HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/13/2014 - Museums Bayham Museums Bayham Meeting
Wednesday, August 13, 2014. 7 p.m.
DRAFT Minutes
Present: Ron Bradfield, Chuck Buchanan, Bev Hickey, Brian Masschaele, Anna Schaefer, Matt
Schaefer, Counselor Tom Southwick, Susan Start, Albert White
Regrets: Lynn Acre
Absent: Ray Maddox
Invited Guest: Jim Tone
1. Call To Order. Chair Bev Hickey welcomed everyone to the meeting, particularly thanking
Counselor Southwick for his support, and called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
2. Declarations Of Pecuniary Interest.
Ron Bradfield declared a pecuniary interest in Agenda Item #10—Items To Be Donated To The
Museum by Ron Bradfield.
3. Approval Of The Agenda.
Moved by Ron Bradfield, seconded by Susan Start, that Agenda Items #8 and #9— Report Re
Municipal Council Meeting of August 7th and News Article Re Municipal Council Meeting—be deleted
from the Agenda. Carried.
Moved by Ron Bradfield, seconded by Brian Masschaele, the approval of the agenda as amended.
Carried.
4. Approval Of Susan Start As Acting Secretary.
Moved by Matt Schaefer, seconded by Chuck Buchanan that, in the absence of Lynn Acre, Susan Start
act as secretary for the purpose of taking the meeting minutes for this meeting. Carried.
5. Approval Of July 9, 2014 Meeting Minutes.
Moved by Brian Masschaele, seconded by Chuck Buchanan,that the Item concerning Ron Bradfield's
donation to the Marine Museum be corrected to read "donation of 148 pier lights valued at $18,300
($125 each)". Carried.
Moved by Chuck Buchanan, seconded by Brian Masschaele, that the minutes of the July 9, 2014
meeting be approved, as amended. Carried.
6. Correspondence.
Chuck Buchanan reported that no correspondence had been received since the July 9t" meeting.
7. Introduction of Jim Tone.
Chair Bev Hickey introduced Jim Tone to the Board and thanked him for accepting the Board's
invitation to speak to us about the Polestar volunteer initiative. Jim gave the Board a detailed and
informative written and verbal presentation on the background of the Polestar program, which
started with a single citizen, Margot Auber, who contacted Ontario Hydro to ask permission for the
Port Burwell Elementary School children to be able to paint the bottom of the hydro poles on
Robinson Street. The response from Ontario Hydro to this request, which included no request for
funding, grew into the banners of the students' art prepared and donated by Ontario Hydro. This
remarkable cooperative venture has inspired many ideas around citizen participation in 'fixing up' our
villages and the Hwy 19 corridor through Bayham in a coordinated approach. Examples are
Carolinian plantings, promotional flyers, and booklets for visitors promoting Bayham, all at low cost,
with time and materials donated by volunteers.
The group's goals are low-cost community beautification, improvement to the natural environment,
citizen involvement, enhancement to business and tourism, all to increase the revenue stream to the
municipality.
One completed project is the replanting of the teardrop island at the beach end of Robinson Street in
Port Burwell with Carolinian shrubs and flowers. The only formal community involvement was
obtaining permission from the Municipality to do so.
Jim inquired whether the Museum Board would like to see similar plantings at the Marine Museum,
by the lighthouse and at the Edison Museum, as a continuation of this long-term goal of establishing
a citizen-led Carolinian Corridor beginning at the lakefront and continuing up Hwy 19 through the
Township, involving both public and private property-owners. Considerable interest was expressed
by the Board for this idea, particularly as there already exists a plaque to migrating monarch
butterflies on the grounds of the Marine Museum.
Jim also mentioned the interest of members of the Periscope Theatre Company to create and act
historical vignettes of incidents and people in Bayham's history and to post them to Youtube and act
them outdoors at the Museums at set times throughout the summer months—sort of a 'flashmob'
approach to local history theatre.
Chair Bev Hickey thanked Jim for his presentation. Mr. Tone then left the meeting.
Moved by Susan Start, seconded by Albert White, that the Board recommend to Council the
approval of the creation of a suitably-sized bed of native plantings around the butterfly plaque at
the Port Burwell Marine Museum. Carried.
Items 8 and 9 were deleted from the Agenda.
10. Items To Be Donated By Ron Bradfield.
Ron absented himself from the meeting for the discussion of this item.
Ron had written to the Board expressing that he was having second thoughts about his donation of
148 pier lights to the museum in light of Council's recent decision to sell the former firehall corner of
the civic square in Port Burwell. He is concerned that his donation could be sold by Council in the
future. Moved by Brian Masschaele, seconded by Albert White, that Ron's reconsideration of his
donation be received as information. Carried.
