Epsilon Building Association

Theta Chi Fraternity, Epsilon Chapter

7:00pm, February 15, 2005Forkey Conference Room, WPI

 

·         Insurance Claim                                                                                  OWNER: Colangelo/Daly

1.        Emergency Repairs, Property, and Contents Claim

                                - Delay by insurance company.  Still no response on our claim…

                                                Emergency            $89,423 (less $45,000 paid to ServPro, pending negotiations)

                                                Property                $184,023 (upfront: $132,483, balance upon repair verification)

                                                Contents                $31,885  (includes under-insured penalty)

- Need to re-evaluate contents insurance needs.  Estimate = $130,000.

- UPDATE: Steve Burr from Burr Insurance called to let us know that Lloyds of London,

   our current insurance company, will not be renewing in April due to loss experience.

   Steve objecting, as the driver’s insurance is covering the entire claim.  Decision pending.

   Steve has a backup plan, should Lloyds stick to their decision.

- Partial Proof-of-Loss statement submitted to insurance company

 

2.        Expectations

- Continuing to apply pressure to resolve the claim so we can proceed with renovation

- We have to wait before extending Matt Colangelo & Sons further.

 

·         Renovation Roadmap                                                                           OWNER: Colangelo/Daly

1.        First floor common areas

- Dining room, pool room, living room are priorities.  Will take finish money from

   third floor finish work and further enhance first floor rooms.

 

2.        Second floor bedrooms and common areas

                        - Return to pre-fire condition, except hanging beds in bedrooms.

 

3.        Third floor Library/Warm Dorm

- Library and Warm dorm will be closed, including extra bedroom off library.

- Renovation will “button up” these rooms with minimum renovation

- Will complete these rooms later when funding becomes available.

- Discussion about education fund (tax-free) to fund these room renovations

 

4.        Basement Party/Meeting rooms

                        - Party room will be returned to pre-fire condition.  Not substantial repairs.

                        - Meeting room character will be returned, enhancements in lighting and ventilation

 

OTHER – See http://alumni.oxepsilon.com/meetings/2005_renovation_plan.xls for detailed list.

 

                          

 

·         Alumni Financial Report                                                                   OWNER: Dave Scott

1.        EBA Checking balance

- $26,700 current

   + $09,000 (1/2 quarter rent from Chapter)

   + $19,000 (1 quarter rent from Chapter)

   + $09,000 ( Bank error in applying mortgage under/over mortgage payments)

   TOTAL = $63,700

- However, lots of upcoming expenses (ECHO, property tax, tax penalties, mainten. Etc)

- Good alumni donation response from ECHO.  Received $4425 since the mailing.

- Need to know what the cost to repair the hot water before allocating funds for other work

 

2.        Outstanding rent from undergrads

                                - Remains steady at 3-payments behind for B’03, C’04, D’04  ($57,000)

                                - Catching up will be difficult due to low membership

 

3.        Tax status

                                - Filed  2004 tax return, but it required an extension.  FYI.

 

4.        Alumni collections

                                - Reviewed partial list of recent alumni graduating with debt - $33,226

                                - Chris Haraldsen (former EBA VP) agreed to help out with collections

                                - Omega financial service will help if ‘collections’ needed… likely in some cases

                                - At previous meeting, we set a new policy for house bills – cannot stay at the house

                                  if any money is owed from 2 quarters ago.  Late fees (3.5%) assessed quarterly for running

                                  balance, etc.  Now, we’re serious about enforcing collections.

                                - Denied 2 motions to secure exemptions to above policy, announced to chapter weeks earlier

                                - UPDATE:  Dave Scott putting together a Policy document to raise awareness

 

 

·         Undergraduate Financial Report                                                      OWNER: Jim Schementi

1.        Membership numbers and house occupancy for D-Term

                                ~ 25 brothers will be living in for D-TERM

                                ~ 20 brothers will be living in for A-TERM

 

2.        Bill Collections for C-TERM

                                - All but 2 house bills are collected

                                - Implementing new indebtedness policy set by EBA

 

3.        Motion for exception to Indebtedness

                                - As mentioned above, denied 2 motions to exceptions to new indebtedness policy

 

4.        Rent = $19,000/qtr

                                - Rent remains at the same rate.  Keeping current.  Plan to repay backlog pending.

