2018 Property & Grounds Annual Report:
Presented October, 2018
Property and Grounds completed fiscal year 2017-18 $2,000 under budget, having been fortunate that there were no major building repairs or need of mechanical work to the furnace or heat pumps. P&G's obligations for the upgrade of the Common Room were met within the budget, consisting largely of the replacement of the hot water heater with a larger unit. We successfully managed traffic for several large events such as the Carriage Shed Sale, memorial services, and weddings, and have enjoyed supporting the school events which largely occurred this past summer.
To date in this fiscal year, P&G is tracking within budget as well, having been allowed to retain our previous year's $30,000 for this year's budget. We have every expectation that this year's budget will be met. The work on the steps for the Brick Meeting House have been funded by the Trustees.
What began over a year ago as an investigation into rebuilding the back exterior stairs to the Brick Meeting House has evolved into a strategic planning exercise for our next capital project. While that may overstate the endeavor somewhat, once it became obvious that we had to consider fire codes not only for the back stairs, but for the upstairs rooms for the First Day School, the scope clearly exceeded that of Property and Grounds. We had a called meeting, more than a few subcommittee meetings all of which, at their core, remained beyond our scope. [Footnote: Property and Grounds views its duties as limited to the maintenance and upkeep of the physical plant. We defer aesthetic decisions to interested parties or the Meeting in general.] It has become obvious that there is not yet clarity on the matter of expending somewhere between $50,000 to $100,000 to overhaul access to the second floor of the Brick Meeting House without taking a careful look at broader strategic alternatives, particularly for the First Day School. The matter now rests with Long Range Planning Group, Mark Beck, Clerk.
Property and Grounds continues with its normal responsibilities; a clean up day in November—assuming the leaves actually fall out of the trees by then—driveway repairs and the usual maintenance such as creaking benches in the Brick Meeting House. Some of the woodwork around the doors in the Brick Meeting House will be in need of attention, but, in general, the physical plant is in pretty good shape.
I would especially like to thank the loyal members of the P&G committee for their conscientious and dedicated service, and make particular mention of thanks to Bob Day—steps, Pricilla Morris—flora and fauna, and Clay Owens—pretty much everything else.
Brick Meeting House humidity control with dehumidifiers is being pursued.
Submitted, with thanks to the members of the Committee.