MINUTES

MUSEUM BOARD

March 3, 2004

In Attendance: John Bayfield, Gunter Langhorst, (Chairperson), Bud Mann, George McKelvey, (Councillor), Donna Metcalf, Lorne Smith, (Honourary Member),  John Webster, (Councillor) Bob Patterson, Guest, Car Club), Barb Roth, (Director Recreation & Culture),  George Phillips, (Manager), Betty Easey

 

Regrets: Gord Case, Liz Hooey, Monica Peel, Ian Hopkins.

 

ITEM#      ITEMS                                                                 DESCRIPTION                                                                                    ACTION BY                         COMPLETION

                                                                                                                                                              WHOM                                                BY

 

1

Call to Order

Gunter Langhorst, called the meeting to order at 7:00pm

 

 

 

2

Minutes of

Feb. Meeting

The minutes of February 4th meeting was approved on a motion by George McKelvey, Seconded by Bud Mann. Carried.

 

 

 

3

Business arising from last Meeting

Gunter Langhorst enquired about the proposed Settlers Day event. Lorne Smith advised that he and Cathy Molloy are working on it.

 

 

4

Managers Report

Canadian National Slovak Council (CNSC): An agreement between the Markham Museum and the CSNC has been defined. An exhibit prepared by the Slovak Council will be installed for viewing during the months of May and June. An official opening will take place to which Board Members will be invited.

 

Staff are working on a sponsor for Lobster Fest. A number of other partnerships/sponsorships are being considered by the Museum.

 

Antique Car Club: Members of the Club met with Museum Staff and it has been decided to limit the involvement of the Club with the Museum during 2004.  This is partly due to the re-designation of the Implement Building, and construction work at the Museum.

 

Grants:  The Programme Coordinator is currently developing applications for three grants, one for an RBC after school grant, second for a Cultural Capital of Canada grant that will partner the Museum with Richmond B.C, and a third a Federal Promo Science grant, that will partner the Museum with local community organizations that work with children. If successful, the programmes could start the fall of 2004.

 

 

 

 

 

MINUTES

MUSEUM  BOARD

March 3,  2004

 

ITEM#                    ITEMS                                                                   DESCRIPTION                                                                    ACTION BY                COMPLETED

                                                                                                                                                                                                                WHOM                                  BY

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Managers Report Cont’d

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Markham Libraries:  Museum Staff met with a consultant from the Markham Libraries.  A programming partnership is being developed that will benefit both parties.

 

Funding:  The Museum received $10,000.00 from TD Friends of the Environment for the construction of a pond and solar pump next to the wet meadow.

 

March Break:  Plans are well advanced for this event.  It will include a full week day camp for 6 – 12 year olds plus family drop-in activities.

 

Carriage Storage:  A pallet system has been installed in the storage area and is being used to store artefacts from the Implement Building.  A second level of shelving will be added to provide more storage space.

 

Implement Building:  As of Friday February 27, 2004, the Implement Building has been emptied of its contents.  Approximately eighteen objects have been identified as being properly registered and accessioned and now are being recommended for removal from the collection. The balance of the items have little or no recorded provenance.  Some will be retained until the Museum can do further studies, and it is suggested the balance be offered for sale or discarded with any proceeds retained in the Museum’s endowment fund for future artefact acquisitions.

 

The evaluation was made with the help of informed volunteers, Gunter Langhorst, Lorne Smith and Trevor Watson, and consultants Barry Lord, Brad King and John Nicks.

 

Janitorial:  The Museum is now part of a Blanket Contract with the Town for this service. 

 

Historic Carnival Equipment:  With the endorsement of the master plan consultants, the Museum has submitted a report to council requesting funding for the purchase of Historic Carnival Equipment.

 

 

 

MINUTES

MUSEUM ADVISORY BOARD

March 3,  2003

 

 

ITEM#                    ITEMS                                                                   DESCRIPTION                                                                    ACTION BY                         COMPLETED

                                                                                                                                                                                                                WHOM                                                  BY

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Managers Report Cont’d

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doon Heritage Cross Roads:  George Phillips advised that he had met with Tom Reitz of the Doon Museum.  The Doon Museum is recognized as a “best practices” model for museum villages like the Markham Museum.  He received advise on collections management including large scale de-accessioning.

