Planning Committee Meeting

Minutes 1/29/08


Present:  John Wynne,  Jim Wezensky,  Larry Tewey, Charlie Woerner, Fr Jim,  Debbie Knarr,  Mary Alice Woerner,  Cheryl Davis, Nadine McGrady,  Jim Lee

Absent:  Paul Fitzpatrick,  Chuck & Mary Lou Villa
 
Jim Lee welcomed and thanked everyone for attending the meeting.

Jim led the team in an opening prayer.

Jim asked everyone if they received the corrected draft minutes from the Nov. 14th 2007 meeting.  He asked if there were any other corrections or changes that needed to be made.  A motion was made by Jim Wezensky to approve the minutes.  John Wynne seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.
Prior to the arrival of Mr. Harris, the Planning Committee met for about 30 minutes to discuss the focus group sessions. Jim Lee reported that the five focus group sessions were well attended.  Mr. Harris conducted the sessions allowing each attendee to express their interests, concerns, and perceived problems regarding the topic being discussed. Mr. Harris patiently allowed each person to express all concerns while keeping the meetings on track as much as possible.  It was felt that he handled the meetings in a knowledgeable and professional manner. Jim stated that he did not feel that any major new concerns came up during the meetings, which meant the committee had already done a fairly good job of identifying the needs and concerns of the parish.
Jim was concerned that a wider spectrum of parishioners did not attend the focus group meetings and wondered if there was any other method that could have been used to get the meeting schedule out to parishioners. The information had been published in the bulletin and in the Commons binder as well as being announced from the pulpit. No other methods of getting the information out were recommended.
Unfinished Business:                     
1) – Review Parish Communication effort information.                   Cheryl Davis
Cheryl indicated that she would continue to update the binder in the Commons and put a synopsis of the meetings in the bulletin. She will also contact a number of parishioners who had concerns about the way information about the Planning Committee is being made available.
2) - Update status of Coordinator of Volunteer Ministries.                     Fr. Jim
Fr. Jim reported that no further progress has been made on developing a job description for the Coordinator of Volunteers position.
3) - Meet with Mr. Wm. Henry Harris to review focus group session information and Master Plan development.                                                                             Mr. Harris

Mr. Harris presented The Preliminary Master Plan Focus Group Report (January 29, 2008) to the committee. In it he prioritized, according to number of times mentioned, the concerns brought up during the focus group sessions. The top item was to make the floor of the sanctuary safe and accessible to all. Second and third on the list were expanding and reconfiguring the worship area, and building a new learning center with more classrooms and office space for administration and space for youth programs. A copy of this document will be placed in the appendix of the Planning Committee binder.
 
After discussing the above report with the committee, Mr. Harris presented a series of possible site plans, addressing the issues identified in the focus group sessions. The preliminary plans were examined and discussed with possible changes being suggested by committee members. Mr. Harris will review and revise the plans based on the suggestions for the next meeting.
 
New Business:                         

Other Business:
 
Items from Team Members
 
Announcements:
            Schedule date for next meeting: 
We will meet Feb. 15th, 2008 at 6:30 P.M. in the “Old Rectory” on Main Street.
Cheryl Davis led the team in a closing prayer.

Note:  Barb Burg and Ray Beattie have not been able to continue active involvement and have as a result informed me that they wish to step down.