[NOTE: These minutes are made available to the public prior to Committee on Culture and the Arts acceptance.]

TOWN OF WETHERSFIELD COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS
MINUTES OF OCTOBER 9, 2006

Members present: Jeanne Ciotto, Mary-Beth Dobmeier, Rita Doyle, Liz Kirkpatrick, Sandy Mulcahy, Frances Patti, Dawn Richardson Silver, Ellen Spratlin and Patricia Viani.

The meeting was called to order at 7:15 p.m. Pat made a motion to accept the minutes of the September 11, 2006 meeting as read. Liz seconded the motion.

Treasurer's Report:

• Sandy stated that there was nothing new to report.

New Business:

• Pat received some mail from the group known as the Specticals. The Committee listened to a CD sent by the group. The group plays all kinds of music. They put on a two hour show with one 15 minute break. We agreed that we might be able to use them for the March, 2007 performance on Friday or Saturday. The cost of hiring the group is $1,200.
• Pat also received a copy of the agenda of the Wethersfield Tourism Commission meeting which was held on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 in the Town Manager's Conference Room. The copy of the agenda was passed around to Committee members.
• We received and discussed a letter from Governor Rell concerning the possibility of our contributing to an arts organization sponsored by the State of Connecticut.
• On September 12, 2006 Liz attended a meeting regarding Freedom of Information (FOI) and Ethics. At the meeting a presentation was made by Tom Hennick from the FOI Commission. Liz passed out copies of the handouts that were given out at the meeting. Liz also mentioned some of the most relevant topics stressed at the meeting. For example, since we are a town committee, and we accept public money, members of the public have a right to attend our meetings. Minutes of our meetings must be posted and we cannot deliberate via email. In addition, the Ethics code prohibits the acceptance of anything of value from someone attempting to promote their business. We cannot accept free gifts that would give the appearance of influencing our decisions. Liz's handout discusses these matters in detail.
• At the June meeting, Ellen stated that she would look into the possibility of providing entertainment for the Open House Tour of the newly renovated Silas Robbins House.
• The Open House Tour will run from October 5, 2007 to October 14, 2007. On Friday October 5, 2007 there will be a gala party which will cost $100 per person to attend. The proceeds will go to the John Keane Foundation. There are plans to set up a tent at the Silas Robbins House which will have a mike and all kinds of electricity.
• The Committee discussed what date we would be able to provide entertainment. Ellen reported that she contacted Aztec Two Step and learned that their cost would be around $2500. Sandy said she would contact Ben Altman, get his CD and find out what his cost would be. As mentioned earlier, the cost of the Specticals is $1200. Another possibility would be Eight to the Bar.
• Pat made a motion that we provide entertainment a 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 7, 2007after the house tour. Sandy seconded the motion.
• Pat will make arrangements with Kathy Bagley for use of the showmobile. We will consider asking for a donation of $5 which would go toward the scholarship fund.
• It was noted that there is going to be a lot of publicity about the Open House Tour. It will be mentioned in Yankee Magazine, the New York Times, etc.

Publicity:

• No new matters involving publicity were reported.

Old Business:

• As discussed previously, Pat plans to speak to Matt Catalano from Wethersfield Health Care to determine whether he is willing to sponsor any events.
• Pat spoke to Kathy Bagley about participating in a children's theater group as we have done in the past. Kathy promised to get back to her.
• The December meeting will be held a Sandy's house at 7:00 p.m. It will be pot luck.

The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

IMPORTANT PLEASE NOTE: the next meeting, which will be chaired by Mary-Beth Dobmeier, is scheduled for Monday, November 13, at 7:00 p.m. and will be held at the Community Center.

Respectfully submitted,

Rita Doyle
Secretary