2026-10-08 - Cultural Council

00:05Okay.

00:06Well, hello everybody. Wasn't expecting

00:08to jump right on right there, but glad

00:10we're ahead. We're going to call this

00:12meeting of the River Cultural Council to

00:14order at 6 PM on the dot, October 8th.

00:18Let's begin with the pledge of

00:19allegiance.

00:25I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

00:27United States of America and to the

00:29republic for which it stands. One nation

00:33under God, indivisible, with liberty and

00:36justice for all.

00:38As you all know out there in TV land,

00:40that's the only time I get nervous

00:41throughout this whole meeting because

00:42I'm like, I don't want to forget that.

00:45And we don't we don't do it as much as

00:46we did as as kids. All right, so um not

00:51a huge agenda tonight. A couple things

00:53that we need to talk about. We'll review

00:55where we stand with the grant cycle,

00:57which closes on October 15th. So, any of

00:59you out there that um have not applied

01:01for grants yet or are in draft mode,

01:04everything needs to begin by 11:59 p.m.

01:06on October 15th. So, we'll go over that

01:09in more detail in a moment. Then, we

01:11just need to vote on the change of a

01:13payee on one of the grant reimbursements

01:16from a school to an individual. And then

01:19I want to spend some time uh looking at

01:21the score sheets that we used for

01:22evaluating grants last year, see if

01:25there's any feedback, anything we want

01:26to change, and then just firm up what

01:28the process will look like for all of us

01:29in terms of expectations as we move into

01:32the next phase of the grant cycle, which

01:34is of course voting to um approve. So,

01:40does that sound all right? Debbie's

01:42looking at her make Debbie keeps me on

01:44track. All right. So, let's start off

01:46with the grant cycle. So, friends out

01:48there, um we are trending um about to be

01:53about the same number of grants that we

01:54had last year, maybe even more because I

01:56think at this time last year we had

01:57fewer um than we have right now. So,

02:00currently we have 29 grants applications

02:02submitted, which totals around $100,000

02:05with 18 more grant applications totaling

02:08around 50 $25,000, excuse me, in draft

02:12mode right now. So, um, our grant

02:15allowance out there, friends, is

02:18$45,900.

02:21So, um, if you are good at math, you

02:23could just guess that what I just said

02:25is more than what, um, what is in there.

02:29But, um, we are really excited. Uh, I'll

02:32be completely transparent with you. I

02:33don't look at anything in detail until

02:35it is time for us to vote and evaluate

02:37because I don't want to be biased going

02:39in. So please if you um feel the need to

02:43submit an application, we would love to

02:44see more. The more we have, the the more

02:46critical we can be. Uh but we are very

02:49excited to see the different projects

02:50coming forward um with some of the

02:53schools and communities and art groups,

02:56artists that are that are posting it.

02:58So, any thoughts, comments around the uh

03:02grant

03:04deadline cycle, anything from the from

03:06the council?

03:09>> I jumped ahead. We didn't do a roll

03:10call. Rocky Graziano, chair,

03:16>> Dami Himenez, vice chair.

03:18>> Um, as you can see, we're all we're

03:20rusty. We were on summer break, right?

