Chas. Stevens called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm on May 13, 2024.
Kevin Sluka conducted roll call the following Board Members were present:
Present: Tania Althoff, RanD Pitts, Ed Rebenack, Natalia Kleyman, Chas. Stevens, Kevin Sluka, Mike Kerwin, Rick St. Pierre, Beth Akkaway
Late: Andrianna Popowych
Absent:
Excused:
Approval of Meeting Minutes
There were no meeting minutes to approve this month.
Chairman Remarks
Chas Stevens welcomed everyone to the May meeting and mentioned the DSA’s events season has finally arrived.
A. Naming Trustees to the 401k Account
Kevin discussed that there needs to be two trustees appointed to the 401k account.
RanD Pitts and Natalia Kleyman will be the two trustees.
Kevin asked for a motion to approve the resolution.
Vote to Approve
MOTION: RanD Pitts SECOND: Chas Stevens Vote to Approve:
Yea: Tania Althoff, RanD Pitts, Ed Rebenack, Natalia Kleyman, Kevin Sluka, Mike Kerwin, Rick St. Pierre, Chas. Stevens, Beth Akkaway
Nay: none Recuse: none Abstain: none
B. Resolution Contracting with Suplee Clooney & Company
Kevin mentioned the DSA took a proposal for Suplee Clooney for this year.
For this year’s audit and representing the books for 2023, Suplee needs authorization.
Kevin asked for a motion to approve.
Vote to Approve
MOTION: Rick St. Pierre SECOND: Mike Kerwin Vote to Approve:
Yea: Tania Althoff, RanD Pitts, Ed Rebenack, Natalia Kleyman, Kevin Sluka, Mike
Kerwin, Rick St. Pierre, Chas. Stevens, Beth Akkaway
Nay: none Recuse: none Abstain: none
C. Resolution Contracting with TapInto
Chas mentioned that the contract is the same price, same ad size, and same frequency as last year. Only one add-on was declined.
Natalia Kleyman asked what the add-on was.
Chas stated that the add-on was to write a monthly article for TapInto for an additional $250/month.
Kevin stated that the publisher attends the DSA’s events, and he believes it is a necessary contract to maintain the relationships that the DSA has.
Vote to Approve
MOTION: Rick St. Pierre SECOND: Tania Althoff Vote to Approve:
Yea: Tania Althoff, RanD Pitts, Ed Rebenack, Natalia Kleyman, Kevin Sluka, Mike
Kerwin, Rick St. Pierre, Chas. Stevens, Beth Akkaway
Nay: none Recuse: none Abstain: none
D. Old Business
a. PSEG Update
Kevin reiterated that the plan with PSEG is to have them work between January and March.
Kevin suggested reminding people that after the summer ends, PSEG will be doing full construction on Main Street and possibly Division Street during those months in 2025.
Chas Stevens asked if that includes the paving and the gas mains.
Kevin stated that it is the gas mains that will result in the paving.
Kevin mentioned that PSEG has started to do the paving outside the SID.
b. AAPI Month
Chas mentioned he and RanD were helping with marketing and they visited all the Asian owned businesses in town and had a terrific reception.
Chas added that some businesses were unfamiliar with the DSA or were unaware it was AAPI month.
Several Asian businesses are getting professionally photographed to help market and promote AAPI businesses.
E. New Business
a. Restaurant Week Update
The DSA sent out a survey to the businesses for feedback about marketing and the event.
For the most part, the restaurants owners were very satisfied, but the retail businesses did not see much change.
There were positive responses about changing it from restaurant weekend
to restaurant week.
Rick St. Pierre added the promoting was great and he did see an increase as a restaurant owner.
Stacy added to keep in mind the holidays for next year because restaurant week landed on Passover this year.
b. Juneteenth
The DSA is committed to providing the entertainment and music.
Stacy mentioned they were looking for a DJ for entertainment and the budget is $2,500.
c. Paul Robeson Project
Mike Kerwin mentioned the committee met with the artist to view sketches and solicit a proposal to do the statue.
The grant received from the county was $34,000.
Mike Kerwin discussed the next step is finding the best location.
Tania Althoff added that the artist was creating a maquette and they spoke about potential fundraising opportunities to help with the project.
She also added the artist would like to document the process and create a short film to showcase.
d. Appointment of Committee Chairs
Chas stated that committee chairs need to be appointed to spread the workload.
Kevin is the committee chair for the infrastructure committee.
Natalia Kleyman is the chair for the marketing committee.
Andrianna Popowych is the chair for the events committee.
Mike Kerwin and Tania Althoff are the chairs for the public art committee.
Chas mentioned the retention and recruitment committee which helps businesses stay in town and helping business come into town.
F. Committee Reports a. Infrastructure
Kevin mentioned that DPW went to the DSA garage and sorted out half the garage and got rid of broken items. There were also a lack of tools.
Kevin reiterated that ABS will be starting in June.
Kevin added he is waiting to get a proposal about the tree grates.
b. Events- GNO
There will be a volunteer meeting before the event.
There will be tote bags given out to ladies with wristbands and the materials from the sponsors will be in the tote bags. Volunteers from the senior living facility are helping stuff the bags.
There will also be raffle giveaways from the restaurants and retail businesses.
Entertainment and activities include a nineties band, tarot card reading, massage chairs, promotions from magic 98.3, and more.
Vote to Approve
MOTION: Mike Kerwin SECOND: Ed Rebenack Vote to Approve:
Yea: Tania Althoff, Adrianna Popowych, Randall Pitts, Ed Rebenack, Natalia
Kleyman, Kevin Sluka, Mike Kerwin, Rick St. Pierre, Richard Chas Stevens, Beth
Akkaway
Nay: none Recuse: none Abstain: none
G. Payment Authorization
Vote to Approve
MOTION: Rick St. Pierre SECOND: Chas Stevens Vote to Approve:
Yea: Tania Althoff, Adrianna Popowych, RanD Pitts, Ed Rebenack, Natalia Kleyman, Kevin Sluka, Mike Kerwin, Rick St. Pierre, Chas. Stevens, Beth Akkaway Nay: none Recuse: none Abstain: none
H. Comments from the Public
Brittany, from Revive Consignment, thanked everyone for their hard work.
I. Adjournment
Chas. Stevens made a motion to adjourn the meeting on Monday, May 13, 2024, at 7:00 pm.
