Mechanics Minutes Oct 2016

Called to order at 6:34pm on Sunday, 10/2

Present: Colin S (staff, Sat), Tati (volunteer, Sat), Dave B (staff, Tues), Tracy W (staff, Mon), Scott M (staff, Wed), Jackson W (staff, Thur), Chris D (staff, Sat)

Alana alone on D&R

Colin: There are obviously issues that need to be discussed but, basically, unfair for one individual to bear this burden. We should get more people on the cluster.

Jackson: There are other mediation services out there, willing to look into this to investigate costs. What's the current policy?

Scott: D&R is available for resolving intra staff and inter shop issues.

Tracy: Has been very hard to even find the D&R address.

Colin: Was told by the D&R cluster that a specific complaint was not within the jurisdiction of the D&R cluster because it was interpersonal.

Chris: Since Alana is uninvolved with any of us, she's been able to remain unbiased. Would be difficult for other members to be unbiased, so may be best to resort to outside mediation services. [others in agreement]

Multiple: Cost may not be prohibitive. They may also have material to take first steps. Let's investigate further.

Scott: May make sense to reserve D&R for staff/patron issues.

Jackson: Will investigate third party options and report back to group.

(Multiple) Should notify Alana ahead of time.

Scott: Will email Alana, email group asking for D&R cluster volunteers.

Scott: What if one party doesn't agree to mediation? Do we have a policy for asking people to leave the co-op?

Colin: It's been a touchy subject. Has been hard to remove bad seeds in the past despite overwhelming consensus amongst members.

Tati: Personal anecdote - mediation offers opportunity for everyone to get on same page. This may help set ground rules to set expectations going forward so that there's foundation for asking someone to leave.

Board elections

Colin: We're due for board elections. Where are we at with that?

Scott: Replaced the whole board last year. Three seats stay for two years, two seats stay for one year. Two seats available are Sean and Chris'.

Tracy: What does that board do, exactly?

(Multiple): Nothing.

Scott: Having a board is a requirement for maintaining our non-profit status. The by-laws state that we must have three members; reason for five is somewhat arbitray but, really, in case anyone decides to leave. As a co-op, the board has no power, per se. The only position with any responsibilities outlined in the by-laws is the Treasurer, who must present a financial statement to the board every year (or maybe every quarter).

Will look into how Hannah setup elections last time and get them setup. If people are interested, please prepare a short bio.

Anti-opression training

(Multiple): we need to schedule this.

Tati: This training extends beyond patriarchy and oppression but also offers an opportunity to learn how to work with all of our patrons. Our shop policy also has to address issues in which shop patrons make others feel uncomfortable.

Chris: Speaking about a particular patron without naming names: their kindness can be be excessive and may not follow shop policies.

Colin: (knowing who Chris is referring to) He has definitely violated shop policy by drinking in the shop .

Scott: Will email Robert Chu to let him know that he's been 86'ed.

Jackson: Propose: Staff member can 86 a patron if patron violates D&R policy. Also proposes additional training for assertiveness and conflict resolution training.

Scott: Will update shop policies with above.

Colin: Will send out dates and times for AORTA training and put on the calendar. Please send any requests for topics to be included to Colin.

Jackson - few items

1. want to post and share mental health crisis information to be posted in the BK. [no disagreements]

2. how do we dispose of hazardous material?

Colin: shop policy has not permitted patrons to work on motors; we do not have a way of disposing of hazardous material. In his shop, mix like materials and dispose of when we have a signifant quantity.

3. movie night at the shop of Friday, Oct 21st

Jackson: Would like to host a weird and wonky movie night at the BK. Will bring own projector. May need help getting chairs. Would anyone be willing to help with that?

Colin: Willing to help.

Junk pile diggers

(Multiple): This has become a problem in the shop - some people come in asking to 'scavenge', end up stealing from legitimate shop stuff in Wild West.

Colin: That's how I got my start here - salvaging parts from the scrap heap for my own little shop. It wasn't until later that staff asked me to come be part of the BK.

Tati: We can minimize the attractiveness of our trash pile by not accepting so much trash as donations and by getting rid of it in a timely fashion.