03:21We had our event and then we come back

03:23and here we are. Uh so a couple of of uh

03:28while why don't we talk about the

03:29process for the next steps now and then

03:31we can go over the score score sheet in

03:32a second. So after we're done with all

03:35the applica when once the cycle closes

03:37what I will do on the Friday um just

03:41send a note out to the council saying

03:42hey this is where we stand. Um everyone

03:45has access to go into to actually see it

03:47but I will also send a spreadsheet as

03:48well for people who would rather just

03:50look at that. But you will we all have

03:52access to the the um smart sheet so you

03:54can go through and look at each

03:56application in more detail which I would

03:58recommend. Um and then I will attach

04:00whatever the finalized score sheet is

04:02that we're going to um complete and

04:04haime I might tag you in for a better

04:06spreadsheet since you are the data guy

04:09tag. Um so we will be following a

04:12similar process friends out there that

04:13we did last year. We will have a we will

04:15have a scoreeet grid for evaluating

04:18grants. Um so each application will be

04:21scored individually by uh each council

04:24member. Uh and then once all those

04:25scores are collected, we will take a

04:28look and see which um applications

04:30scored. I think we need to discuss what

04:32the scoring percentage should be or what

04:34the score number should be that we would

04:35move forward with. And then at our

04:37meeting in November, we will be voting

04:40on which projects we want to fund. We

04:43will not be discussing the dollar amount

04:44like we did last year because that's a

04:46lot. We already are at 47

04:49if everything gets submitted. I think

04:50last year we had 52. So we're looking

04:52like we're going to be around the same

04:54if not more. Uh so we'll at least go

04:56through see, okay, these are the

04:57projects that scored that we're going to

04:59move forward. And then in our meeting in

05:00December, we'll talk about funding. For

05:02those of you that do apply, um if we

05:04decide to not move forward with your

05:06project for any reason, you will receive

05:08um a denial letter with a reason and

05:11then you will have 30 days to uh dispute

05:14that with the Massachusetts Cultural

05:15Council uh for whatever reason. If you

05:17don't feel that we followed the

05:18priorities and guidelines which are

05:20posted on the website um which we did

05:22get I did push for input. We did ask on

05:25our social media channels for people to

05:27send us ideas uh or feedback and I got a

05:30whopping zero. So next year we'll try

05:34another approach but uh it was out there

05:37several times on our Instagram account.

05:39I did see that lots of people viewed it

05:40but next year if you have feedback uh

05:43please uh provide that to us. I do want

05:46to state for the record because I don't

05:49we haven't had a meeting in a while

05:51right? My mind is going crazy. I want to

05:54review the priorities and guidelines

05:56that the council voted on to simplify

05:58because last year I think we had right

06:00like 15 12 of each. So our priorities if

06:04you're out there and you're considering

06:05whether or not you want to submit a

06:07grant application um our priorities are

06:09prioritizing rever residents with an

06:11emphasis on underserved and

06:13underrepresented populations while

06:15fostering inclusive inclusivity, equity

06:18and broad community participation.

06:20We want to reflect the rich diversity of

06:22cultures both past and pres and current

06:25um from new applicants and previous

06:27recipients who have demonstrated

06:28measurable impact through the quality of

06:30their projects and the number of

06:32community members reached. So if you

06:33applied for an a grant last year and you

06:35received one um in your letter that you

06:38were approved, there was a little link

06:40for a report. I last time I checked, I

06:42think we approved 24 grants. We had 13.

06:46I'll be transparent. I haven't looked at

06:47it in the last month. So, we might have

06:48had a few more reports. So, if you have

06:50not submitted your report, please do so

06:52because if you apply again, we are going

06:54to go back and look at those reports.

06:55Um, it will ask, you know, how many

06:57people were present? Did you have any

06:59sponsors? You know, that type of thing.

07:00And we have had a good response from

07:02that. So, high five y'all. I'm doing

07:04what I do in my team's meetings at work.

07:06Our guidelines applicants. So, we had

07:09the priorities. That's what we're going

07:10to be looking at first and foremost.

07:12Guidelines for applications. Now,

07:14obviously, these are guidelines. These

07:15are not stone tablets, right? must be

07:18from Rivier or sponsored by an

07:19organization in Rivier. Applicants must

07:21provide a clear project plan with that

07:24includes a detailed timeline, an

07:26itemized budget documentation outlining

07:28how grant funds will be used. So, I'm

07:30going to pause here. I know not

07:31everybody here works in corporate

07:33America and not everyone is a

07:34professional project manager. Do your

07:37best. Write down what it is. What are

07:39the steps? What are the dates that

07:40you're aiming to? How much money do you

07:43need? How will that money be used? How

07:45many people? Do your best. We're not

07:47looking for you all to send us a

07:49manifesto, but we want to see that you

07:51have thought through it. Um, and that's

07:53how these projects stand. Um, you know,

07:56regardless of how much money you're

07:57asking for, that's how we take a look

07:59and see that you've prepared.

08:02All programs must be held in locations

08:04that are accessible to those with

08:05disabilities. I don't think we have a

08:07problem with that really, but it's

08:08something that we do need to state.

08:11All uh funds must be used to substitute

08:14uh funds must not be used, excuse me, to

08:17substitute or replace existing publicly

08:19funded programs. Applicants may not be

08:22discriminated against the basis of

08:23including but not limited to race, sex,

08:26religion, creed, colors, national

08:28origin, disability, or age. All and then

08:31all advertisements provided you are

08:32approved brochures must include a

08:34statement that the activity program is

08:36supported by a grant from the rever

08:38cultural council council which is

08:40supported by mass cultural council a

08:42state agency. That was a lot of talking.

08:46So

08:48I any other thoughts from the team on on

08:51I think we should have open up the floor

08:53for discussion around the scoring. So,

08:56um, the scoreeet that we have in front

08:58of us, uh, last year was based on each

09:02individual council member having up to

09:05100 points per project to, um,

09:10distribute the way that everything is

09:13scored. Wait, am I lying? It's 20

09:15points. Lied to you all. Um, it's one to

09:19five. Oh, I just hit that. Sorry. The

09:21rating scale is one to five. Five being

09:23the best, one being the lowest possible

09:25score. In the areas that we scored last

09:28year, there were five per um

09:32project quality, originality, and

09:34creativity, community benefit, planning,

09:38and budget.

09:42Am I missing one here?

