Documents: Minutes

 

BOSTON GROUNDWATER TRUST (BGwT)

BOARD MEETING

August 23, 2005

The Lenox Hotel — Patriot Room

 

The meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Boston Groundwater Trust was called order at 4:06pm in the Copley Room at The Lenox Hotel. The meeting notice was posted at City Hall in accordance with provision of the Commonwealth’s Open Meeting Law.

Trustees in attendance, comprising a quorum, were:

Mr. Tim Mitchell, Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay

Mr. Gary Saunders, Boston Back Bay Association

Mr. Peter Sherin, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

Mr. Paul Chan, Greater Boston Real Estate Board

Mr. Galen Gilbert, Fenway Community Development Corp.

Also present were:

Elliott Laffer, BGwT Executive Director; Christian Simonelli, BGwT Technical Coordinator; Mike Paster, BGwT Technical Committee; Nancy Grilk, City of Boston; Ann Donner, Strategic Planning Consultant

 

  1. Adoption of the minutes of the July 19, 2005 Meeting

    2. Minutes were distributed to board members for review. Trustee Gilbert noted that the July 19, 2005 minutes looked good and everything seemed in order.

    Trustee Gilbert moved to adopt the minutes. Trustee Chan seconded the motion.

    Voted: To accept the minutes of the July 19, 2005 meeting as corrected

     

  2. Revisions to Declaration of Trust Dissolution Section

    3. Mr. Laffer presented the proposed revision to the Declaration of Trust Dissolution Section.

    Proposed Motion

    To remove the first paragraph of Section 5.1, entitled "Dissolution and Amendment of Trust", of the Declaration of Trust as amended June 16, 2005, and replace it with the following:

    Upon dissolution of the Trust, all assets of the Trust shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)3 of the Code or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of by the Probate and Family Division of Trial Court of the county in which the principal office of the Trust is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

    Discussion followed.

    Trustee Gilbert moved that the BGwT adopt the proposed revision to the Declaration of Trust Dissolution Section presented by Mr. Laffer, Trustee Sherin seconded the motion.

    VOTED: To adopt the proposed revision to the Declaration of Trust Dissolution Section.

     

  3. Conflict of interest By-Laws section

    4. Mr. Laffer presented the revisions and comments made to conflict of interest BY-Laws section. Discussion followed. The proposed conflict of interest by-law is attached at the end of these minutes.

    Trustee Gilbert motioned to table this item until the next board meeting at which time it will be voted on. Trustee Chan seconded the motion.

    VOTED: To table this item until the next board meeting at which time it will be voted on.

     

  4. Strategic Planning

    5. Mr. Laffer introduced Ann Donner, who has been hired as a consultant to advise the Trust in its strategic planning process. Ms. Donner discussed her ideas for the process. Discussion followed.

    Ms. Donner will meet individually with the Trustees and other critical BGwT participants and constituents. A tentative meeting strategic planning session has been set for Thursday October 20, 2005 from 12pm-6pm. A strategic plan should be ready for adoption by the Trustees at their meeting in November.

     

  5. Finance Report

    6. Trustee Sherin reviewed the BGwT Financial Report 7/20/05-8/23/05. Discussion followed.

     

  6. Executive Director’s Report

    7. BGwT Executive Director Mr. Elliott Laffer distributed his report and reviewed his activities of the past month. Refer to the attached [linked here] Executive Director’s Report: August 23, 2005, for a complete list of all activities.

     

  7. Technical Coordinator’s Report

BGwT Technical Coordinator Mr. Christian Simonelli distributed and presented his activities of the past month. Discussion followed. Refer to the attached [linked here] Technical Coordinator’s Well Monitoring & Installation Report BGwT Meeting: August 23, 2005 for a complete list of what was distributed and presented.

 

The meeting adjourned at 5:46 p.m.

NEXT MEETING: Monday September 12, 2005 @ 4:00pm in the Lenox Hotel.

Submitted by Christian Simonelli, BGwT Technical Coordinator, on 08/25/05