Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia

Board of Trustees

Minutes of June 27, 2011 Gathering

Attendance 

Members present were:  Don Mohr (Co-President), Pat Mohr (Co-President), Barry Ahrendt (President-Elect), Linda Brennison (Treasurer), Michael Sullivan (Secretary); Members at Large: Ivy Coleman and Elizabeth Harris; and Ex-Officio Members Connie Hudson (Finance Committee Chair), Neal Jones (Minister) and Joe Long (Past President).  Also present were Planning Committee representatives Betsy Kaemmerlen and Mike Paget; RE program representatives Lisa Eason and Sonya Jones; Board members-elect Ann Johnson, Buzzie Kelly, and Bauer Westeren; and Michael Kelly.

Purpose of Gathering

A quorum of Board members and others gathered at 2925 Devine Street in Columbia at 7 PM to inspect a church that recently came on the market for sale.  This gathering was suggested by Neal since the church has a sanctuary with a reported capacity of 350 as well as many classrooms and other rooms.  His thinking was that it might be an alternative means of accommodating our projected growth without costly renovations to our current building.  The visit was convened on short notice so that its suitability could be evaluated before our Congregational Meeting on July 24, 2011, which will consider approval to proceed with major renovations we have planned to our current building and grounds.

Outcome of Gathering

There was no formal meeting or consideration of motions.  In email discussion afterwards, there was strong agreement that the church property on Devine Street was unsuitable for our needs for a variety of reasons.  These included significant ADA accessibility issues, significant deferred maintenance needs, lack of playground area and green space, lack of parking, and unappealing aesthetics in the interior rooms.

Respectfully submitted,

Michael Sullivan, Secretary