FOX POINT COMMUNITY GARDEN BOARD MEETING: 03.03.10 MINUTES
PRESENT: Norma, Joel, Keri, Edie, Marcia, Thom, and Angel6:00 PM at Portuguese Social Club
GARDEN MANAGER: T he Board enthusiastically welcomed our 2010 Garden Manager, Keri Marion. Keri indicated she would hold her garden hours on Thursday evenings. In addition, she will post a list of jobs for the workdays. Garden members will sign in on workdays. Keri has reached out to all gardeners for whom she has valid contact information and is using the wait-list sign up on the website to confirm returning gardeners.
PLOT COST Sminutes
mall Plot $25 Double /Two Plots $55
WATER The drip at the main spigot has not been repaired. Edie to send an email to Bob McMann with a cc: Ward One Councilman Seth Yurdin, to advise repairs are needed. Also, let Bob know when the garden is starting up.
WOOD CHIPS Edie will ask the city — Bob McMann. Keri to follow up.
CORPORATE: Currently we are a domestic non-profit corporation with a revoked entity status. The form to change the registered agent (from Sheri to Norma) has to be signed by either the President or Vice-President of the Garden….
The fees involved to reinstate our corporate status are:
- 2008- Annual Report filing fee $20 + Penalty $25 = $45
- 2009- Annual Report filing fee $20 + Penalty $25 = $45
- 2010- Annual Report filing fee $20
- Change of Registered Agent $10 Total $120
Question: The advantages of us being a corporation are illusive. Do we have to be one? If we maintain the corporate status, there may be additional tax filing requirements. Edie asked 1) Sherri Griffin, one of the original incorporators, to determine the mindset for incorporation. Answer: since the garden was collecting money, had a bank account and a name it seemed like the right thing to do. 2) Katherine Brown, the Director of Southside Community Land Trust. Answer: Fox Point is the only community garden in the city that is a corporation. Perhaps we can find better ways to use our funds?
BEE KEEPER REPORT (ANGEL): The hive appears strong. Being the second season, they may swarm. The second hive proposal was tabled. If we expand, it will be vertically- condo style. Angel was grateful to be notified that the top of the hive was askew from a
storm’s high winds and reports all is well.
COMPOST: FOR $5.00 per plot we are going to receive compost from Earth Care Farm in Charlestown as part of the grant that The Southside Community Land Trust [SCLT] has to distribute compost to each of the City’s organic gardens. Board voted to use existing funds to provide compost to the garden. Joel has sent a check for $500 for our garden’s current 100 plots.
GARDEN EXPANSION: Councilman Seth Yurdin has secured funds to increase the number of plots for the garden. Bob McMann provided a map to show current plans for 19.5 plots to be located at the south gate – some asphalt will have to be removed. Bob indicated that plots could increase to an eventual 30 – do we want them? Given the current economy, the urban agriculture movement, the Board voted for all 30 plots if the City could get them done. Seth Yurdin indicates that for 2010 (through Bob McMann) we are currently slated to receive 24 new plots. Wood will be supplied for new plots.
PLOT CREEP The Board will gather to walk the garden on April 24th at 4PM to flag those plots that need to be resized to restore the garden plots to the original size. Garden members will be available on the first workdays to assist with resizing. Gardeners are responsible to replace rotten boards on their own plot. Garden path is supposed to be 24” to accommodate wheelbarrows and gardeners.
BOARD The board needs to establish terms and to encourage others to participate. Board voted for Edie for a two-year term limit for President.
CALENDAR The 2010 Garden calendar was decided with a focus on Thursday nights for meetings and potlucks.
The next board gathering is at the garden for plot creep: 4:00pm, Saturday April 24th, 2010. The next board meeting is at the garden, 6:00pm, July 15, 2010.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED-
/ EDIE
03.26.10