[CSL board] Minutes 2-13-07 BOD Meeting

[Laura MacNeil]

http://www.thecsl.org/sys/bod_meetings/021307%20CSL%20BOD%20Meeting%20Minutes.doc

The Community Software Lab

Meeting of the Board of Directors

February 13, 2007


Present: Dan MacNeil, Fred Martin, Karen Zgoda, Charlotte Crockford,
Laura MacNeil, Paul Hansen, Melissa Carino

Guests: Paul Marion, Eric Bryant, John Miller

Excused: Josh Harding, Kristina Ickes


Meeting convened by Fred Martin at 6:10pm.


Paul Marion, Kerouac scholar, poet, Director of Community Relations at
U-Mass Lowell and liaison between CSL and U-Mass was welcomed to the
meeting.


Paul described his understanding of the Lab's history, the relationship
of the Lab with the university and his desire to create a memo of
understanding.


Memo of Understanding – explains the relationship and “certifies” the
official partnership, complete within 30 days. After MOU complete, Paul
can pursue physical access to the building.

Issues to consider including in the MOU:

CSL liability

benefits that the Lab offers the U-Mass community and community at large

benefits that U-Mass offers the Lab

Paul can help Lab get 24-hour access to its office

List services the university receives in exchange for space

Consider ways the Lab can provide web hosting services for more
university departments?

Consider ways to expand regional support to Lawrence, Haverhill through
MVHub

Parking


ACTION:

Paul Marion will do an outline and email to Dan MacNeil and Fred Martin
for feedback and revisions.


ACTION:

Dan MacNeil will send Paul Marion the summary of the Lab (use
boilerplate from Boomer grant).


Introduction of new Development Coordinator:

Eric Bryant Haiku:

Eric the new guy

Development Director

Board is very pleased


ebryant at thecsl.org <mailto:ebryant at thecsl.org>


Would like feedback and critique of work. Expects to focus on MVHub
grants. Create a 990 and Guidestar presence in order to appear more
“transparent” to funders.


Finances:

Board reviewed financial report. Dan expressed concern that cash flow is
difficult right now.


Water Festival has owed Lab $625 since the summer. Invoiced in December.
They said they were withholding payment until Lab fixes some things, but
they haven't told Dan what they were. Dan thinks they may be holding
back because they don't have the money. There is no written contract.
Work done on a handshake. Dan has an email from them stating they were
going to try to pay $400. He also has an email from them from August
stating they were satisfied with the work and instructing Dan to bill them.


Current income:

$1200 Lowell Deeds

$20,000 Boomer Grant – designated to specific project


Suggestion that Dan increase fees for services and increase estimated
time to do job. Also should ask for a portion of fee up front and
incorporate administrative costs into grants. Board directed Dan to ask
for a portion of consulting fees up-front before starting work. Board
expressed concern that he is not charging enough for his services and
suggested $50 as a good hourly rate.


Status of projects

Youth at Risk/MVHub – merge directories – use MVHub software and
agency's “face”.


samba – John Miller spent a majority of his time using samba to set up a
file server to Broadcast and Student Media dept. because university's IT
department wouldn't do it. It is likely that the Lab will be a line item
in their budget next year.


freebsd – backup domain name service is hosted by a third party.
switching to freebsd would cost Lab $10 but it took serveral weeks to
make the switch.


Downtime Database – still working on db, going forward. It will allow
Lab to quantify performance. Focus is to have this done right rather
than quickly.


Zen – community foundation grant funding this project. setting up a test
server.


Lowell Deeds – asking Lab to do additional work


Grassroots Conference – June 22-23 is the Grassroots User Technology
Conference. It is happening concurrent with the Grassroots Radio
Conference. Lab is responsible for the Open Source day at the
conference. Lab is collaborating with Organizers Collaborative and
Aspiration Tech.


TURI – Toxic Users Reduction Institute asking Lab to do web design work
at $50 per hour. Erich Jansen will be doing the work.


boomer grant – ends June 30


Respectability (boomer 2) – Similar to Boomer grant but national –
service grant. They rejected the grant. Eric Bryant will find out why
the grant was rejected.


UTEC – Slowly making progress on UTEC work. They have been paying $10
per hour per contract. Dan is allowed to demand Gregg turn off cell
phone and UTEC is fined $100 for every meeting they blow off. Contract
ended in January, but the contract is extended monthly by a verbal
agreement.


Board discussed the relevance of work the Lab does for UTEC in view of
its mission and direction the board wants the Lab to move to. There is
history with UTEC, which explains part of why the Lab continues to work
with them. However, the work the Lab does for UTEC isn't in line with
the direction of the Lab, the Lab is not well-compensated for the work,
and the contract with UTEC has expired.


Motion: Dan enter new written and oral contracts where the Lab bills
minimum of $25/hour with a target of $50/hour for work that is well
defined. (Laura/Charlotte) in favor: P. Hansen, K. Zgoda, C. Crockford,
M. Carino, L. MacNeil opposed: D. MacNeil


Municipal Wireless – Dan MacNeil and Felicia Sullivan at Broadcast and
Student Media are talking about applying to GLCF to get planning grant
to explore providing free municipal wireless to city of Lowell. Possible
funding to sustain municipal wireless could come from CDBG funds. Could
be a source of income for the Lab because of fees for maintaining and
tech assistance or Lab sets up fee structure for advertising or sells
franchise to for profit which in turn charges fees or uses advertising.
Lab would be more visible. Concern that pursuing new project will take
away from MVHub projects, funding for salaries and other priorities set
by board at previous meetings.


Points raised:

this can be a huge distraction from other work

wireless project could put the Lab way up front in services, energy,
money in the city – if successful could be a huge community technology
project

this is the type of project that CDBG funds would cover

the city wants to do municipal wireless


Dan will go forward with applying for and implementing planning grant
with the understanding that it not take over his work. Felicia should do
most of the work on it.


Focus for Fundraising – will be discussed on the list.


Meeting adjourned 8:25pm.


Respectfully submitted,


Laura M. MacNeil
Clerk