Vestry met in Serson Hall with a call to order at 6:33 p.m. There was a quorum. Fr. Tom opened with a prayer.

Members Present: Fr. Tom, Rector; Steve Carnell, Sr. Warden; Rich Shea, Jr. Warden; Nora Broszeit, Clerk; Lee Barron, Mary Lou Dogoloff, Peter Lund, Judy Martin, and Carol O’Connell. Tom Connolly was absent. Rose Porembo, treasurer, was present. 

Approval of the December vestry minutes: Fr. Tom asked for a motion of approval for the December 20, 2023 vestry minutes. Peter L made a motion of approval and Carol O’C seconded the motion. The motion was adopted by acclamation.

Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Rose Porembo supplied handouts for the members to read along with her verbal report. Final steps were taken to move church funds from Truist Bank to the Bank of America. Payroll will be managed by Paychex Inc. Rose thanked Carol O’Connell, office administrator, for giving Rose help for the last six months answering questions and supplying needed files. The diocese requires an annual parochial report which Rose and Fr. Tom have prepared for the March deadline. 

2024 Vestry Selections: Observing the vestry meeting tonight was Paul Nelson as a nominee. Others nominated are Jeannie Smith and (unrelated) Murray Smith. 

Solar Panels: Fr. Tom interviewed a company which quoted a $300 charge for a solar panel survey. The company returned saying a nonprofit organization would be free of charge. There was not more to be reported at this meeting.

Land use planning:  Charged with spending time meditating while seeking a vision to lease and develop 7.7 acres between Serson Hall and the rectory, vestry members shared different findings. This land has been available tor forty years to be an instrument of ministry to be beneficial to St. Paul’s and the community. When ideas are formulated vestry can turn to Lang Landry from the diocese for further guidance.

Coordination when Farmers Market faces weather: Fr Tom and Peter Lund announced that email blasts will inform market volunteers when weather threatens vendors and St Paul’s shops. Peter Lund defended keeping the market open. Ex: Vendors who sell vegetables will stay through reasonable wind and rain events while other vendors prefer to pack up their wares. Peter said he is determined to keep this consistency for everyone involved. 

Announcements from St. Paul’s Team Leaders: Peter Lund announced that his wife Donna Nidds has chosen retire her leadership of the Unique Boutique when the market closes in April 2024. Norma Pappalardo has chosen to retire as vegetation team leader over God’s Gardeners at the end of May. Both team leaders have served faithfully. We appreciate what they have contributed to St. Paul’s. Diligent efforts are needed to find new team leaders and backup volunteers.

Departing vestry members: Fr. Tom thanked three hard working vestry volunteers whose terms ended. Rich Shea, Carol O’Connell and Nora Broszeit will be missed on vestry. Call on them if you need a volunteer. 

Rich Shea took this opportunity to remind vestry about his ministry called Laundry Love. For two years Rich applied for and received from the diocese $2000. Parishioners have been contributing money every week to help support this ministry. Volunteers from St. Paul’s join him in a local laundromat one Sunday a month to offer to pay for strangers’ loads of wash and drying of their personal laundry. The response has been gratifying. Others doing laundry then say thank you they can handle the expense and often give Rich money to support those in need. 

The next vestry meeting will be February 21, 2024

The meeting was adjourned with a prayer at 7:40 p.m.

Respectively Submitted,

Charlene Connolly Clerk of the Vestry

Recording Secretary  To be Named