Vestry Minutes – 1/21/2024

St. Martin-in-the-Fields Vestry Meeting January 21, 2024

For a pdf of financials, please click here

Present:  Alan Bentrup – Rector, Bob Bess – Senior Warden, Rick Schulz – Jr. Warden, Dick Seeber – Jr. Warden (via Zoom), DJ Mitchell – Treasurer, Mary Anderson, Mary Beth Butler, Elizabeth Jordan (via Zoom), Melissa Kurkul, Becky Snell-Bolerjack, Glenda Morehead – Clerk.

Also Present: Gary Wilkinson – Finance Committee Chair, Tony Kroll – Seminarian, Bennett Cepak.

Not Present: Gavin Tomlin – Curate.

A regular meeting of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Vestry was held on January 21, 2024 in the small parish hall. The meeting was called to order by the Rector, who opened the meeting with prayer at 12:00 PM.

Consideration of the Minutes

DJ Mitchell moved the minutes of the December 17, 2023 meeting be approved as distributed. Becky Snell-Bolerjack seconded the motion and the motion carried.

Finance Committee Report & Treasurer’s Report

Finance Committee Report: Gary Wilkinson reviewed the process by which the budgets for upcoming years are prepared.

Endowment Committee Report:  The Endowment Committee has met with Baird, the firm who currently handles our investments. Investments are currently set at a very low-risk level. That may change in the future.

High Yield Savings Account:  The Finance Committee recommends a High Yield Savings Account in the amount of $100,000.00 be set up in a bank with $50,000.00 to serve as an emergency fund and $50,000.00 to be reserved for savings. Bob Bess seconded the Finance Committee recommendation and the vestry approved the recommendation.

Treasurer’s Report:  Bob Bess moved the report be accepted. Mary Anderson seconded the motion, and the motion carried.

Budget Adopted: DJ Mitchell seconded the adoption of the budget recommended by the Finance Committee for 2024. The vestry approved the recommendation. The budget will be shared with the congregation at the Annual Meeting January 28, 2024.

Junior Wardens’ Reports

The Jr. Wardens’ written report is attached to and made a part of these minutes.

Parking Lot Pavement Repair: Two bids have been received for repair of the church parking lot. Jr. Warden Dick Seeber recommended the vestry approve the bid by TAI. DJ Mitchell moved Seeber’s recommendation be approved, Bob Bess seconded the motion and the motion carried.

Senior Warden’s Report

The Senior Warden’s Report is attached to and made a part of these minutes. It is the report that will be included in the Annual Meeting booklet.

Curate’s Report

In the absence of the Curate the Rector reported that the two of them have been working on the Pastoral Care aspect of the priesthood. Already there are those who call on Tomlin rather than the Rector himself.

Rector’s Report:

The written report is attached and made a part of these minutes.

Curate Covenant Agreement Signed: The Rector, Senior Warden, Treasurer and the vestry members present signed the contract with EDOT providing a grant to St. Martin’s from the diocese in 4 quarterly payments toward the expenses of the curate. The signed document will be forwarded to the diocese.

Youth Minister Introduced:  The Rector introduced Leah Robinson who is the newly funded part time Youth Minister for St. Martin’s. She and the youth are currently holding their first meeting in another part of the building.

VBS Changed to Evenings:  After consulting the parents of VBS age children Liza Goodner has recommended that VBS be changed to evenings. He has approved the change.

Master Plan Update

DJ Mitchell reported that he will have the assistance of parishioners Scott Liston and his wife as work goes forward on the office/parish hall renovations. The Listons are experienced in construction and will assist in the selection of a construction firm during the month of March.

The meeting was closed with prayer by the Rector and adjourned at 1:01 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Glenda Morehead, Clerk

VESTRY RETREAT JANUARY 27 10 AM – 12 PM N R H LIBRARY BOARD ROOM

ANNUAL MEETING JANUARY 28, 9:30 AM NAVE

NEXT REGULAR VESTRY MEETING: FEBRUARY 18, 2024 12 PM, WEST PARISH HALL