OSCA Board Meeting Draft Minutes

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Present: Greg Strahl, Lai Ling Lee, Patti Ryan, Anna Sundin, Mary Anne Thompson (OSCAR), Michael Jenkin, Michael Loewen, Brenda Lee, Deirdre McQuillan, Kevin Harper,Val MacIntosh, Mohammad al-Asad

Regrets: David Law, Lisa Drouillard, Marianne Keyes (Carleton U.), John Calvert, Nerys Parry, Jim Steel, Geoff Murphy, Michael Dobbin, Steve Mennill, Jenny Haysom, Brendan McCoy, Clive Doucet, Councillor

Guests: Brian Tansey, Desmond Devoy, EMC

Agenda

Preliminary Items

1. Approval of Agenda, Minutes of February 17, 2009 board meeting
2. President's Report
3. Councillor's Report

Decision Items

4. OSCA Membership – David Law
5. OSCA Nominating Committee
6. Swing Space for OSCA – Anna Sundin
7. OSCA 2009 Budget

Information Items

8. OSCA Programming during construction
9. Brian Tansey
10. Committee Reports
11. Other business and adjournment

Preliminary Items

1. Approval of Agenda and Minutes

• Motion: Proposed by Michael Loewen and seconded by Kevin Harper that the Agenda be accepted with the deletion of #4 OSCA Membership and the addition of #7A two ECOS motions.
• Motion carried
• Motion: Proposed by Valerie MacIntosh and seconded by Michael Loewen that the February 17 minutes be accepted with the report on OSCA Swing Space attached.
• Motion carried

2. President's Report

• Firehall renovation – Michael sent a letter to the City on the motion giving $10,400 to pay for roughed in plumbing for a rain water retrieval system. He advised the board that OSCA cannot afford to commit any more of its reserves as rent as to be paid during construction for the next year or so.
• The renovation is behind 6 t 8 weeks – a firm date should be announced by next week.
• Michael met with two neighbourhood parents who are very concerned that there is a pressure treated fence in the playground in Brewer Park. Those parents are going to lead an investigation into why the fence is not being replaced.

3. Councillor's Report

• Clive Doucet was unable to attend the meeting.

Decision Items

4. OSCA membership

• David Law was not at the meeting.

5. OSCA Nominating Committee

• Greg Strahl said that 3 board members are not returning for the 2009/10 year. They are Patti Ryan, Lisa Drouillard and Kevin Harper. There has been interest from 3 people but people have to be members in good standing. To ensure a balance on the board, people from east of Bank Street and females are encouraged to run.

6. Swing Space for OSCA

• Deirdre reported that Cathie Buchanan, Regis Alcorn and herself had another meeting with the people from Southminster Church. They saw the room that is being renovated for office space and it will be a great space. Everyone agreed to get back together to discuss the lease after March Break. The cleanout at the Firehall has started and the first round of shredding will be done shortly.

7. OSCA 2009 Budget (attached)

• Steve Mennill was unable to attend the meeting, but Greg Strahl spoke on his behalf. There were many questions from the board and it was agreed to defer the motion to adopt until the April board meeting.
• 7A. ECOS MOTIONS: Both Old Ottawa East and Sandy Hill have given their support to the project, which involves conducting free energy audits of local homes. The idea is to promote conservation through word of mouth. The organizing group isn't asking for any money as they hope to gain support from corporate sponsors.
• Motion: Proposed by Michael Loewen and seconded by Patti Ryan that OSCA support the "Household Electricity Conservation Neighbour-to-neighbour Project".
• Motion carried
• ECOS is applying for a City of Ottawa grant to help pay for the plumbing for the rainwater retrieval for the Firehall.
• Motion: Proposed by Michael Loewen and seconded by Greg Strahl that OSCA support ECOS' application to the City of Ottawa Environmental Funding initiative to solicit funds for the plumbing and rainwater harvesting system.
• Motion carried

Information Items

8. OSCA Programming during Construction

• The program committee is very aware that programming be profitable over the next year when OSCA is paying rent to Southminster Church. An effort will be made to offer as many programs as possible.

9. Brian Tansey

• Brian Tansey came to the board to speak about the process used by OSWATCH and OSCA and to discuss how best to handle development issues in the neighbourhood.
• He suggested that one or more likely 2 public consultations be held by OSWATCH/OSCA as soon as they know of a major development in the neighbourhood. That way, residents will be informed early on in the process rather than finding out when it is perceived to be too late to have input.

10. Committee Reports

• Website – John Calvert circulated a report to board members prior to the meeting. He was unable to attend the meeting, so discussion has been postponed to the April meeting.
• Firehall Redevelopment – the Class A estimate will be in shortly, giving us a realistic cost for the construction. The project will go out to bid shortly after that.
• Special Events – Winter Carnival – Brenda Lee gave the financial report – Revenue was $925.34, Expenses $1172.88 so the event cost OSCA $247.54 which can be written off against the Windsor Rink grant. Deirdre to contact Lisa Drouillard about meeting to set out what special events can be done during the next year.
• Library
• Program
• Finance
• OSWATCH - Mohammad al-Asad gave the report. There were no appeals on Shoppers Drug Mart to the OMB. The Community Development Plan committee now has 8 members and efforts will be made to engage the whole community in this project.
• FCA
• ECOS
• CUSA

11. Other Business and Adjournment

• Motion: Proposed by Greg Strahl and seconded by Kevin Harper that the meeting be adjourned.
• Motion carried
• The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 pm.