Harbor Area Regional Board of Resources
December 12, 2007 Draft Minutes
Harbor Springs Middle School Large Group Room

Attendance

PRESENT: Dale Scott, Bill Dohm, Michael Esposito, Bill Wiechmann, Bob Sandford, Joey Arbaugh, Tom Bailey, Gail Gruenwald, Maureen Nicholson, Tom Gallagher, Joan Fenton, Doug Fuller, Mary Ellen Hughes, Rob Mossburg, Gene Reck, Nan Hogan, Al Dika, Tom Shier, Dan Branson, Jack Deegan, Neal McCue, Doug Tayler, Rich Rule.

ABSENT: Jim Bartlett, Kathryn Breighner, Denise Simon, Howard Wood, Jean Jardine, Diana Call, Margie FitzSimons, John Foster, Rob Furhman, Dale LaBrie, Dave Larson, Ray Kiogma, Dave Slifka, Justin Bassett, David Buzzelli, Kathy Erber, Greg Voelker, John Foster, Fred Hoffmann, Charles O’Neill, Paul Mooradian, Charlie MacInnis.

Also present: Danna Widmar, Executive Director, Preston McGregor, staff assistant, Chris Herron and Bill Perry.

Treasurer Michael Esposito took the chair position and called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.

Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting, September 26, 2007, were approved with a motion by Joan Fenton, seconded by Gene Reck. Motion carried.

Financial Report

Treasurer Michael Esposito presented the financial report for the year through October 31, 2007 and noted that an additional $15,585 needs to be raised to meet the budget. Since the October financials, the fundraising letter has been mailed and results to date have been good. Al Dika moved, with a second by Tom Gallagher, to approve the financial report. Motion carried.

Proposed 2008 Budget

Treasurer Esposito presented and reviewed the 2008 budget which shows incrementally small increases across the board. A new copier will be bought in 2008. Additionally, a CPA will review the H.A.R.B.O.R. Inc. 2007 finances in 2008. Bill Dohm moved, seconded by Mary Ellen Hughes, to approve the 2008 budget. Motion Carried.

By-laws Amendment

Widmar reported that board positions for representatives of Emmet County Commissioners were added to H.A.R.B.O.R., Inc. in 2003 but not officially added to the By-laws. The proposed amendment corrects that oversight.  Tom Bailey moved, seconded by Joey Arbaugh to amend the by-laws, as follows.  Motion carried.

Amend Article IV, Section 2, Board of Directors, to add following:

(30) The Emmet County Commissioner for District 2, or his or her delegate;
(31) The Emmet County Commissioner for District 3, or his or her delegate;

Amend Article IV, Section 2, Board of Directors, to renumber the existing (30) and (31), as follows:

(32) Sixteen (16) additional members elected at large by the members of the Corporation.
(33) The Immediate Past Chair. At the conclusion of his or her term, the Chair shall become the Immediate Past Chair. If term limits are in effect, the Immediate Past Chair shall be allowed to serve his or her full two-year term regardless of those term limits.  If the Immediate Past Chair is unable or unwilling to complete his or her term of office, the office shall remain vacant.

Strategic Plan

Staff continues to work on formalizing Committee work to better define and pursue Strategic Initiatives. The ‘Committee Terms of Reference’ was distributed and discussed as a way to serve as a means of formalizing committee work into defined tasks and limitations. This worksheet will outline what existing and future committees will work towards and define their jobs.

M-119 Trail

The survey work is substantially complete and design work will kick off soon. A public meeting with MDOT is anticipated in January 2008. A pre-design meeting was conducted with MDOT and Wilcox Engineering (with Bill Dohm and Al Dika in attendance) walking the full length of the trail to discuss key issues such as mailbox aesthetics, intersection safety, drainage issues and resolution of private signs and fences in the right of way and easements. Construction could proceed in the fall of 2008.

Recreation

Widmar reported that Cross Village Township passed a resolution in support of the Recreation Plan. The Recreation Committee will need to be reconvened to proceed with organizational documents, finalizing the plan and discussion of PDR.

Safe Routes to School-SR2S

Widmar told the board that the Safe Routes to School (SR2S) initiation was going well. Survey work at the schools is substantially completed and has been sent to MSU for analysis. Harbor Light School has also signed on for the program. The Executive Committee has approved hiring Emily Meyerson for a report on safety, easements and costs for 3 different alignments for the Hoyt/Quick Road trail route.

High Speed Internet

Rich Rule and Gene Reck have initiated data collection according to the High Speed Internet Committee Terms of Reference.
 
Open Forum

Bill Dohm and Tom Bailey reported that the Little Traverse Conservancy has just protected an additional 39 acres on the south side of Harbor-Conway Road, just west of Conway.

Dale Scott thanked Tom Shier of the Emmet County Commissioners for speaking favorably of keeping existing zoning in a recent meeting.
 
The meeting was adjourned at 9 a.m.

_________________________   __________________________
Danna Widmar, Executive Director   Dated