Minneapolis Telecommunications Network
Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, November 13, 2008

Members Present: Kevin Jenkins, Andrew Hedden, Marido Huber, Floyd Child, Tamir Nolley, Robert Vose, Barb Nei
Board Members Absent: Joel Rainville, Tom Cassidy
Ex-Officio Present: John Harrison
Others Present: Pam Colby, John Akre, Donald Allen

Huber called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.


I. Opening Business

A. Comments from public, staff and board –
Don Allen of Twin City Business is interested in helping MTN do fundraising and build capacity. They offer to help guide web donations to MTN. Cost would include an upfront fee and then a percentage. Vose suggested that there might be competition issues with Comcast. Huber suggested that Allen send a proposal to MTN.

B. Approval of the agenda. Amendment: to move item "III. A. MTN Personnel Policy Changes" to a committee of the whole meeting after adjournment. MSP Child, Vose.

C. Approval of Minutes from the September board meeting and October committee of the whole meeting. Amendment: that "approval of the minutes" item in the October minutes be removed. MSP Nei, Jenkins


II. Reports

A. City of Minneapolis – John Harrison presented
Truth in Taxation public hearing is on December 1. This will be live on channel 79 at 5 p.m. MTN's budget will be discussed. Three MTN board terms expire in 2009. Comcast subscriber numbers: 76,682 for September; 76,437 for October. Vose asked about the franchise renewal. Harrison said that the settlement with Comcast has been extended again.


B. Minneapolis Public Schools –Edie French not present.

C. Comcast – Leupold not present
Vose said that Comcast changed their regional management structure. This will have an impact on Comcast's communications with MTN, and will be something that the board will want to ask Leupold about at the next meeting.

D. Executive Director's Report - Colby presented
Staff have been working on membership renewal policy changes. These changes will make it easier for a lapsed members to regain membership after expiration. Staff will also work to make sure members renew when their memberships expire.
There is a line in the 2009 budget for a staff retreat to create a plan for fulfilling the MTN Strategic Plan. Child suggested that Colby could direct staff on how to fulfill the plan. Colby suggested that staff buy-in to the plan will help it to be successful. Jenkins spoke about the benefit of retreats at his place of work.
MTN collaborated with Mary Hanson on a show with foundation leaders.
MTN will host the NAMAC meeting next week.
Colby is continuing to talk with Phillips Community Television on the possibility of a merger. They consider themselves a youth organization with a media focus and Colby said this would be a great boost to MTN?s youth department. They have a focus that matches our master plan: their work is geared toward vocational training. Huber proposed that a committee be formed to work on this. Vose suggested that each organization put together the five things each organization wants to get out of this merger, to see if those goals match. Nei, Hedden, and Jenkins volunteered for the merger committee. Huber volunteered to review the financials. Child urged leaving a firewall between the organizations, so that the city does not want to cut MTN's income by the amount PCTV brings.
MACTA – Colby served on a panel at this conference.

E. Treasurer's Report. Hedden presented.
The P and L Report for September and the 2009 budget were handed out. Hedden said that the September P & L had nothing out of the ordinary. MTN had a net income at the end of the month. Motion: to receive the September Financial report. MSP Child, Nei.
2009 Budget – Colby added consulting and attorneys, which have been used around personnel issues. Huber asked about the increase in salary numbers. Colby said that it is for adding personnel hours in public relations and fundraising. Question about lease rate increase. That increase is based on the terms of the lease. Motion to approve 2009 budget, MSP Child, Vose.
MTN's audit is coming in late this year because of slow delivery by the auditor. The report based on the audit that is sent to the state government must be approved. This is necessary to keep charitable status. Motion: to approve charitable annual report to be sent to the state of Minnesota. MSP Child, Vose.

III. New Business

A. MTN By-Law Changes
Hedden presented proposed changes to MTN board composition. The board would consist of 11 members, 4 appointed by council, 2 by mayor, 3 appointed by the board of directors and 2 appointed or elected by MTN membership. Hedden explained that we have proposed no changes to term limits. Child noted that MTN?s money comes from the City Council and Mayor. When they lose control of MTN, they will take the money away. Child suggests that we have secured additional funding first before we make such a move in board composition. Vose agreed with Child. Vose said that he does not believe that the board has ever been politicized, and that board members act independently of the people who appointed them. Nolley thinks that the board has been politicized by the council. But he suggests that we go slow with the changes because of new economic considerations. Colby explained that the goal of the proposed change was to make MTN look more favorable to granting organizations. Huber suggested that this is a part of the MTN Strategic Plan that can be put on the back burner. Huber suggested that if the city does cut funding, then we need to make this change. No motion was made.

B. MTN 2009 Board appointments and elections
Child is working on a slate of officers that can be voted on at the December meeting. Hedden is willing to stand as chair. Huber is willing to stand as treasurer. Jenkins is willing to stand as vice chair. Nolley is willing to stand as secretary. Hedden suggested that Child contact members who were not present about their desire to serve in Executive Committee capacity. Huber said that board members should look for people to fill upcoming board openings. People with fundraising, marketing, and advertising skills are especially needed.

C. Board Structure and committee work
Child also suggested that members think about committees they are willing to serve on. There followed a discussion of the work of the PCTV merger committee. Should PCTV board members join the MTN board?
Committee assignments and work will be discussed via e-mail. Election issues will be one major committee activity this coming year.
According to the MTN by-laws, the board only has to meet six times a year. Colby proposed that the board meet fewer times in full next year and devote more time to committee work. Huber suggested that Colby give the board a calendar of meeting dates for 2009.


D. Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 6:52 pm. Hedden, Vose