Historical Commission Agenda and Packet 2009 10 21

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Historical Commission Minutes August 19, 2009 Page 2 of 3 VI. Executive Director's Report: A. Budget Update and Effect on Museum: City Council is reviewing $1.5 million in cuts. Beginning January 1, the Museum Coordinator's hours will potentially be cut from 29 to 20 per week, which will affect the number of hours per week that the Museum can be open. Meredyth Muth also reported that there might be a tax increase on the ballot in November 2010. The issue of having an entrance fee at the Museum was raised. Meredyth Muth stated that such a fee would go into the City's general fund and may not come back to the Museum. Bridget Bacon noted that many visitors come to use the Museum to research the publicly available historical materials that the Museum keeps, and indicated that she believed that it would not be appropriate to ask them for a fee. Also, the dues paid to the Commission for memberships do bring in a significant amount of funds from the public that help support the Museum. The Commission then considered the possibility of doing more to encourage monetary donations to the Museum. B. Recap of Study Session with City Council: The study session with City Council took place on Tuesday, August 11. Dan Mellish, Brian Chamberlin, and Dustin Sagrillo were in attendance from the Commission. Dan reported that he brought up the subject of the Jordinelli House. The Council was complimentary of the Commission members and their efforts and approved the Commission's work plan and priorities for the upcoming year. C. Likely Reorganization of Museum to Library: Meredyth Muth stated that the new Library Director is interested in the idea and that it is likely to happen around the end of the year. The Museum and Commission would no longer be organized to be part of the City Manager's Office, but would instead be connected to the Library. D. An update was given on upcoming public works affecting the Museum buildings. VII. Museum Coordinator's Report: A. Deeds of Gifts - The Commission accepted the following donations to the Museum: 1. Dave Ferguson - hatchet used by the Todd family and plane used by the Ferguson family 2. Jean Morgan - potato cutter in original box 3. Sally Burlingame - mug from Senor T's Restaurant 4. Claudine Seader - photos, scans of photos, postcards showing Louisville, and other items relating to her family, the Eberharter family that lived at the site of the present Chamber of Commerce Deeds accepted on motion of Alice Koerner. B. Possible Future Donations: Dustin Sagrillo reported on some potential donations to the Museum from a colleague. Bridget Bacon reported that the owners of Senor T's are still interested in the possibility of donating the movie curtain from the Rex Theatre with its advertising of downtown Louisville businesses. C. Brian Chamberlin and Alice Koerner offered to speak to a local group in search of a speaker or speakers about Louisville history. Bob Enrietto will be speaking about Louisville history at Balfour in September. Commission members noted an excellent Summer issue of the Louisville Historian.