Father Kleppner - February 18, 2007We reviewed the financial situation of the parish. Everything seemed to be in order and our parish offertory expansion campaign, this time, was very successful. Father Kleppner notified the pastoral council of the dean’s triennial visit. Father Robert Guay will visit our parish on Wednesday, February 28, 2007. In the afternoon he will meet with the pastor and the parochial vicar. He will meet with the pastoral associate, the coordinator of religious education, the parish music director, parish secretaries, youth minister, business manager, the head maintenance. This meeting will take place collectively not individually. Later in the afternoon Father Guay will walk with Father Kleppner through the buildings and review sacramental records. In the evening Father Guay will meet with the pastoral council’s executive committee and any other members of the pastoral council that would like to be present. Following that meeting, he will meet with members of the parish finance council. We reviewed progress for building our church. We discussed the possibility of continuing with L.D. Astorino and Associates or at this point, because we are in the design and development stage, bidding this out to other architects. There were mixed feelings. Some thought that Astorino does good work and is very reliable. Others thought that maybe putting it out for bid would bring in a better offer or at least cause L.D. Astorino to offer a more competitive bid. Father Kleppner said he will consult with diocesan officials relative to this and see what suggestions they might make. We need to move on this as soon as possible. Father Kleppner also asked members of the pastoral council to share input for his yearly state of the parish talk. What should be said as far as where we were, where we are, and where we need to go. These issues emerged. 1) Thanking people for their generosity, especially in the offertory expansion program. 2) Mentioning the need for reverence in our church and especially around the Eucharist. 3) Needing volunteers in various ministries. 4) The importance of people coming to the many opportunities we offer for adult formation in our parish. We also discussed getting ready for our 50th anniversary as a parish in 2011. Father Kleppner shared with the pastoral council a letter from Carleen Papa stating her intention to resign from the pastoral council for personal reasons, especially the fact that she is now a new mother. Father Kleppner will review the ballots when we elected pastoral council members and will ask the person who was next highest in votes if they would like to be a member of the pastoral council to take Carleen’s place. The pastoral council will meet again on Sunday, April 29, 2007. Our parish finance council met on Thursday, February 1, 2007. Members present were: Al Bartosh, Carl Chiocchi, Norm Gilkey, and Joseph Klimchak. Members absent were Beulah Hallisey. Father Kleppner advised the finance council of the dean’s visit on February 28, 2007. We also discussed the issue of a permanent church and the same discussion took place about continuing with L.D. Astorino that was discussed at the pastoral council meeting. We also discussed the importance of reverence in church and the attendance at our adult faith formation opportunities. Father Kleppner reviewed with members of the finance council their major areas of responsibility which are to advise and assist the pastor in the following areas of parish finances: Application of diocesan finance policies - Financial stability and viability of the parish - Efficiency of operations and internal controls - Offertory collection procedures - Accuracy of parish accounts - Annual financial reports - Parish operating and capital budgets - Long-range financial plan - Bank reconciliations - Examination of reports from parish organizations - Coordination of fundraising programs and activities - Maintenance and repairs - Requests for repayment of parish borrowing - Capital expenditure requests. Fulfillment of Duties: To be effective in their consultation to the pastor, parish finance council members must be kept informed by the pastor and/or the business manager or bookkeeper of all parish financial matters including bank accounts, investments, endowments, bequests and other funds held by the parish, all indebtedness and payment schedules, diocesan obligations and assessments, recent audit report and parish salaries, income and expenditures. In addition, parish finance council members must be provided by the pastor with copies of all diocesan policies and regulations affecting parish administration. To be truly effective, the parish finance council must be informed and engaged. While we have tried to meet quarterly, sometimes this has been “hit or miss”. Members suggested that we determine the date of our regular meetings and keep to them as best as possible. We decided to meet every second Wednesday of the new quarter. Our next parish finance council meetings will be held May 9, 2007 followed by meetings on July 11, 2007, September 12, 2007, and December 12, 2007. Members of the finance council regularly receive the Business Services Newsletter from the diocese to inform them of financial matters relating to the parish and will also be receiving regularly the quarterly statements of the parishes financial status from the diocese. We are beginning to prepare our budget for the 2007-08 year. Father Kleppner asked that Joe Klimchak work with Al Bartosh on developing this budget. Father Kleppner told members of the finance council that they always have open access to any and all of the parish financial records any time they wish to see them. Father Kleppner also informed the finance council that in the past he has delegated to them many administrative aspects of the parish including parish personnel issues: hiring, salaries, benefits etc. However, some parish employees still insist on coming to Father directly. When this happens, he refers them to Al Bartosh and if necessary other members of the finance council to discuss things like salaries, benefits, etc. The parish finance council must be aware of all these issues namely; needed personnel, salaries, benefits, etc. However, with regard to salary and benefits, etc. the finance council is to keep these matters in strict confidentiality. It would be a very exceptional case that Father Kleppner would not take the recommendation of the finance council in these areas. Father Kleppner informed finance council members that our diocese will audit the parish on February 20, 2007. This is done every three years. Any member of the finance council is welcome to sit in on the auditors report at the end of the audit. |
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