 

Master Plan:  The team has completed phase one report.  The report provides a series of options for changes ranging from low cost strategies to a large-scale overhaul of the Museum to propel it forward as a major attraction in the GTA.  The next workshop will be held at the Museum on March 10th, where the design vision will be further refined.

 

Sawmill & Cider Mill:  George Phillips met with Ashmore Reesor, John Grant, Dave Armstrong and Bud Mann to discuss the short and long term future for both of these facilities.  Both of the facilities require immediate attention, for health and safety purposes, and to ensure they remain effective Museum exhibits.  It was agreed by the group, to justify the work that needs to be done, both facilities should be open to the public more frequently.  Also discussed was the necessity for attracting more volunteers and hiring casual staff to enable the increased opening hours.

 

A separate business plan will be developed for each facility, to enable the required capital and operating costs to be obtained, and to determine revenues that could be obtained from products produced at the Mills.

 

Capital funding:  The Museum has received tentative approval to proceed with the Construction of the Reception Centre and for renovations to the Church and Pavilion.

 

Lorne enquired as to what work was required in the pavilion. He was advised that the wiring urgently needs to be updated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINUTES

MUSEUM BOARD

March 3,  2004

 

ITEM#                    ITEMS                                                   DESCRIPTION                                                                                    ACTION BY                         COMPLETED

                                                                                                                                                                                                                WHOM                                                  BY

  4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manager Report Cont’d

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deaccessioning:  Three lists were distributed to the Board.  The first contained artefacts with inventory numbers but with unknown donors. The second contained artefacts without accession numbers.  The third contained artefacts with known donors.  The Board was advised that a motion for each of the three lists will be required for dispersal of items.  The Board was advised that their views and recommendations would be forwarded to Council.  Each list was reviewed separately.

 

The first list.  Councillor McKelvey enquired if the Museum has at least one of each item in the Museum and he was advised that the best possible piece of each complete item has been kept for display purposes.  Councillor Webster enquired if any of the ploughs were Flurey ploughs, he was advised that none were.

 

Motion by Councillor McKelvey to approve deaccession of the items.  Seconded by Donna Metcalf.  Carried

 

The second list.  Enquiries were raised of some items in the “Iron Bin”.  The Board was advised other Museums have been contacted to see if they were interested in taking the items, but those contacted do not have any interest.  Some of the items will go to auction.

 

Motion by John Bayfield to approve the deaccession of the items.  Seconded by Councillor Webster.  Carried.

 

The third list.  The Board was advised that all individuals and organizations who had donated these items to the Museum have been contacted.  Some have requested return of their items, others have agreed to send their items to auction with the proceeds retained by he Museum.

 

Motion by Bud Mann to approve deaccession of the items.  Seconded by John Webster.  Carried.

 

 

 

MINUTES

MUSEUM BOARD

March 3, 2004

ITEMS# ITEMS                                                   DESCRIPTION                                                                                                    ACTION                                COMPLETED

                                                                                                                                                                                                                BY WHOM                                            BY

4

Managers report cont’d

Bob Patterson advised that he is at the meeting to find out what will happen to the vehicles that have been restored by the Car Club.  He was advised that they would possibly be going to auction and if the club is interested they could bid for them.  They will be advised if and when this occurs.

 

The Fire Truck was discussed.  It has been agreed that it will be preserved and used around the grounds.  The Board was advised that there are at least three other fire trucks in Markham that have been restored and are stored at other facilities. 

 

Gunter Langhorst and Lorne Smith commended Marie Jones, Curatorial Assistant,  her great job in organizing and managing the project, and preparing the lists.  They advised it is a positive move and has been needed doing for a long time. Gunter mentioned that the Museum is at a cross roads and this move will make it more manageable.

 

The Board was advised that the Consultants have advised a number of items in the Ward Building would be better if moved outside.  Also, there is a lot of the wood that should be removed as it is infested and could do a lot of damage if left.

 

 

5

New Business

George Phillips enquired if there would be a problem if the Board met earlier in the day, and suggested 4:30pm.  He also enquired if there were any objections to cancelling meetings in July and August.

 

The Board decided that these issues should be brought before the new Board.

 

 

 

6

NEXT MEETING

THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE ON APRIL 7, 2004, AT 7:00PM, IN THE MAIN BUILDING

 

 

8

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30pm