Sachem Fund Board

SACHEM FUND MEETING Wednesday, February 15, 2012 6:00 P.M. – Room 319 Meeting Notes Attendees: Co-Chairman Pete Desaulniers, Co-Chairman William Quidgeon Jr., , Mayor Peter Nystrom, Mark Brown, Ambassador and Mohegan Tribal Member, Joseph Ruffo, Comptroller, and Bonnie Cuprak, Recording Secretary Not Present: Peter Davis Director of Planning & Development, Lottie Scott, James Gessner Jr. Members of Press Present: none Others Present: Bill Kinney 1. The Meeting of the Sachem Fund Committee was called to order at 6:00 P.M. 2. It was determined a quorum was present. 3. A motion was made by Bill Quidgeon, seconded by Mark Brown to amend the minutes of the June 6, 2011 meeting, to reflect the name change from Indian Leap to Uncas Leap. Motion carried. A Motion was made by Peter Nystrom, seconded by Bill Quidgeon to approve the minutes as amended. Motion carried. 4. There was a discussion on recaptured funds and future funding needs and Joe Ruffo reported recaptured funds in the amount of $ 26,400.00 and he reported there is $ 89,874.13 for future use. Chairman Desaulniers called for a motion to recapture the funds and motion was made by Mark Brown and seconded by Peter Nystrom. 5. There was a discussion on oversight of the money recipients and what projects have been finished and where could it be seen if it is finished. It was decided that all recipients would receive a letter asking for an accounting of monies received and spent and the status of the project. A motion was made by Mark Brown to draft a letter to all recipients. Seconded by Joe Ruffo. Motion carried. 6. A discussion was held on doing a couple of large grants instead of many small grants. It was pointed out that the City of Norwich would get more from this and that the committee would take this up at the next meeting. 7. The next meeting will be on April 11, 2012 at 6:00 P.M. in Room 335 8. Citizen comment – Bill Kinney commented that when applications are again being accepted the committee needs to explain in detail that there will be a reporting process. The committee needs to define their expectations. As an example he stated that the City of Norwich web site has no presence for the Chelsea Garden Foundation and there is no way for the citizens of Norwich to even find out who serves on the board of the foundation. He agrees with the committee that there should be oversight for all grants given. 9. Adjourned the meeting at 6:47 P.M. by motion of Mark Brown and seconded by Peter Nystrom