TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008

Meeting called to order at 11:10 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Burridge, Fein, Johansen, Rizzo, Schaffner, Schwartz and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. 

Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of November 18, 2008. Motion made and carried to approve the minutes as amended. Opposed: Burridge and Schwartz.

President Landolfi requested affirmation of a phone poll approving the expenditure of $500 for a one-half page ad in a fund raising journal for Citizens Action from the public relations budget. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

President Landolfi reported on the status of negotiations with the New York City Ballet. Discussion held.

Chief Information Officer Alayo and computer consultant Cronin appeared before the Board and distributed and reviewed bids received from three vendors for a new software system to handle all of Local 802’s membership, contracts and financial data requirements. The bids came from Innovative Software Solutions, Inc., KMR Systems, Inc. and Syntonic Systems, Inc. Alayo and Cronin informed the Board that they and Computer Consultant Don Moore were unanimous in recommending the proposal presented by KMR Systems, Inc. at a cost of $285,000 plus tax which was the middle bid. It was noted that a portion of the cost of the project could be paid this year and the balance would be amortized over a 5 year period. Discussion held. Alayo and Cronin excused. Motion made and carried unanimously that Local 802 accept the software proposal from KMR Systems, Inc. of Syosset, New York at a cost of $285,000 and to instruct counsel to enter into negotiations with KMR for a contract covering the proposed work.

Local 802 Counsel Mars and Assistant to the President LeFevre present. Discussion held on a letter and e-mail sent to musicians engaged in the production of the children’s cable show “WonderPets!” regarding a potential job action. Assistant to the President LeFevre excused. Motion made and carried to affirm a phone poll approving the letter sent to musicians engaged in the production of the children’s cable television show “WonderPets!” regarding a potential job action. Opposed: Burridge and Schwartz.

Johansen excused at 1:10 p.m. Dennison distributed charges filed by member David Finck against officers Landolfi, Blumenthal, Dennison, Fein, Giannini and Rizzo. Dennison also distributed a proposed response to Finck. Discussion held. Board member Schaffner excused at 1:45 p.m. Motion made and carried to send the proposed response as amended to Finck. Opposed: Burridge and Schwartz.

Financial Vice President Blumenthal presented a collective bargaining agreement with the Westchester Philharmonic. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement. Mars excused.

Blumenthal requested approval of the regular Christmas bonus to staff and vendors in an amount totaling $10,166. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Blumenthal requested a standard 3 percent wage increase for a staff member. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Blumenthal presented a request from The Allentown Band to perform at an educational festival for high school and collegiate musicians at Carnegie Hall without remuneration. The event is free and open to the general public. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Blumenthal presented a memorandum of agreement with the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) covering an early music engagement at BAM. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement.

Blumenthal requested that Local 802’s future delivery services be handled by UPS rather than DHL because DHL was ending domestic service and UPS services were unionized. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Controller Goldman appeared before the Board and presented the October 2008 financials and the January to October 2008 financials. Discussion held.

Meeting adjourned at 2:25 p.m.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2008

Meeting called to order at 11:10 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Burridge, Fein, Giannini, Johansen, Norrell, Rizzo, Schaffner, Schwartz and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. 

Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of November 25, 2008. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended. 

Motion made and seconded that the results of phone polls as taken be reported in the Board minutes as well as the procedural vote taken at the subsequent meeting to affirm the accuracy of the poll. Opposed: Schwartz.

Landolfi reported that the Broadway Television Network had contacted Local 802 about renewing their agreement.

Landolfi presented an invoice from Attorney Mel Schwarzwald for services provided to the New York City Ballet Orchestra committee through July 30, 2008 in the amount of $38,106.24. Landolfi reported that the cap on legal service payments available to the NYC Ballet Orchestra (NYCBO) as per the bylaw establishing the Members Legal Services Fund, Article III Section 10. paragraph (2), was $27,350. Landolfi noted that under Section 10, paragraph (3) of that same bylaw Local 802 could approve an additional credit of $9,166 for payment of NYSBO legal services and requested that a total payment of $36,516.67 be made to Schwarzwald from the Members’ Legal Services Fund. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request. 

Dennison reported that he had attempted to contact member Wolfram Koessel regarding a canceled film session date and that he had not yet received a reply. (See minutes of September 9, 2008.) Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously that another effort be made to contact Koessel and if there is no response that he be asked to appear before the Board.

Dennison requested payment of a New York City Building Department summons in the amount of $1,000 regarding an outstanding occupancy permit for the first floor clubroom at Local 802 headquarters. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Principal Theatre Representative Donovan appeared before the Board and presented an agreement with the Irish Repertory Theatre. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement. Donovan excused.

Discussion held on nonunion work.

Meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2008

Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: Recording Vice President Dennison, Executive Board members Fein, Norrell, Rizzo, Roach, Schaffner, Schwartz and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. President Landolfi excused due to illness. Financial Vice President Blumenthal excused on union business. Meeting was chaired by Dennison. Rizzo took the minutes.

Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of December 2, 2008. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as amended.

Chief Information Officer Alayo appeared before the Board and presented a request for purchase of computer equipment and supplies at a cost of $44,980. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request. Alayo reported on the status of the software upgrades for the Local 802 Health Fund and for the Local 802 computer systems. Alayo excused. 

Dennison presented a Workshop Agreement with HIS WAY Entertainment, LLC. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement.

Dennison distributed a communication regarding the retainer agreement with the Albany office of Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, LLC and requested approval of a two year extension at the current fee of $1,000 per month with the option to renegotiate that fee after 1 year. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Dennison requested approval of the purchase of a half-page ad at a cost of $250 in the journal for the 38th Annual Theatre Hall of Fame event. Among the honorees at this year’s event was orchestrator and 802 member Jonathan Tunick. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Dennison requested approval of a $250 donation to the New York City Labor Chorus. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Dennison requested a donation of $250 to the Susan B. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research in the name of recently deceased former Local 802 Vice President Tina Hafemeister. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Dennison requested the purchase of a half-page ad for the Local 802 Job Referral Service at a cost of $2,000 in the 2009 Spring/Summer issue of Manhattan Bride Magazine. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request.

Board member Giannini present at 11:55 a.m. Dennison reported that the collective bargaining agreement with City Center for the “Encores!” series was expiring and that as in the past, the union would be in contact with the bargaining unit to involve members in that negotiation. Discussion held.

Jazz Representative Weeks appeared before the Board and presented an agreement with Contrary Mary Music, Inc. (Walt Weiskopf). Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement. Weeks presented an agreement with Sixteen As One Music, Inc. covering the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the agreement. Weeks excused.

Dennison distributed charges filed against the union officers and Executive Board by member David Finck.

Meeting adjourned at 12:25 pm.