 

                                OTHER – Heat/Electricity is inefficient and wasting money

                                                - ~30 brothers living in is break-even

                                                - Chapter working with $50,000 yearly budget

                                                - Changed good service and saving big bucks

                                                - Current house bill is $1550/quarter.  Least on campus, but not by much.  WPI is $3000/qtr

                                                - We have corrected the National Fraternity insurance/dues to reflect current membership

 

·         General Maintenance Repairs                                                          OWNER: Derrick Morse

1.        Chapter is eyes and ears of EBA

                                - Chapter must report maintenance issues to EBA

                                - Otherwise, EBA has no idea things are broken

                                - UPDATE: Jim thinks a maintenance dashboard on web would help with communication

                                - Chris Haraldsen brought up the position of EBA Liason.  The purpose of this Chapter   

                                   position was to attend all EBA meetings and read all emails, and to report back weekly to             

                                   the Chapter.  This will help alleviate some recent communication concerns.  In the past,               

                                   this position was well served.  In the last couple of years, the position somehow was        

                                   eliminated at the Chapter.  It’s time to revive it, and re-engage more tightly with the      

                                   Chapter.  Thanks Chris, for the spot on headsup!

 

2.        Hot Water

                                - Intermittent, but regular COLD water.  HOT water must be fixed.

                                - Anthony Delaiarro’s father will be looking at the system and making a recommendation

                                - Prompt servicing is in order.

                                - NOTE: EBA is awaiting a response from Anthony Delaiarro on the investigation.

 

3.        Common Area doors, windows, plumbing

                                - Broken things need to be itemized so EBA can schedule repairs.

                                - Items broken deliberately, etc. will be paid by Chapter

                                - Other items paid by EBA

                                - Need more crisp definition of what EBA pays for and what Chapters pays for

 

4.        Dining room

                                - Dining room is one of the most important rooms in the house

                                - The floor will be replaced as a top priority

                                - Tables/Chairs and flame retardant drapes will be purchased by the EBA

 

5.        New maintenance items?

                                - EBA asked for any other repair items for the maintenance list

                                - Jimmy Schementi gave Jim Melvin the Worcester Boarding House license renewal forms

 

 

·         Point System for Epsilon                                                                   OWNER: Jim Melvin

1.        Promote good

                                - Possibly Academics, philanthropy, Officer/leadership, intramurals…

 

2.        Discourage bad

                                - Possibly missing details, house meetings, house damage, financial obligations…

 

3.        Proposal

                                - EBA charged the new brothers (freshmen) to research a point system for Epsilon and

                                   propose system to EBA/Chapter.  New brothers will own the system development and are

                                   encouraged to use National resources.  This class will serve as architects of the future of

                                   Epsilon Chapter for years to come.  Rohit Bhalla is the chair of the committee and charged

                                   with driving the proposal.  Proposal due by March 31st.

 

OTHER:                - Jim asked about the functioning of the Epsilon Committee System

                                   which is one of the most important functions of the chapter.

                                - The Chapter is actively implementing the existing committee system and bringing

                                   it back to life.

                                - Every brother should serve on at least 2 committees.

                                - Every brother should have an explicit avenue to contribute.

                                - Summer Residency – HOUSE WILL BE CLOSED FOR REPAIRS

                                - Summer landscaper will be hired

                                - EBA will be responsible for summer utilities

                                - CO2 detectors were discussed and deemed likely unnecessary

                                - Chapter thinks the new MOP system is cool.  Check it out!

 

Next Meeting

·         Date:                       Will use email to schedule.

·         Location:               To be determined