Meeting Minutes

 

Maine Section ASCE Board of Directors

4:00 PM April 27, 2006

HNTB Office

Westbrook, Maine

 

Present:            Bob Chaput, President

                        Peter Merfeld, President-Elect

Tim Merritt, Vice-President

                        Erik Wiberg, Secretary

                        Chris Taylor, Treasurer

                        Walter Fagerlund, Informant Editor & Technical Seminar

                        Be Schonewald

                        Greg Blake

           

Note:  The minutes are presented in the order presented on the agenda and not as discussed.

           

  1. Welcome

 

  1. Board Meeting Minutes

 

    1. March 28, 2006 Board Meeting: Headlight should be changed to Observatory in the discussion on page 1.  Peter made motion to approve minutes as amended, Walter seconded. Minutes unanimously approved.

 

  1. Treasurer’s Report
    1. The Maine Section has not yet received Transportation Conference proceeds (typical).  A $1,300 loss is projected for the annual meeting (absent event sponsorships). 
    2. Peter motioned and Tim seconded motion to accept the report.  Unanimous vote to accept.
    3. There was a discussion on sponsorship of the UMaine concrete canoe and steel bridge teams.

 

  1. Monthly Programs

 

    1. Annual Meeting:  The Civil Engineering Historic Landmark presentation will be made on the boat.  Banquet to follow in Portland.  Tim Merritt has invited city and state government leaders.  Anni Autio will be present to make the presentation.  Tim will prepare a meeting brochure and table top cards recognizing event sponsors (ASCE, Maine Turnpike Authority and the University of Maine Outreach program).

 

  1. Committee Updates
    1. Informant/Web Page

                                                               i.      A summer issue will be sent out in late June/early July.  Be suggested Mike Davies might be able to provide content on the 50th anniversary of the interstate system.  Cold Regions conference was also suggested as a topic.

    1. Younger Members

                                                               i.      Be Schonewald reported on behalf of Jennifer Tooley.

                                                             ii.      Home Buyers workshop was a success.  PE Exam refresher is planned for June.  Personal finance topic will be covered about 2 months later.  Red Sox tickets are not available (checked in February) and Jen is looking into a Portland Sea Dog’s event.  Walter volunteered to be Jennifer’s liaison to the ASCE board.

 

  1. Old Business
    1. Constitution/Bylaws

                                                               i.      Bob Chaput contacted Anni Autio for comment from National but has not heard back.  Bob suggested holding off on announcing bylaw changes until National response.  National review not necessary to proceed.

    1. SPAG Grants/Historic Landmark Submittals

                                                               i.      Tourism Brochure – Greg thinks Mike Moreau is updating the brochure to include the Portland Observatory.  Be to follow up with Mike.  Chris Taylor will verify the section has renewed distribution with the Tourism Bureau.   Bob volunteered to drop off the brochures at the bureau.  A suggestion was made to also distribute to the town’s Chambers of Commerce where landmarks are located.

 

  1. New Business
    1. CAD Camp

                                                               i.      Scheduled for July 9-14th at UMaine.  The camp is soliciting scholarships for students.  Fee to attend with room and board is $700/student and is $480/student for day campers.  The camp is organized by Karen Horton.  Eric Landis solicited sponsorship from the board.  Tim Merritt motioned to provide funding for a $700 scholarship for an economic hardship need.  Chris Taylor seconded.  The board members present voted unanimously to approve.  Bob will request Eric Landis to report on the sponsorship for publishing in the Informant.

 

    1. National ASCE Meeting

                                                               i.      The meeting is scheduled for Monday November 6th or 13th.  Peter expressed interest in attending.  Sections cover expenses to attend….will need to include in 2006-2007 budget.

    1. Be reported that there is little momentum for mid-June in-state recognition of Maine’s interstate system as part of the 50th anniversary.  Representatives MDOT, MTA, ACM, ASCE, Maine State Library, and FHWA attended a brainstorming session for in state recognition.  MDOT has little available funding for anniversary events. On the national level, a caravan of 1950’s vehicles is scheduled to cross the US.  A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held in Washington DC on June 29th.

 

  1. Adjourn
    1. Walter motioned and Tim seconded to adjourn. Unanimous vote to adjourn.

 

Note:  A motion and vote by email for sponsorship of the UMaine concrete canoe and steel bridge teams.   On April 24, 2006, Peter Merfeld motioned and Tim Merritt seconded the motion to provide a one time allotment to the concrete canoe team of $1,000 and steel bridge of $1,500.   Peter, Tim, Jeremy Bragg, Walter, Kathy Kern, Bob Chaput, and I voted in favor of the motion.  Chris Taylor abstained.  No votes in negative were received as of May 11, 2006.

 

In his discussion to make the motion, Peter suggested that section funding for future regional competitions should be made part of the normal annual allotment given in the fall (leaving use of the funds up to the student chapter) or paid by corporate sponsors with the Maine section assisting in solicitations.  The Maine Section should attempt to support the student chapter if competing in national events including making solicitations from corporate sponsors.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Erik J Wiberg, P.E., Secretary