Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
Minutes of Past Meetings
Friday, June 7, 2013
Location: Home of Keith Koch. The 7 PM meeting was preceded by a delightful pot luck dinner with hamburgers & hot dogs supplied by the Kochs
Attendance
: Keith Koch (president), Jim Dunne (Secretary), Romayne Naylor (vice president), JoAnn & Dick Knupp, Sally Houser, Gay Dunne, Colina & Ralph Seeley, Nancy & Carl Miller, Patrick North, Melady Kehm, Dave Kurtz, Ziggy Coyle, David Bauchspies, Bruce Manchester and his daughterGarman Opera House:
The entire meeting was devoted to discussion of the Garman Opera House. The minutes have been grouped by subject, not the chronology of the discussion.Keith reviewed our discussions to date (see 5-28-13 minutes).
Pertaining to the Hearing on June 20th:
HBI Covenant: Sally stated that the covenant can’t be
cancelled. History of the covenant. “The12 disciples” purchased the Garman from
Hodes Furniture and rented it out for furniture storage. Pat Casher & Bruce
Cramer, owners in 1984, granted a restrictive covenant to HBI “to protect, for
conservation purposes, those historically and architecturally significant
features....” of the Garman Opera House.
Mr. Manchester: the HBI has a covenant running with the
land that lasts in perpetuity. If HBI elects not to enforce the covenant, we
could get an injunction forcing HBI to enforce it. Our options at the hearing:
We could ask the judge for a continuance; if the Court approves the Petition,
BHCA could ask for a writ of mandamus to honor the covenant and appeal the
decision to a higher court. The HBI board needs to decide about the covenant.
Sally (HBI vice president), and Melady will work to convene an emergency HBI
board meeting.
Questions in writing BHCA should ask at the hearing:
1. Does the court have the authority to vacate the covenant? The developer’s stated plan runs counter to the covenant. The two structural reports (BHCA, IDA) should be entered into evidence.
2. The IDA has fiduciary responsibility. Have they done due diligence in regards to the developer?
3. (Under the Conservator Act, the conservator can ask and the judge can grant that all mortgages, liens and taxes be marked as satisfied and terminated according to a legal presentation to Borough Council) Mr. Manchester suggested that BHCA could petition the court to have the IDA be removed and BHCA appointed conservator.
Public Meeting
Sign in sheets in 2 different locations.
Two greeters - Nancy & Sally
Facilitator/emcee - Keith
Jonathan - Vision
Patrick - Business plan. Scope is very large; It will amplify the vision.
Public discussion - time limitation.
Projector for images & documents. Please send anything you would like to project
to
General discussion thoughts by many:
Circulate Keith’s article in “Bellefonte Secrets” on the history of the Garman
FAQ sheet
Stay on message - Community Arts Center; save an historic building; Save the history for the future.
Local support for the arts is small; we need regional support.
The waterfront development and the theater support each other.
Potential question from the audience. Will Bellefonte tax dollars be used? Answer: The Borough is not involved in the financing.
Concerns voiced (not necessarily for public discussion)
Will the Garman & DoDe be torn down and both lots left vacant?
If all 32 units are not rented in a timely fashion as workforce housing, the rest can be rented as Section 8 housing. We need diversity in the downtown.
Fund Raising
There was discussion about spontaneous donations at
the meeting. Not all agreed that we should accept funds at the meeting. A
receipt will be available. Pledges are another option. Funds should be returned
if BHCA doesn’t proceed with the project. Funds should be separated from other
BHCA funds, possibly in another account.
Next Meeting
: Wednesday, June 12 in the Courthouse Annex at 7 PM for public meeting.James H Dunne, Secretary
BHCA Financial Report
June 5, 2013
|
|
7/1/2009- 6/30/2010 |
7/1/2010- 6/30/2011 |
7/1/2011- 6/30/2012 |
7/1/2012- 6/5/13 |
2012-2013 FY Budget |
INCOME |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest & dividends |
12 |
465 |
443 |
372 |
400 |
|
Other administration |
1,416 |
1,154 |
1,154 |
2,000 |
2,000 |
|
General fundraising |
3,245 |
3,862 |
3,125 |
3,281 |
3,500 |
|
Gallery at Gamble Mill |
1,600 |
1,405 |
80 |
158 |
1,000 |
|
Library Concerts |
9 |
1,546 |
1,205 |
279 |
1,050 |
|
Big Bands |
2,425 |
7,101 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Summer Sounds |
3,378 |
1,714 |
2,993 |
2,153 |
2,000 |
|
Victorian Christmas |
4,550 |
6,100 |
8,555 |
7,750 |
8,000 |
|
Talleyrand Park Comm |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2,625 |
0 |
|
Other projects |
_390_ |
__860__ |
__200__ |
_0_ |
__50__ |
|
TOTAL |
17,025 |
24,207 |
17,755 |
18,618 |
18,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXPENSES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administration |
5,614 |
4,039 |
1,337 |
1,085 |
1,000 |
|
General fundraising |
281 |
647 |
137 |
251 |
250 |
|
Gallery at Gamble Mill |
1,281 |
1,577 |
675 |
775 |
1,500 |
|
Library Concerts |
0 |
2,211 |
3,108 |
3,045 |
3,000 |
|
Garman Project |
0 |
0 |
0 |
650 |
0 |
|
Big Bands |
4,900 |
6,629 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Summer Sounds |
2,668 |
2,659 |
2,670 |
1,743 |
2,700 |
|
Victorian Christmas |
2,600 |
3,427 |
4,222 |
4,686 |
4,000 |
|
Talleyrand Park Comm |
434 |
27 |
2,845 |
13 |
0 |
|
Other projects |
_77_ |
_86_ |
_0_ |
_0_ |
__50__ |
|
TOTAL |
17,854 |
21,302 |
14,994 |
12,248 |
12,500 |
ASSETS 6/5/2013
Checking 7,292 General BHCA 27,545
PO returned mail fund 50 Gannon Fund 1,731
MM Fund 8,102 Talleyrand Park 4,201
Post Office Fund (56) Perform Arts Fund 2,062
Vanguard Bond Fund 20,151 TOTAL 35,539
TOTAL 35,539
Notes:
(1) We need to apply to the Garver Fund IMMEDIATELY for a $1,000 grant for
Summer Sounds.
Submitted: David H. Eggler, Treasurer