11. 'Museum Parking Only' Signs.
When asked by board members, Tom Southwick reported that a request for parking signs for the
Marine Museum had not come up at Council. Susan Start confirmed from the board's minutes that a
specific request had not been made to Council since the board had been informed by Township staff
that plans for permanent 'Museum Parking Only' signs were underway as part of a larger parking sign
initiative. Chuck Buchanan reported that the summer students had made temporary signs which are
posted during the museum's operating hours. The Board expressed its hope that the Municipality's
plans for permanent signs at the Port Burwell Marine Museum, stating Museum Parking Only
During Operating Hours,will be in place for next season.
12. Ship's Wheelhouse Acquisition.
Ron Bradfield reported on the background of this item. "Several years ago, Dave Mason, Tony Lama,
Chuck Buchanan, and Ron Bradfield went to Dunnville and looked at a ship's wheelhouse with the
intention of trying to acquire it for our museum. The company that owned it was using it for their
office. At the time, they were lukewarm as to making a deal with us, so we did not pursue it further.
The company has now contacted Ron and has said that they are intending to build a new office and
were wondering if we were still interested. Ron has not as yet been able to get any idea from them
as to how much they would be asking for it; however, they told Ron to come and take a look and
make them an offer. This is a really nice two-story ship's wheelhouse and these opportunities do not
come along very often, if ever. We had made a deal to acquire the wheelhouse from the Henry
Steinbrenner ship a few years ago; however, it caught fire and we lost out. This Company moved the
wheelhouse in three pieces, i.e. the top story and then they cut the lower section in half and
reassembled it in their yard. This would make a great addition to our Marine facilities." [from Ron's
email to board members of August 11th] Ron showed the Board a photograph of the wheelhouse
when it was on the ship from which it was removed. He reported that the company may wish to
move the wheelhouse by the end of October, and that his impression is that they would very much
like the Marine Museum to have it.
Moved by Susan Start, seconded by Brian Masschaele, that a subcommittee consisting of Ron
Bradfield, Chuck Buchanan, Bev Hickey and Albert White be established to determine the feasibility
of acquiring this wheelhouse from J.D. Barnes Company of Dunnville for the Marine Museum.
Carried.
13. HMCS Ojibwa Photography Contest.
Chair Bev Hickey brought information about a community photography contest of local museum
landmarks being offered by HMCS Ojibwa, which runs until September 15 and whose prize is a year's
admission to the submarine. Moved by Ron Bradfield, seconded by Albert White, that this item be
received as information. Carried.
The Chair mentioned that the Ojibwa is expecting a large number of visitors for special events on the
weekend of September 27th and 28th and asked if the Marine Museum could be open on those two
days. There was consensus to defer this topic to the September meeting, when volunteer staffing for
Doors Open would also be discussed. Counselor Southwick made a much appreciated suggestion to
look into offering community service hours to local high school students to assist with this staffing.
14. Lacie Williamson Proposed Exhibit.
Correspondence from this freelance photographer about her proposed exhibit of photographs of the
Mohawk Island Lighthouse was received from Municipal Clerk Lynda Millard. Brian Masschaele noted
that the mounting of such an exhibit was "out of the league" of a museum such as ours. The other
area museums that Ms. Williamson has approached are fully-staffed, year-round facilities with the
appropriate insurance to cover loaned exhibits of this nature. Moved by Brain Masschaele, seconded
by Susan Start, that this item be received for information. Carried.
15. Resignation From The Board.
With the deepest regret,the Museum Board accepted notice of Brian Masschaele's resignation
from this Board effective the end of this term in November. Brian has offered his willing hands as
well as his all-important professional expertise to the Board for twelve years in his role as heritage
representative. Brian offered to continue in a supportive role to the Board in his professional
capacity as Director of Cultural Services for the County of Elgin. He also offered the resources of
Mike Baker, Elgin County Museum Curator, whose duties include museum coordination for the
County. Brian reported that he is unable to attend the September board meeting, but will be at the
October meeting to assist in the discussion of potential successors to the role of heritage
representative on the Board.
16. Life Boat Painting.
Chair Bev Hickey noted that paint had been purchased to repaint the lifeboat which sits on the
grounds of the Marine Museum. Moved by Ron Bradfield, seconded by Chuck Buchanan, that a
quote for painting the lifeboat be obtained from Chuck Davis, a painter in Aylmer. Carried.
17. Next Meeting.
Wednesday, September 10th at the Municipal Office, Straffordville. In Lynn Acre's absence, Chuck
Buchanan offered to act as secretary for the September meeting.
On at motion by Matt Schaefer, the meeting was adjourned at 9:12 p.m.
OfChairman Bev ick- � Acting Secretary, Susan Start
Approved: September 10/14