Newton Academy Restoration Committee
Meeting Minutes
October 17, 2007
Wilson MacIntire called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Wilson, Sue MacIntire, Liz Fitzsimmons, Bob Warren, Susan Peden and Linda Larrabee were present.
Minutes from the previous meeting were read, amended, and approved as amended.
Wilson announced that Tom Keefe’s plans had been delivered. Contractors will be coming on October 24 to look at the project. Bids are due by November 5, and the selection will be made within nine days. Bob Warren will check with the Selectboard to determine the process that we need to use for the decision. We had a brief discussion about money and where we are on this project. We have enough to cover the roof, but at the moment we will be $10,000 short on Tom’s fee. Wilson has applied for another grant which he hopes will cover this amount.
Liz reported that she had asked the Town Treasurer for a list of donors but was told that the office does not keep a record of those. Susan Peden said that she has been keeping a running list, including the list given her by Sue MacIntire from early fund raising.
The grant that Wilson has applied for is from Vermont Buildings and General Services for $19,000. We should hear in November and can apply for this grant annually. Ann Cousins has been helping Wilson and is sending information about our project to Leahy’s office.
The calendars have arrived and are ready to be sold. There was some grumbling about the calendars not being quite what we expected.
Locks for the room at Newton Academy which was housing the preschool are being changed. We will receive a key.
The recent newsletters were mailed to about 600 people. The cost was around $320 to print and mail. There was some discussion about sending further mailings to historical society members and previous donors. The general feeling is that we should do this soon.
New Business included a discussion about the upcoming concert and future fund raising. Susan said that she would ask Snake Mountain if they would do another concert for us in the spring as that was the most successful. Liz suggested a show and sale of Shoreham arts and crafts products. Perhaps we could do a show at the bank. Sheldon Museum would probably have exhibit boxes that we could borrow. Finally, Wilson reminded us that we would need to save about $80,000 for the foundation of Newton Academy.
Next meeting will be on November 14, a change in meeting week to accommodate member’s schedules. Meeting was adjourned at 8 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda J Larrabee, Secretary