09:43>> One, two, three, four. Okay, so there

09:46were four here out of TW. So each each

09:49um council member had up to 20 points

09:51per project they could uh score. So

09:54feedback from the team on how the

09:56process worked last year. Did we like

09:58it? What did we not like? Should we

10:01change anything? I'll open the floor up

10:02now for its discussion.

10:08>> Uh thank you.

10:10>> Thank you.

10:10>> I know right. We're not used to it.

10:13>> I know

10:13>> as I'm not talking on the microphone.

10:15>> It's been a while. It's been summer. Um,

10:18I liked it. I thought it was very easy,

10:21you know. Um, and because we had a lot

10:23of projects to go through. Um, I I did

10:26it over a long weekend and it it was

10:29fine. And then I could look at it at the

10:31end and and see like, you know, some of

10:34them had same scores and those were

10:36projects that really meant a lot to me

10:38and then I had to really go over them

10:40and then kind of break them down more.

10:42But that one through five, it doesn't

10:43get any easier than that. At least for

10:45me, you know, cuz I'm not a numbers

10:47genius, so that works.

10:49>> That's hy. Yeah.

10:52>> Um yeah, I agree. I think uh we did a I

10:55think it was a good job at um last year

10:58and I would love to continue to do the

10:59same. Um looking at the sample sheet,

11:02too. One of the things that I'm glad we

11:04spent so much time or reorganizing our

11:06priorities because this scoring sheet

11:09which we did not look to create our

11:10priorities outlines specifically the

11:13priorities that we have in place anyway.

11:15So um to me it's it aligns perfectly

11:17with the priorities we created anyway.

11:19So I like it.

11:23>> I think it went very well last year too.

11:25It was very easy to do and it seemed

11:27like we went right through it once we

11:28all came in prepared with our scores.

11:32All right. So, we think the same

11:33categories are because I think I think

11:35we did base off of the what for our new

11:38priorities. So, um what I do so the

11:42purpose of having the scoreeet is for us

11:44to be able to there is absolutely no way

11:46that we can critically be on go through

11:49the number of applications that we're

11:51going to receive in a meeting and be

11:53fair. So having this scoring

11:56independently, so everybody scores

11:58themselves, then the then the totals are

12:00allocated and then they're revealed uh

12:02at the meeting. So I think like last

12:03year um we had them sort of in uh

12:06groupings. I think what we did last year

12:07was so so four of the five council

12:10members did score. So that wasn't so the

12:12maximum score somebody could get was an

12:1480. Um but what I had done for that

12:17fifth one was I averaged the other four

12:20so that it was a it would be up to 100.

12:22I average the other four scores. Right?

12:25Do we think that that's a fair way to do

12:27it? If a council member does not submit

12:29where we then take the average of the

12:31four others to give that fifth space so

12:33it goes from zero to uh 100. What do we

12:36think about that?

12:40Yeah. Keep your microphone on, Lark. I

12:43know you guys used to

12:44>> I I agree. Absolutely. We need to move

12:47forward with the process,

12:48>> right? So, I just want to get us to

12:50vote. Uh, so we'll vote to confirm the

12:52process in a moment. So I need a motion.

12:54Um, and then so I want the motion to be

12:55one. I'll state it and then someone can

12:57repeat it. What should be that threshold

13:00number for us to not consider projects?

13:04So last year I believe it the number was

13:0660. So if somebody did not achieve a

13:09score of a 60, um, we we those were not

13:12discussed. Do we think that that's do we

13:14think that that's a low bar? Should we

13:16maybe up it? I don't know. I want to

13:18hear from all of you.

13:2160.

13:21>> I think 60 worked out fine.

13:24>> I agree.

13:25>> I think so too. I mean because it's it's

13:27a little over 50% but still I mean

13:30that's like a failing grade.

13:33>> Uh so one clarification on the process

13:35because I did get some feedback. So the

13:38purpose of this scoring process with the

13:41projects is to determine which projects

13:44we are interested in funding. What do I

13:46mean Rocky? Well, you all know I'm in

13:49pageant land, right? So, we're going to

13:50talk through a little bit about how

13:51pageantss work and some some scoring.

13:53So, in a in at a state pageant,

13:58the judges score their raw scores,

14:00right? Those numbers determine the top

14:0210, the top five. Then, when we get the

14:04top five, they're then ranked, right?

14:07Because most people don't know how to

14:09manage their numbers. Plus, my my five

14:12is very different than Debbie, Lark, and

14:14Heiny's five. So what this process will

14:18do is determine that we are

14:20enthusiastically behind these projects.

