Church Council Meeting Minutes | May 27, 2025

Present: Fritz Sabbow, Pam Gothner, Annie Scavo, Shawn Lamarche, Charlotte Lichtenberg, Robert Rokos, Elizabeth Davidson Derr, Bobbi Perez, Liz Jaques, Naj Wikoff, Laurin McArthur, Jo Husslein, Howard Husslein, Linda d’Avignon, Andre d’Avignon, and Deborah Mitchell.     

Fritz Sabbow opened the meeting at 5:01 PM.  This meeting was held via Zoom. 

• Opening Prayer: Fritz led us in prayer for his final Council meeting.    

• Determination of Quorum: We had a quorum at today’s meeting. 

Approval of last month’s KVCC Council Minutes: Laurin McArthur made a motion to accept March and April Council meeting minutes.  Robert Rokos seconded the motion.  A discussion was held, and the motion passed.      

 

Finance Committee Report for May 2025

Funds:

The endowment growth has evened up to flat from negative.  The church overpaid into the pastor’s pension fund. The monies will be returned, and we also hope for an explanation on how this error occurred.  The treasurer now has access to the Vanguard funds after an elaborate series of communications with Vanguard. We will set up a process, so the checks for AMS funds can be recorded. Larry will assist in investing 40% of funds into stock funds at $10,000 intervals. PDF fund is under $2000.00, and next meeting we will discuss how to secure funds.  The committee reviewed the Manse Committee Report without voting the committee: Recognized that having the Manse building might be helpful in looking for a new pastor, but since there is also the housing allowance for the pastor “living in the Manse building was not a deal breaker “ If the council were to decide to continue to use the building as it presently is configured, it will need some upgrading on building : sound proofing, a bathroom, electronic files, new carpets and paining interior, since over half the Manse building is used to “essential Church needs,” there is a question as to why we are paying any taxes on the building.  Howard will speak to plumber about watermain challenge at the church building. We might be able to tap into Manse line which is one inch and new plastic piping and avoid costly and extensive excavation. But there are newer technologies and options, and we will await the report. Howard will ask also for the cost of yearly maintenance or contract for maintenance on the church heating system. AFRI has begun the process for electing new officers and the Vice Chair/Treasurer would continue  to send copies of AFRI records and finances to the KVCC files also.

 

Current Task Groups and Committee Leaders:

Buildings – Howard Husslein

Buildings and Grounds has an ongoing investigation with a water main pipe that will need to be replaced.  We are still seeking information on the extent and timing of this project.  We also were advised by Pastor John before he left that he believes that work should be done in his office area.

Fritz and Howard went through that and believe that some work would be advisable.  We suggest changing the flooring in the office, looking at some rusting on the radiators, probably paint and consider whatever other fixes that space could use. This is a place for new people to come and meet and could certainly use refreshing.  There was also some consideration into seeing if it was possible to put a small restroom in the space.  The front door was squeaking and Andre fixed that.

Mission and Social Action - Andre D’Avignon and Naj Wikoff

Naj Wikoff and Andre D’Avignon informed the Council that Mission and Social Action mission statement has been published in both the Adirondack Daily Enterprise and Jay Community News.   

Personnel – Moderator, Vice Moderator, and Treasurer

No new report.

Worship – Jo Ann Husslein

No new report.

Grounds – Pam Gothner

On May 1, 2025, we held our first Grounds Workday. A record setting number (seventeen!) of volunteers were there to rake, edge, prune and truck away the branches. Susy Doolittle has taken on the large task of revitalizing the raised beds in the Market Street side lawn. She plans to grow vegetables that will be donated to the Food Mission. In an effort to beautify the entrance to the manse, a bed with foundation plants is being created. Mowing of the church property began on May 1 and will continue through the summer. The Grounds Committee appreciates the work of an anonymous donor who facilitated the removal of the pile of mulch and gravel in the corner of the parking lot and leveled the parking area. Thank you! June - September - ongoing maintenance of the grounds. July - Gather pollinator plants to sell at the Bazaar.

AFRI – Laurin McArthur and Bobbi Perez

ACTION ITEM: None Movie Night

The film is “The Other Side of Immigration” with a talk with Marietta Brady. May 28 at 7pm at the Keene Valley Library.  Integration with the Council.  All aspects of financial integration are pretty much complete.

