The moderator, Lorraine Wilkins, called the meeting to order with 26 members present. The Church Clerk read the warning which stated that the Prudential Committee had a proposal for taking care of one of the deferred project; refinishing the floor and replacing the carpeting. The money used would be the $10.000 received from the town for easement rights for the roundabout.
Chair of the Prudential Committee, Jim Comar, reviewed the reasoning that had gone into making this recommendation, which was that this was an outstanding item on their list of deferred maintenance projects. They have received an estimate from Manchester Carpet Care that would include them doing the job one half at a time, partly because there is no area large enough to move all the pews at one so the job needs to be done in halves.
Jim mentioned that they were going to try to get a second estimate, but one problem was that no other local business could do the whole job. Judy Koch feels strongly that we should get a second estimate and suggested Snow’s.
Several were curious about the color of the carpeting, Jim said they would look over logical choices, narrow it down to three and let the congregation decide.
Lorraine wondered when work would begin. Jim C. thought after Christmas.
Ray Koch represented the view that this money should be used as part of the budget so we would not have to use as much of the money we withdrew from our invested funds. Wryanne agreed and felt that being solvent was more important at this time and that the appearance of the floor was not an incentive for people to attend our church. Mary Keyes also felt it was not wise to spend money for decoration when we’re having trouble meeting our budget concerns, and she also commented that there were many lovely parts of the church if appearance was a drawing card.
Jeff Linebeck felt that “found money “was swallowed up and we wondered what happened to it several years after we received it.
Martha Thompson expressed the feeling that keeping our facility attractive was a vote of confidence in the growth of our church and this point of view was echoed by Glenna Taxter.
A few wondered if it was a job we could do ourselves. Jim C. and Jim J. both commented that it had been considered but it was impractical for volunteers to do the quality of work required.
Lorraine Wilkins called for a vote.
Anna Ennis moved that we ask the Prudential Committee to proceed with the task of having the floors refinished and the carpeting replaced. Jim Johnson seconded, and it went to a voice vote. The outcome was unclear so we went to a paper ballot. The results were 19 in favor and 7 not in favor. The Yes’s have it, and the Prudential Committee will proceed.
With no other business to come before the meeting, it was adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted, Martha Thompson, Church Clerk