Administrative Commission of the Presbytery of New Brunswick
Meeting of 17 June 2015, by conference call
Present: Elder Lorelei Zupp, moderator; elder Brad Clifton; elder Peggy Redman; reverend Nina Reeder; treasurer elder Linda Gilmore.
Meeting opened at 7:30 pm with prayer led by Moderator Zupp.
The motion for new terms of call for the stated clerk that was passed at the June Presbytery meeting permitted the Administrative Commission to make adjustments as necessary so that service by the clerk for another Presbyterian organization along with the Presbytery of New Brunswick would be eligible for participation in the Board of Pensions plan, so long as the cost did not exceed that named in the terms passed at presbytery. The clerk now has such a part-time position with the Taiwanese American Fellowship Presbyterian Church.
Following discussion a motion to approve adjustment in terms of call for Stated Clerk as detailed below:
Cash Salary $ 4,800.00
Housing allowance $ 6,977.00
493b contribution $ 4,800.00
Effective salary $ 16,577.00
Pension $ 1,823.47
death and disability $ 165.77
Major Medical Dues (23%) $ 3,812.71
Major Medical Dues (1.5%) $ 248.66
Total BoP Dues $ 6,050.61
FICA Offset $ 901.00
Reimbursable expenses $ 4,000.00
Total $ 27,528.61
Meeting closed at 7:55pm with prayer led by Nina.
Respectfully submitted,
Lorelei L. Zupp, Moderator
Administrative Commission of the Presbytery of New Brunswick
Meeting of 14 July 2015, by conference call
Present: Elder Lorelei Zupp, moderator; elder Brad Clifton; elder Peggy Redman; reverend Nina Reeder; reverend Ann Schoonover; elder Linda Gilmore, treasurer; and D. Paul La Montagne, stated clerk.
The meeting was convened at 7:34 pm with prayer by moderator Zupp.
The members of the Administrative Commission had already reviewed the contracts for work on the 1867 Sanctuary at Ewing that were submitted for the Presbytery’s approval by Preservation New Jersey. These were: a contract for an oil steam boiler with All Seasons Heating & Cooling, Inc.; a contract for masonry work with Schulte Restorations; and a contract for painting with Schulte Restorations.
The Administrative Commission without opposition passed a motion to give approval to Preservation New Jersey for these contracts.
The Administrative Commission undertook discussion of the tax status of the property used for the Bethany House of Hospitality. We have been working for months to get the tax free status of the property restored and now have a date for an appeal hearing on 24 July 2015. The Commission reviewed the history of the demand for tax payments on the Bethany House of Hospitality, the errors that may have been made in the original assessment, our commitment to the ministry, and most importantly the case that we intend to make for why the property continues to be used for religious purposes and should be tax exempt.
We decided to pursue an appeal of the tax assessment for the Bethany House of Hospitality. We will need legal representation at the tax appeal hearing. Such legal representation will need to review the case we intend to make and may have advice to give us about that matter. We discussed using Bob Casey, an attorney who has done similar work for the Lawrence Road Church
It was moved that we ask Bob Casey to look at our case and to represent us at the tax hearing if he thinks that we have a reasonable case, and to advise us about how to proceed if he thinks that our case is not. He is to be advised that we are not ready to spend more than $2,000 at this time.
The motion passed without opposition. If more is required for legal fees, we will revisit that question.
The Commission agreed to work for a first draft of a budget proposal with the intention of presenting a budget for a first reading at the September meeting of the Presbytery.
The Commission then took up a request from the Urban Mission Cabinet to release $23,000 of Urban Mission Funds to support another year of the ministry of Lukata Mjumbe, executive director of Urban Mission Cabinet, Inc. It was agreed that the monies provided should be transferred to UMC, Inc. and the executive director’s payroll be arranged from there. Given that payments from the previous year’s work had exceeded the amount approved at that time by the Administrative Commission by $1,720.76, the motion was amended to include that amount with the present request.
The motion passed without opposition. Steps will be taken to insure no interruption in Mr Mjumbe’s pay. The Administrative Commission and the Urban Mission Cabinet will seek an opportunity to consult together about the long term future of the Urban Mission Fund, including a review of all commitments already made, but not yet expended.
Sympathy for Lukata at the death of his sister was expressed.
The meeting was adjourned with prayer by elder Gilmore at 8:57 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
D. Paul La Montagne
Stated Clerk
Administrative Commission of the Presbytery of New Brunswick
Meeting of 23 July 2015, at Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, New Jersey
Present: Elder Lorelei Zupp, moderator; reverend Ann Schoonover; elder Linda Gilmore, treasurer; reverend Nancy Muth, Executive Director; and D. Paul La Montagne, stated clerk.
The meeting was convened at 7:20 pm with prayer by moderator Zupp.
