Executive Committee Members in Attendance: Steve Henstridge; Christine Kowalski; Matt Reitz; Robyn Sandys

Board Members in Attendance: Lynea Derwis; Greg Huth; David Lawhun; Alice Ratka

Non-Board Member Code of Regulations Committee Members in attendance: Mary Ann Jannazo; John Jenkins; Kevin Senich

Also in attendance: Attorney Mary Jo Toumert

The meeting focused on certain proposed revisions to the Code of Regulations. Code Committee Chairperson, Greg Huth began by pointing out that that the committee had discussed the issues raised by Ms. Toumert regarding the duties of the Personnel Committee and had concluded that the language the committee generated would have the desired effect. Committee member Kevin Senich pointed out that all of the proposed changes to the Code were the product of the consensus of all six Code Committee members. In addition to Ms. Toumert’s observations on the particular revisions, the group considered a memorandum from Mr. Frank Ford, Jr., of Neighborhood Progress, Inc.

There was a discussion of the changes in the role of the Personnel Committee in matters of employee discipline and terminations. The Code Committee supported the changes as written but agreed to placing both the Committee’s version and any alternative version before the membership at the town hall meeting on September 22, 2008.

In response to some of the concerns about the new membership category, “voting member,” the Code Committee presented information obtained from the Tremont CDC. There was concern over possible loss of dues revenue and the fact that OBCDC would need to address additional expense in sending annual meeting information, etc. to the new members. It was pointed out that the new members could make meaningful contributions beyond dues revenue.

The omission of a dues requirement for commercial and institutional members was an unintentional oversight which the Code Committee will correct. The Code Committee changed the text of the Code section pertaining to the duties of the Board President to make the President an ex officio member of all Committees. The Code Committee did not believe that the $500 threshold for Board approval of unbudgeted expenses should be increased. There is a similar $500 threshold in city contracts.