan Tribal Council, Lottie Scott, Peter Davis, Director of Planning & Development, James Gessner, Jr. Mohegan Tribal Council and Recording Secretary Evelyn Bessette Not Present: Mayor Benjamin P. Lathrop Members of Press Present: Claire Bessette, the Day & Michael Gannon, Norwich Bulletin 1. The Special Meeting of the Sachem Fund Committee was called to order at 5:32 p.m. 2. It was determined a quorum was present 3. A motion was made by Mark Brown, seconded by Bill Quidgeon to approve the Minutes of the January 13, 2009 Motion carried with two abstentions 4. Co-chair Bill Nash clarified a statement made to the press regarding the timeline of receiving applications to be: “The Sachem Fund Committee will continue to accept and discuss applications but will not act on them until March 1st”. 5. Discussion of the letter of request from the Semiseptcentennial Committee: Co-chair Bill Nash noted he reviewed the criteria set up by the Sachem Fund Committee and determined the Semiseptcentennial Committee does meet 6 items and realizes the time sensitive application and to make this exception will set precedent for future applications. Member Lottie Scott stated the 350th committee should have submitted their application earlier and was without the proper budget attached. Further discussion. 6. A motion was made by Peter Davis to deviate from the current process and accept as an interim application the letter of request from the Semiseptcentennial Committee for special circumstances. Seconded by James Gessner. Motion carried in due form 7. Further discussion on the letter of request from the Semiseptcentennial Committee: The committee requested the following from the Semiseptcentennial Committee to be included with the Resolution to the City 1  Council: A complete budget, to report back to the Committee and a timeline and projection of any monies that will be donated back to the Sachem Fund. A motion was made by Peter Davis to make a favorable recommendation in the amount of $120,000 to the City Council in the form of a Resolution to be voted on by the City Council at the February 2, 2009 Meeting, seconded by Jim Gessner. Vote taken: Motion carried with 3 approved, 0 denied, 2 recluses and 1 abstained. 8. Determination of Deadlines, review and distribution of the next round of disbursements: Discussion – Review original document of guidelines and procedures which was set up with a similar flow of funds from both contributors based on the same fiscal periods. Motion made to set March 1, 2009 as the deadline for applications, to review in April, recommendations to Norwich City Council at their second seating in May with disbursement in June. Motion carried in due form Citizen Comment: Mr. Keith Ripley spoke recommending the City Council have two Resolutions on the 2/2/09 Agenda. The second Resolution would be for the City Council to fund the $120,000 from the Contingency Account in the event the recommendation of the Sachem Fund was defeated as it is a City Celebration and the City should support the efforts of the Semiseptcentennial. Mr. Bill Kenny distributed his remarks in writing (see attached) and also verbalized them to the Members of the Sachem Fund Committee. Mr. Richard A. DeLorge addressed the Sachem Fund Committee to express concerns and dissatisfaction that any resident would question the recommendation of the Sachem Fund Committee considering the Sachem Fund was originally set up for this type of event and meeting half of the criteria list stipulated. Meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted by: Evelyn Bessette, Recording Secretary 2