The Administrative Commission reviewed the presbytery’s support of Camp Johnsonburg and the campus ministries. We have been supporting them at the rate of:
Trenton Area Campus Ministries$1,125per quarter
Westminster Foundation$ 250 per quarter
Bloomfield College$ 187.50 per quarter
Camp Johnsonburg$ 900per month
We have suspended our support for Rutgers Protestant Campus Ministries as they are on hiatus. For the past few years the only reporting that we have had from the campus ministries is a copy of the applications that they make to the synod for funding. We will ask each of them for a letter giving us an update on their ministry. This will give RPCM a chance to update us if they resume ministry.
All of these obligations have been paid through June. We will circulate an email asking for a vote on a motion to fund them at this rate through the remainder of the year.
The treasurer reported that we have liquidated some of the investments in the Urban Mission Fund in order to cover a check to pay off the grant mortgage on 601 N Clinton. It was reported that demolition of 613 N Clinton is complete. The city of Trenton will be notified so that the tax assessment can be adjusted accordingly.
It was also reported that we have received no rent from the New Jersey Association on Corrections since the fire in our building that they lease from us. Inquiries will be made.
The treasurer shared the financial report through June. That report is appended to these minutes as “TreasurersReport2Council30June2015.pdf”.
After discussion it was decided that we could work from this basis to produce a draft budget to present to the presbytery for a first reading at the September meeting. We will need to meet again in August for this, at least.
The Administrative Commission reviewed a grant application for shared mission funds from Ted Settle on behalf of the Mission and Social Witness Committee. (The MSWC has chosen to keep meeting during the suspension of the Plan of Presbytery, as they were invited to do.) The application requested $12,000 to support scholarships for a mission and study trip to Israel/Palestine. The Committee decided that we need to be responsible to the limits we set on these grants on account of our budget and available funds. We will vote on a motion to grant $3,000 to this purpose by email.
The AC agreed to meet on 11 August, place and time to be determined.
The meeting was adjourned with prayer by reverend Schoonover at 9:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
D. Paul La Montagne
Stated Clerk
Supplement to the Minutes of 23 July 2015
by email, completed on 1 August 2015
A quorum not having been present at the meeting of 23 July the motions proposed at that meeting were circulated for vote by email, with no member of the Administrative Commission objecting to the procedure.
1) It was moved that we continue funding on a quarterly basis for the remainder of the year for the following educational ministries:
Trenton Area Campus Ministries - $1,125. per quarter
Westminster Foundation (Princeton Presbyterians) - $250 per quarter
Bloomfield College - $187.50 per quarter
This motion passed without opposition.
2) It was moved that we continue funding Camp Johnsonburg at the rate of $900 per month through 2015.
This motion passed without opposition.
3) It was moved that we approve the funding grant request submitted by Ted Settle for the amount of $3,000 (the maximum set).
This motion was passed without opposition.
A meeting of the Administrative Commission was scheduled for 11 August 2015 at Nassau Presbyterian Church.
Respectfully Submitted
D. Paul La Montagne
Stated Clerk
Administrative Commission of the Presbytery of New Brunswick
Meeting of 11 August 2015, at Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NewJersey
Present: Elder Lorelei Zupp, moderator; elder Brad Clifton, reverend Ann Nina Reeder; elder Linda Gilmore, treasurer; reverend Nancy Muth, Executive Director; and D. Paul La Montagne, stated clerk.
The meeting convened at 7:08 with prayer by moderator Zupp.
The Administrative Commission heard that the demolition of 613 N Clinton is complete. The payment to satisfy the grant mortgage on 601 N Clinton has been sent off. We have not yet received the papers voiding the lien. We paid a lien for past due utilities on 615 N Clinton. There was a discussion of what needed to be done to list the quarter block for possible sale.
We heard that the new roof of Westminster Presbyterian Church, which was funded with a loan grant from the Urban Mission Fund, is complete.
The Administrative commission approved the payment of $2500 for the boarding up of 21 Clinton after the fire. We are still exploring alternatives for insurance after the insurance previously held was cancelled. We heard that there has been no rent paid on the building while the New Jersey Association on Corrections has been unable to occupy it.
There was extended discussion of the budget. It was agreed that we had sufficient information to complete a budget and give it a first reading at the September presbytery meeting. Treasurer Gilmore will prepare a final form of the budget for first reading and submit it to the administrative commission for an email vote.
The importance of the 28 August tax hearing on the Bethany House of Hospitality was emphasized. As many witnesses as possible should be there.
We will seek a joint meeting with the Transition Task Force. We will hold 19 September open for such a meeting while we contact them to seek a possible date.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm with prayer by reverend Reeder.
Respectfully Submitted
D. Paul La Montagne
Stated Clerk