Prudential Committee Minutes 3/9/25

Members Present:  Pastor Allan Palmer, Dennis Carman, Steve Delano, Karen Hong, Wendy Grieco, Bob Sears, Myron Winders, Ginny Sears

Meeting Called to Order at 12:36 pm by Moderator Myron Winders

Opening Prayer given by Dennis Carman

Moderator Winders welcomed Bob Sears and Wendy Grieco to our board.

Clerk’s Report – Printed minutes for previous meetings were provided to Prudential Committee as well as via email. A motion to accept January and February meeting notes, which include Annual Meeting report, by Karen Hong; 2nd by Bob Sears; so voted Ginny Sears noted it took a bit of time to transcribe the February minutes from the Zoom meeting as there was a time limit on the meeting. Dennis noted that Zoom will transcribe with AI and send in an email if we decide to meet that way again.

Treasurer's Report – Treasurer Steve Delano presented us with a printed report.   Steve presented us with printed report with figures down for first two months of year – snow plowing cost did us in.  (Income: $12,620.  Expenses: $14,615.  Net Loss ($1,994).  Pastor Allan stated that we should do some shopping. Steve thinks we are on schedule for budget. Bob Sears had a question on 2nd page on report wondering what $22,000 represents. Steve said it is something Quickbooks comes up with  it’s the accounting program.  Go by profit loss instead of balance sheet.  We are pretty much meeting our expenses.  We could safely put away $18,000 in a separate account toward building fund – Steve provided the committee with a spread sheet based on end of year budget sheet. Bob stated what Steve and Ginny did, gives us a snapshot of where we are in budget. Motion to accept by Ginny Sears;  2nd by Karen Hong. Discussion; so voted. 

Karen asked about taking $18,000 out of church checking account  – Steve stated we could transfer as we need it from high interest account to checking, (perhaps getting $70/month interest) leaving $30,000 in checking account.  This amount does not include three CDs at Bluestone Bank.

Pastor’s Report – sunrise service will be a Camp Kiwanee on Easter morning.  Things are going well.  Clerk asked about new members; Pastor stated that Jeannie Taylor and Jim Perry are interested Motion to accept report by Karen Hong; 2nd by Dennis Carman; so voted.

Ongoing Business –

• Annual Meeting Recap – Ginny will send out thank you to Dave Greene and Stephenie for their service to Prudential Committee.

• Recap - Future Energy – Ginny contacted  Mike Jones regarding battery storage proposal, which is still “on the table” and he will answer any questions we may have.  Myron looked over contract and that poles will be placed on church side of parking lot.  Mike said if we go underground with wires, it will change everything.  Before we sign on to the project, we need to clarify where poles will be.  Spacing on poles is 100-150 feet.  There is company in Sandwich that has solar and storage – PureSky Energy.  They have 15 locations; this concept is real and expanding.  Karen Hong drove around Kingston to find battery storage, but it was a dead end.  Bob Sears asked what next step is?  Myron Winders stated that we need to find our liability with lawyers and then we take it to congregation for informational meeting or vote. Pastor Allan thinks congregational vote is in order with our recommendation. Pastor thought about informational meeting one week with the vote the following week.

• Church Suppers / Woodlands  - volunteers are heading up these functions; currently using FaceBook messenger as a tool to coordinate meals.

• Roll Call Board – update – Pastor Allan needs to contact Rockland Trophy.  Bob Sears asked how memorial crosses came to be – Hank was one to implement this; pastor stated that Hank did a lot of funerals and those folks that were not connected to church to donate $500  to place cross and soon stopped doing it for public and only offered for members of the church. Myron Winders  asked how a person who passed get a name on plaque; Pastor Allan stated that if person dies and is a church member, they automatically get a name plaque.

  
  

• Door locks and keys – crash bars Ginny contacted Commercial Lock in Weymouth as suggested by former church member Skip Holland and Ginny was given a quote.  Pastor Allan said seems like a lot of money to install this; Myron Winders agreed that as well. Dennis Carman asked if its warranted.  Bob Sears stated that any public building needs to have a crash bar for code.  Item tabled for now. Dennis Carman thought we should change locks for now and issue new keys selectively; motion to include door locks for both doors by Dennis Carman; 2nd by Steve Delano. So voted. Lisa Winders suggested a “hold-a-key,” screw into wall with 4” screws.  Myron asked what Pastor Allan thought for lock box – Myron will look into availability and email members. 

• Ongoing business – Myron Winders spoke with Gabriel Lortie, and he will take a look at cupola (he is a former steeplejack) Bob Sears has the information for new shutters and will forward.  He will also ask about elevator entrance.  Bob Sears was asked to speak about entrance to go from parking lot to sanctuary to Belcher Hall. Bob thought about $60,000 +/- for project. Bob has specs from Garaventa – if this is what we are going to do we need plans and Bob spoke to someone about doing this.  Bob’s friend wants to see plans of lift and then come to chapel to take measurements.  Bob thinks we need to get cost of drawing plans – does the church want to take next step (approx. $4,000 to draw plans).  Pastor Allan made motion that Bob move ahead on fact finding on cost and bring back to committee…2nd Dennis; so voted.  Garaventa needs the plans that will meet their specs otherwise they will not sell us the lift.

• Donate Button – Gail Jones asked about this at annual meeting. Card readers are here; and Steve will look at how they are used.

New Business –

• Clean up day – May 10; rain date May 17th  9 am - noon; light lunch

No other new business

Upcoming meetings –

Prudential Committee – April 13, 2025

Easter Sunday April 20, 2025

Motion to adjourn at 1:36 pm by Steve Delano; 2nd by Bob Sears, so moved.

(meeting time one hour)

Respectfully submitted;

Ginny Sears

Ginny Sears, Clerk

Download PDF version here.