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UNOFFICIAL Minutes of Holy Angels Parish Council Meeting
January 15, 2009
Parish Rectory, 7:30 PM 

In Attendance:  Fr. Jerry Brittain, Paula Beine, David Beine, Earl VanderWielen, Sandy Lang, Mike Nowack, Frank Stangl, Don Felix, Dan Hanrahan, Carol Bork-Bednarek, Tim Briscoe, Colleen Mas. 

Guests:  Mark Jansen, Jack Daniels, Mike Sternig, Peter Monday, Nancy Monday.

Absent:  Fr. Rick Wendell. 

Opening Prayer / Scripture Reflection / Personal Prayer:  Led by Earl VanderWielen. 

Finance Report:  Jack Daniels presented the initial steps of the 2009-2010 Budget Process, including proposed salary and tuition recommendations received from the School Committee and staff considerations received from the Pastor.  Jack also reviewed estimated revenues and expenses for next year in light of current patterns and expected inflation and economic impacts.  Of special note:  envelope income amounts for 08/09 are currently running a deficit of $80,000 although a surplus was budgeted.  Initial calculations for the 09/10 budget included salary increases of 2% - 2.5%, parish subsidy of $648,000 (equal to 08/09 figure), and an increase in tuition by 5.7%.  Based on council discussion, Jack will include potential delinquent school tuition accounts in the next review, and will recommend to School Committee a recalculation of figures using zero per cent increase in salaries along with a parish subsidy figure of $600,000.  Council also concurred that special effort should be made to maintain an affordable tuition increase during this time of economic instability. 

St. Mary Immaculate Conception / Holy Angels School Partnership:  Council discussed recent developments in the conversation between the parish pastors and school principals.  Council was asked to attend a joint Parish Council session next month with SMIC PC to further explore serious considerations for partnership. 

Approval of Previous Minutes:  Approved November minutes by consensus. 

Committee Reports: 

All liaisons are asked to submit to PC Secretary a roster of their respective committees.

Human Concerns – No report.  Committee has no chair.

Faith Formation –   Discipleship classes for spring semester begin 1/25/09.  Deacon Mark reported successful experiences with Blankets for St. Ben’s and Santa’s Workshop.  Holy Angels will be hosting a series of regional Inquiry Sessions for the Diocesan Deaconate program.  Religious Education classes began 1/13 and 1/14 with an Evening Retreat coordinated by Camp Grey counselors.  Elizabeth Ministry is hosting a presentation on Natural Family Planning on 1/18.

Finance – An internal audit by a diocesan representative will be conducted on January 25, 2009.  The representative will work with the parish secretary, school secretary and pastor.  This will supersede previous plans to create an ad hoc committee to further explore our own self-audit.

School - The Committee still has no archdiocesan update regarding Vision 21.  While gathering information regarding the Engineering Curriculum (Project Lead the Way), committee members learned that much of what is currently taught at HAS overlaps this curriculum within a conceptual framework of the interconnectedness of Math and Science.  Discussion regarding religion assessment will continue at the next meeting.  Initial budget discussion included concerns over the amount of increase in tuition, realizing the double-edged sword effect:  if tuition is raised too high, families may not be able to afford to continue and therefore may leave; if tuition remains too low, the school finds itself with a budget deficit.  Reports from the Development Committee indicated that Gifts from the Heart are still being turned in, the PAC is planning a Family Fun Night, and weekly newscasts will be aired on the local cable access channel.  The Committee Bylaws were approved with changes suggested by Parish Council.  The School Committee plans to post notice on public attendance at committee meetings, clarifying that meetings are open to all as observers.

Tuition Collection Ad Hoc Committee – Committee submitted copies of a draft of the internal procedural document for handling of tuition assistance and delinquent tuition accounts.  This document will also be distributed to the School Committee for review.  Ad Hoc Committee will collect feedback from School Committee and Council and then prepare a final draft.

Prayer and Worship:  With the resignation of Jack Trzebiatowski, Council has no liaison to Prayer and Worship.  Council is asked to consider a replacement. 

Parish Council Membership:  Colleen Mas asked for direction in responding to parishioners that had come to her with concerns regarding two members of one household serving simultaneously on Parish Council.  Father Jerry noted that he previously had a married couple serve on parish council who often disagreed the most with each other, that we have two independent council members here, and that he does not see any issue that needs to be resolved.  Earl VanderWielen also mentioned that there is nothing contrary in the by-laws, and that everyone should remember that each individual was voted on by the parishioners.  Earl further stated that if the concern is significant enough, that the proper way to address it would be to propose a change in the by-laws, and that such a change would not affect the current situation.    

Closing Prayer:  Led by Deacon Mark.

Adjourned:  10:13 pm 

Respectfully submitted by Colleen Mas.