March 17, 2022 CCFM Board Meeting- APPROVED

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Board members present: Randy George, Rose Thackeray, Krysta Zabriskie, John Snell, Karen Huard Board, Lila Humphries-LePage

Others present: Keri Ryan, Stan

Called to Order: 7:00 AM

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• Stan- wanted to express his want to sell cows milk soap

  • He doesn't feel like he was called and given explanation

  • Karen- the boards ability to deny a previously approved item is a gray area that needs clarification; we denied it because you have not brought it in the past and it is hard for the board to manage items that have not been sold but have been requested in years previous

  • Rose- will you make it yourself? Stan- yes

  • Rose- will you bring it this year? Stan- no

  • Stan- wants to keep this as a hypothetical item for the future possibility

  • Rose- The board has been dealing with other hypothetical future items but applications need to be relevant per the season and per the year and he can reapply for it again when he is ready to sell it

  • Only language is in the application- asks vendors to apply for anything they haven't applied for in the past

  • We should have consulted stan first and others in like situations next time

  • Stan is approved to bring soap this year and we will revisit the rules for next years application process

• News from Keri

  • We paid Mieko to teach Josh to upload minutes and that is being taken care of

  • Event committee- wants to know their budget for them to work from 

    • Karen will send that information; Budget for events for the year is $1000.00

  • AARP grant for improving public spaces- Keri is applying for music budget/ benches, tent at the front for people to enjoy the market

    • Any other ideas?

      • Karen- picnic tables

        • Fold up plastic ones for $270

      • Randy- how much is the grant for? 

        • https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/community-challenge/info-2021/2021-grantees.html

        • Keri- hasn’t added up budget yet

        • Music is $125/market 26 markets $3250

    https://agriculture.vermont.gov/sites/agriculture/files/doc_library/Future%20of%20Vermont%20Agriculture%20Commission%20Report%20Release%20Date%2002.07.2022.pdf

    • Strategy 18, page 21

  • VTFMA conference going on

  • Peggy watson art- will have prints made in st albans

  • Anderbell- requesting us to reconsider lemonade request

    • Clarified that it is just rhubarb water

    • Yes they can

• How to utilize the USDA grant funds

  • New trailer

  • New picnic tables

    • https://www.acehardware.com/departments/outdoor-living/patio-furniture/picnic-tables/8052774?x429=true&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic-shopping&utm_campaign=organic-shopping

    • https://www.hardwarestore.com/sales/2019/631223-lifetime-products-60110-picnic-table.html?ps=057&gclid=Cj0KCQjwuMuRBhCJARIsAHXdnqPArIKJkAiy594hkeaRGq1-su7qBkb3_4WnR4eVAkOPwC4h7Log5WEaAg9LEALw_wcB

  • Also need new umbrellas this year; tables need a hole for umbrellas

  • Keri- there is going to be a second round of funding that she will apply for again

  • Rose- spend the $ first on the trailer then the rest on picnic tables/umbrellas

  • Karen- can we fix the trailer reasonably? Can we get the state to let us have a shed

  • Rose- it sounds like we need a bigger trailer

  • Keri- BGS will not let us put even a semi permanent shed

  • Lila- we don't have a multi year lease there makes us vulnerable if we do have to move it

  • Krysta- if we moved to an indoor market next winter would we need access to a trailer/stuff inside?

  • Randy- what are the dimensions of the current trailer?

    • Krysta will measure it today

  • Karen- what about a shipping container/storage unit

  • Keri- will ask about putting something on Union Mutual property

  • Karen- if we moved music towards BGS building would they let us use their electricity for music

• Vegetable grower outreach in light of Pete’s Greens absence

  • Veg growers have been notified

  • George Gross requested 2 dates over the summer

    • Keri responded by sending application and asking him to fill it out

      • He hasn't done so

    • Should we reach out to smaller growers

    • Lila believes market could support 2 more smaller growers to make up for Pete's volume

• Preparing for Keri’s review

  • Have received 33 responses so far

  • John is only one who has filled out board member response; all others need to do so

    • Each person make a separate copy so that we are not seeing each others comments

  • Keri has her own questions to fill out to reflect on the year

  • Randy will send us each our own questionnaire to fill out this afternoon

  • Review will occur March 24th

  • Randy will share the responses with Keri 

  • Executive session at the next meeting for review

• Rules revisions process

  • Skipped over for time

• Definition of “recuse.”

  • Randy believes that it involves all discussion of recused topics

  • Karen believes they should be involved in discussion

  • John believes in city council you are non participatory in discussion but still involved in it

  • Karen need to be careful about excluding people and them knowing about that

  • Lila- she won't be voting on the issue but is fine being included in the conversation

• Sponsor outreach

  • Skipped over for time

• LePage Farm– are they two separate vendors?

  • Randy- concerned about consistency with decision making regards to situations like this one

  • Generalization looks at family members and selling their own products as apart of one stand

  • Dealing with seniority points- Cam + Lila get points from the last 3 years and Alan keeps the rest of his from previous years

  • That impacts placement

  • Karen- is layout ultimately up to managers decision and not solely based on points

  • Randy- we need to consult the rules

  • Lila doesn't care if he is next to them or not

  • All vote to request alan to apply as a separate vendor

  • John suggests waiving his application fee

    • All support

• 3/27/31 In person Meeting at Market- Karen, Rose, Keri, John, Lila, Krysta

  • I just wanted to recap our brief meeting yesterday after the market. Lila, Rose, John, Krysta, Keri and myself meet briefly yesterday about the music location and picnic tables. 

  • I am pleased to say that we all agreed on a new location for music and picnic tables. The music this season will be along the Tax Dept building at the end of the non-profit row. Also we voted on and approved ordering 5 picnic tables from Uline.