The meeting started at 9:00 am.
Present were Kris Foss (chair), Karen Hambleton, and Scott McCaskill. Bruce Gezelman arrived at 9:05.
The minutes for the previous meeting were approved.
We discussed overarching common procedures for managing venues; Karen noted that our charge is to come up with a process. We discussed how different facilities are currently used; the playing fields are currently managed jointly by Parks & Rec and BNSYS, their process works, we will focus on Town Hall second floor and BACC for now. We talked about hours of operation, the extra costs of off-hours or weekend operation, the benefits of having core tenants.
Kris took some time to describe the operation of a town theater in Connecticut, what the venue was like, what community activities took place there, what other kinds of activities could be booked, how they managed the pricing of facilities rentals, and the types of activities renters use the space for.
Bruce asked whether the town website could be used to reserve space at the different venues. Kris explained about the new website development, and how the included reservation system would work, also that the new system would be able to handle payments.
Karen, Kris, and Scott discussed grants and funding. Some kind of funding will be needed to begin to equip the Town Hall second floor, at least, tables and chairs, PA and projection systems. Elections could also be done there (we used to).
We need to find people to help with specific venues. We would like to invite Andrew Pinard to our next meeting, Karen will contact him.
Bruce asked when the Town Hall would be ready for occupancy. Karen guessed perhaps May.
We refocused on the current tenants of the BACC, discussed the current uses, and the possible uses after the town offices move, perhaps for the police.
The meeting adjourned at 10:10 am. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 18 April, at 8:30 AM.
Minutes by Scott McCaskill