Resource Roundtable Minutes
March 8, 2011
Present : Eileen Lindner, Hal Thornton, Bruce Tischler, Don Pitches
Excused: Steve McClelland, Diane Buis, Lawrence Stephens, Reda Wahba
Opening Prayer: Eileen Lindner
Minutes presented from last meeting, Attached to these minutes
Agenda Approved
Peter Moore’s Contract
a. Roundtable relationship to Peter:
Distributed Peter’s Moore’s letter to Don Brown (May 2, 2010) that outlined his services and terms. See attached (on Peter Moore LLC letterhead) for description of services to be offered and terms of agreement for the 2010 year.
Below is the action of Council that served as the basis of our discussion about Peter Moore:
Council action: To authorize the Resources Roundtable to renew the contract with Mr. Peter Moore, to serve as Property Consultant for the Presbytery of the Palisades
Proposed: That the Resources Roundtable renew the contract with Mr. Peter Moore for the 2011 year, with services to be provided for congregations in the presbytery as described in the 2010 agreement and at the same terms. Council action: To authorize the Resources Roundtable to establish guidelines for Churches to utilize the services of Mr. Moore, on a “sliding scale”
Proposed: That the Resources Roundtable establish the following guidelines for the utilization of Peter Moore’s services as property consultant:
a.) Requests for Peter Moore’s service will be directed to the Resource Roundtable and he will receive his assignments from the roundtable. This was not retained in discussion.
b.) There will be a sliding scale for his services, as follows:
1) Congregations with a total annual income for the previous year of less than $75,000 will pay nothing towards the fee.
2) Congregations with a total annual income for the previous year of at least $75,000 and less than $200,000 will pay 25% of the fee.
3) Congregations with a total annual income for the previous year of at least $200,000 and less than $500,000 will pay 50% of the fee.
4) Congregations with a total annual income for the previous year of $500,000 and above will pay 75% of the fee.
c.) Payment for his services will be made by the presbytery and the church will reimburse the presbytery for the portion of the costs, based upon the sliding scale above.
The funds for this contract will come from budgeted moneys for the Roundtables. The Resources Roundtable will oversee implementation of the contract and receive copies of all reports generated by Mr. Moore.
Fees were discussed about the action of Council sheet presented by Bruce Tischler for guidelines. It was thought that there should be a fee for services no matter what the size of the church.
Minimum fee for Peter’s initial services will be $50.00 for initial assessment. All collected funds will be credited to the Resource Roundtable to inform the presbytery in its budgeting process for the following year.
Additional contact fees with Peter are covered by the contracting church. A sliding scale for cost assessment will be provided by Bruce Tischler.
Any negotiations that Peter undertakes with insurance companies or venders on behalf of a church will be paid for by that church. All churches who receive a written report from Peter will forward a copy to presbytery.
Development of Spring Workshop plans
Dates, time, place: If the day is held at FPC Elmwood Park it is April 16. May 7, 14 if another church. See attached schedule for the day on “Church Maintence Seminar”.
Assignment for workshop:
Promotion: Eileen’s church secretary will develop handout. See “Draft Ministry of Mortar and Bricks” Church Maintenance Seminar proposal We will use presbytery to announce date and event and the POP newsletter,
Food provision the host church is expected to provide lunch and hospitality., Undecided about the certificates
Discussion about revolving loan fund from the proceeds of church sales in the presbytery.
Council action: To authorize the Resources Roundtable to develop guidelines for the administration of a revolving loan fund to be established from a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the property of the former First Presbyterian Church of Garfield, with such guidelines to be presented to the Presbytery for its review and approval at the June 21, 2011 Stated Meeting.
The Presbytery Council, in November, 2009 adopted the following:
The establishment of a segregated Property Loan Fund, administered by the
Property Management Committee, for exclusive use for property-related
loans to congregations. All loan applications should be accompanied by
a thorough plan for strengthening ministry through the management of
property, underlying the proposed loan. All loans should be
provided at the prevailing prime interest rate plus 0.5%, with a
schedule for repayment, except in the case of property sales when
repayment should be scheduled for closing. …. Allocation by Presbytery of one third
of the funds (not to exceed $500,000) received from the sale of the
Garfield Church property to the Property Loan Fund, to be administered
by the Property Management Committee, in keeping with Presbytery
policies, and reporting through the Council.
The Property Management Committee was never formed in the new structure adopted by the presbytery. As some funds became available from the sale of the Garfield property, the question of the Property Loan Fund was re-raised. The Presbytery has now authorized the Resources Roundtable to develop guidelines for such a fund.
Proposed: That the Resources Roundtable propose to the presbytery the following guidelines for the administration of a Property Loan Fund to be used exclusively for property-related loans to congregations of the presbytery.
1. A Property Loan Fund be established by the presbytery as a portion of the presbytery’s unrestricted net assets, with the initial funding coming from one-third of the proceeds (not to exceed $500,000) from the sale of the Garfield Church property.
2. Loans to congregations from this fund will be recommended by the Resources Roundtable and acted upon by the presbytery.
3. The Resources Roundtable will develop and administer application forms and procedures for such loans.
4. Each loan application will be accompanied by a thorough plan for strengthening the ministry of the congregation through the management of property underlying the proposed loan and a realistic plan for repayment of the loan.
5. Each approved loan will be provided at the prevailing prime interest rate plus 0.5%, with a schedule for repayment, except in the case of property sales, in which case the repayment should be scheduled for closing.
Presentation of Bruce Tischler for this matter will be basis of further discussion on the assistance fund to help churches.
Meeting was closed with prayer by Don Pitches.
Next Meeting: 4/11,2011 or 4/14/2011 at Presbytery Office