Officers: There will be an election of officers at the next meeting. The proposed slate will be in line with the officers now in place with the merger. Potluck planned for June 8. It will be by invitation. Event representation: We are planning for representatives at various functions around the area, including the Bazaar.  Respectfully and gratefully submitted, Bobbi Perez and Laurin McArthur

Flowers - Charlotte Lichtenberg

Our group of four volunteers are involved in carrying out their responsibilities. We place flowers or other appropriate arrangements at the church entrance, altar/table and on the Van Santvoord room table. We would welcome one basket/planter donation for the front church doorway. Questions and/or comments can be shared with any member of this group. Names are posted on the bulletin board near the kitchen.

Keene Food Mission – Deborah Mitchell

Steering Committee Member Attendees: Fritz Sabbow, Nancy McArthur, and Deborah Mitchell

Keene Food Mission Statement:

The KFM provides immediate, short-term monetary support for food insecure families in the town of Keene.  The KFM supports families in accessing other means of local support such as food banks, DSS, etc.  The Steering Committee will work together toward following the KFM’s principals and being fair and equitable when assessing an individual’s food insecurity needs.  

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:

Increasing Resources for KFM Recipients:

The Steering Committee has identified additional, local resources (i.e. Elizabethtown Food Shelf, Wild Works Farm CSA) for food and will disperse that information to our recipients in the upcoming weeks.  We believe the additional resources will offer more food items each month for the families we serve.    

Criteria for Beneficiaries: 

We continued our discussion around criteria and guidelines for the KFM. 

Topics include:

1. Circumstances leading to their need for help.

2. Length of time a family may need help, and

3. Raising awareness of other food resources for the families;

4. Assistance access those resources if needed.  

   
   

   Ideas we had include looking at the need of each family after 3 months to re-assess their need.  We will assess whether the need is short-term need (i.e. surgery) vs. long-term need (i.e. chronic medical condition).  Because further exploration of our KFM criteria is underway, we have not defined our criteria to date.  We hope to work on this again in May. 

Next Steps: 

Post Office Box:  In order to save on costs and expedite deposits from donors, well will close out our Keene post office box and use KVCC, P. O. Box 27, Keene Valley, moving forward. 

Finalize members of the Steering Committee – No new information.  Currently we have 4 members.      

Partnership with local Food Pantries: Nancy and Cindy visited local food pantries and gathered information from each location.  Given what they have learned, we will begin to link our families to the Elizabethtown Food Pantry with the hope they will access the pantry immediately.   

Criteria for Beneficiaries: At the next meeting, we will finalize our KFM criteria for beneficiaries. 

Planned Fundraising:

• Grant Applications: Adirondack Foundation – Many thanks to Cindy Ayers for her efforts to apply for a grant.   We received $1,500 in April. 

• Midyear Campaign: Mailing in June

• Bazaar: August 1st and 2nd

• Holiday Appeal: First week in November 2025

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 4 PM via Zoom (Third Tuesday of the month).  We hope to have all current members of the Steering Committee present. 

Respectfully submitted:   Deborah Mitchell, KFM 

Discussion Items

Request for AMS Funds:

Solstice/Quarter Day: The Council voted and passed the allocation of $900 from the AMS Fund toward the Solstice/Quarter Day.  

Request for AMS Funds: Martha Gallagher

The Council voted and passed the allocation of $750 from the AMS Fund toward the HeartSongs Retreat (facilitator fee). 

Request for distribution of AMS Funds

ADK Roots Project: The Council voted and passed the allocation of $5,000 from the AMF Fund toward the ADK Roots Project (previously pledged).

Website Discussion for Vote

Fritz led a discussion around our new website, explained the process thus far, and whether we should start process of migrating to the new website. The Council provided their thoughts, concerns, ideas, and feedback about the work done so far.  The Council acknowledged Jimm Collins’ efforts and time put into the redesign of the website. Naj made a motion to acknowledge all of Jimm’s efforts to redesign the website but decline the existing website design.  Annie seconded the motion.   The Council voted and the motion passed.  Fritz will follow up with Jimm and explore our next steps. 

Transition Team Update

Fritz provided an update to the Council as we look toward identifying an interim pastor.  Fritz and the transition team have learned of a pastor from Vermont who is willing to be our interim pastor starting in the fall.  Pastor Jeff Long-Middleton is looking for part time work on weekends, and housing for him is being arranged if we need it.   

Request to use our certified kitchen space – Ashley LeClair

The Council discussed this request and agreed to allow Ashley to use our kitchen for her small business (storage of ice cream in a freezer).  

Old Business/Privilege of the Floor

A small group from KVCC is coordinating a booth at the Pride event in Saranac Lake in June.

Future Dates

Tuesday, June 24th – Church Council meeting at 5 PM. 

Adjournment: Deborah Mitchell made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:05 PM. 

Respectfully submitted,

Deborah Mitchell, Clerk