Minutes for the regular National Finance Committee meeting October 19,<br />
2010.<br />
<br />
Meeting convened at 8:47 PM (ET) a quorum being present, the Chair being<br />
absent and the Secretary being present.<br />
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Attending: Alonzo Brown, Mike Jones, R. Paul Martin, Simon Pius, Summer<br />
Reese, Tracy Rosenberg, Alex Steinberg, John Wenger, Lavarn Williams,<br />
Bruce Wolf, also attending was Pacifica Executive Director Arlene<br />
Engleheart. <br />
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Agenda:<br />
<br />
1. CFO's Report.<br />
<br />
2. Budget updates for WPFW, WBAI, KPFK and KPFA.<br />
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<br />
Tracy Rosenberg assumed the Chair and started the meeting. Summer Reese<br />
had called in saying she'd be a little late.<br />
<br />
CFO's Report<br />
<br />
CFO Lavarn Williams reported that she has received WBAI's draft FY11<br />
budget, but hasn't reviewed it closely. WPFW's draft FY11 budget is being<br />
put in the right format, Berthold Reimers is helping to do that. It should<br />
be ready for next week's meeting. KPFT's FY11 budget has been passed.<br />
KPFA's draft FY11 budget is a budget major issue, there is more than one<br />
version of it.<br />
<br />
Budget updates for WPFW, WBAI, KPFK and KPFA 8:54 PM (ET)<br />
<br />
It was reported that WPFW is getting it's budget put together. Their Fall<br />
2010 on-air fund raiser ended today, it more than met its goals.<br />
<br />
It was reported that the WBAI LSB voted to postpone consideration of the<br />
WBAI draft FY11 budget at its October 13, 2010, meeting. The next meeting<br />
of the WBAI LSB is scheduled for November 10, hope was voiced in the<br />
committee that the LSB might meet to consider the FY11 budget before then.<br />
<br />
It was reported that the KPFK LSB had called a special meeting to deal<br />
with the FY11 budget, but that meeting failed to achieve quorum. Those who<br />
attended discussed the budget. They hope to take up the FY11 budget at<br />
their October 23, 2010, meeting.<br />
<br />
It was reported that the KPFA LSB had considered their draft FY11 budget<br />
at a meeting last week. There were last minute changes to the budget<br />
proposal. Some changes were made to the draft. Salaries were proposed to<br />
be moved to lower numbers. The KPFA LSB chair walked the LSB through<br />
budget. Management didn't like the changes and submitted an alternative<br />
budget. There were motions at the LSB meeting for changes to headcount,<br />
salaries, etc. KPFA now has multiple draft FY11 budgets.<br />
<br />
The Executive Director said she had compared the draft budgets, identified<br />
changes, and marked up where she agrees and disagrees. She's met with the<br />
KPFA Union about it. Four motions were passed by the KPFA LSB, she'll<br />
present them here, she doesn't support them. Some health benefits cost<br />
more than the salaries that the workers earn. Union reps came up with a<br />
proposal to move some people on KPFA payroll who are over 65 to Medicare<br />
Advantage instead of the health insurance KPFA currently has, this could<br />
save $30,000. The Executive Director reworked her budget with those<br />
figures. KPFK is talking to the tax assessor to see if real estate taxes<br />
can be brought down and maybe get reimbursement for prior years. People at<br />
KPFA also felt that since KPFK pays a levy of only 18.5% because they<br />
provide space for the Pacifica Radio Archives, KPFA wants to pay 18.5% for<br />
sharing space with the National Office.<br />
<br />
Summer Reese assumed the Chair at 9:12 PM (ET)<br />
<br />
The committee and the Executive Director discussed the KPFA budgets. In<br />
June KPFA's headcount was 30.51 FTEs. The Executive Director said that the<br />
headcounts in the two proposed budgets came down to some at KPFA wanting to<br />
have 25.96 FTEs and her proposal is to have 22.21 FTEs. The legal aspects<br />
of moving some workers to Medicare Advantage will be looked into. The<br />
committee discussed more details of the budget differences. There will<br />
probably be a third proposed budget for KPFA. This one will include<br />
savings based on a reduction or elimination of in-person PNB meetings for<br />
FY11. It was noted that only the PNB can consider reducing or eliminating<br />
the number of in-person PNB meetings. The committee agreed that some<br />
aspects of the KPFA budget would have to be discussed in executive<br />
session.<br />
<br />
Motion: (Tracy Rosenberg) "The NFC recommends to the PNB: Spread out<br />
repayment of the unpaid central services KPFA owes Pacifica National from<br />
fiscal year 2009-2010 over the next three years – for a savings of roughly<br />
1.25 FTEs." (fails 1 for, 9 against)<br />
<br />
Motion: (Tracy Rosenberg) "The NFC recommends to the PNB: Suspend KPFA's<br />
payments to replenish the national Heath Endowment fund – for the savings<br />
of roughly 0.5 FTEs." (fails 0 for, 10 against)<br />
<br />
Motion: (Tracy Rosenberg) "The NFC recommends to the PNB: Suspend all<br />
in-person meetings of the Pacifica National Board, and return 1/5 of the<br />
of the savings to each of the five Pacifica stations, for a savings of<br />
roughly 0.4 FTEs." (fails 0 for, 9 against)<br />
<br />
Point of Order: (Alex Steinberg) The motion is out of order because the<br />
bylaws set the number of PNB meetings.<br />
<br />
The Chair ruled the motion in order.<br />
<br />
Motion: (Tracy Rosenberg) "The NFC recommends to the PNB: Reduce KPFA's<br />
Central Service Assessment by one percentage point to 18.5% in exchange<br />
for KPFA housing the Pacifica National Office." (fails 4 for, 4 against, 2<br />
abstentions)<br />
<br />
Motion: (Summer Reese) "To schedule additional meetings for November16,<br />
and 30, 2010." (Passed without objection)<br />
<br />
Motion: (R. Paul Martin) "To adjourn to executive session." (Passed<br />
without objection)<br />
<br />
Adjourned 10:39 PM (ET).<br />
<br />
Submitted by R. Paul Martin, Secretary.<br />