14:22It does not guarantee that you will get

14:25the full amount that you've asked for

14:27because people have asked me well my my

14:29project was you know we heard in the

14:31call that my project score really high

14:32or it was the number one project. Yes,

14:34that means we were the most excited

14:36about your project moving forward to

14:37funding. That does not mean that we are

14:39going to give you the max that you asked

14:41for. So I just want to make sure that

14:42out there that this is documented. This

14:45part of the process is yes, we will

14:47fund. So anyone that we move forward on

14:53whatever date it is, November, whatever

14:55I'm looking at Debbie because Debbie

14:56always knows the dates. No, whatever

14:58date it is, November [laughter] will be

14:59the ones that we're going to say, okay,

15:00in December when we start to talk again,

15:02we're going to go through what the

15:03dollar amounts are and that's when we'll

15:04be a little bit more critical around

15:06because it'll be a smaller number of

15:07applications to look at. Uh so I just

15:10wanted to clarify that. Okay. So, I need

15:12a motion on the floor for someone to say

15:14that they make a motion for us to

15:16continue using the scoreeet um

15:18independently

15:20and that we will So, I want to try to

15:22word this so it's all one. I need a

15:25motion that we will use the scoreeets to

15:28score independently and then move

15:31forward with discussing projects that

15:33score 60 points or higher. Can I get a

15:36motion for that? So, she'll have to say

15:38you want the motion.

15:39>> I want the motion. Okay. Okay.

15:41>> Do I have a second?

15:43>> Second.

15:44>> It's documented on here. Um, all in

15:47favor?

15:48>> I.

15:49>> Motion passes.

15:50>> All right. So, we will also I also want

15:54to make sure this is clear. I want I

15:56need a motion on the floor that if any

15:57committee member does not submit their

16:00scores, one or more, we will average the

16:04other ones that did submit to be those

16:06other placements. Can I get a motion for

16:08that?

16:09>> Yeah.

16:10Yes, I'm motion.

16:12>> Motion. Can I get a second?

16:14>> Second that.

16:15>> All in favor? I

16:16>> I

16:18>> motion passes. Debbie will make that

16:20pretty in the minutes. All right. So,

16:23um, no need for that. Haimey, you and I

16:25can talk next week about the

16:26spreadsheet. So, I know last year, Lark,

16:28we I'll we'll send you a paper one if

16:30you want to fill in and then you can

16:31scan it to me. That's perfectly fine

16:32[clears throat] because I know not

16:33everybody likes Excel. I'll give you

16:34this. I think I don't know if you do.

16:35>> I still don't like Excel.

16:36>> You do Excel. So, if you don't like I

16:38don't like Excel either. Uh but if you

16:40so well we'll have we'll have two

16:41versions. We'll have one that is um and

16:43then what will happen is I'll just ask

16:45that you all submit to me. What I'm

16:47going to do well actually

16:51it's going to take everybody time. I am

16:53going to try to score it next weekend so

16:55that I'm done so that I'm not

16:56influenced. And what I will do is once

16:59I'm done I will submit to Haimey and

17:00then Jaime has my scores and then I'll

17:02send him the other the other four. Uh

17:05that way I'm locked and loaded. I can't

17:08be influenced. Nobody else can be

17:10influenced. Um and then we'll move

17:12forward. All right. So,

17:15great. All right. All that works for

17:17Okay. The next item on our agenda today,

17:22we did have a project team. If you bear

17:24with me, I'm looking at my I'm not doing

17:25work, I promise. I'm just reading off

17:27what I got here because I want to make

17:29sure that I get it. We did have um we do

17:32have to make a motion to um redirect

17:36payment on one of the grants that was

17:38submitted. So Lauren Walford followed up

17:41um recently on a status of a previously

17:43approved $2,100 grant reimbursement for

17:46the River High School Patriot Voice

17:47Project. I believe it was the camera

17:48that we all approved. Um so she's asking

17:52that the reimbursement may be made

17:54payable to her since she took on the

17:56expense and not the high school. So, um,

17:59if we feel that we're going to move

18:00forward with that, I need a motion to

18:02switch the pay from River High School to

18:04Lauren Walford and then a second and

18:06then, uh, a vote.

18:10>> Motion to switch the payment for the

18:13reimbursement from Re High School to

18:15Lauren Walford as a reimbursement.

18:17>> Do I have a second?

18:20>> Second.

18:20>> All in favor?

18:22>> I

18:22>> I motion passes.

18:26Okay. Grant, I will send a note to uh

18:29Stephen and Osma about that. But if they

18:31are watching, you heard it. It just

18:33passed. So, pay well. Uh [laughter]

18:38uh what else do we go through all our

18:39agenda items already? We moving forward.

18:42Rocky Rocky Rocky had four shots of

18:44espresso today. Big [laughter]

18:46>> We didn't do it.

18:48>> We weren't doing it in the same order,

18:49but we did

18:49>> We did. [laughter]

18:51>> We're having fun. We're having a good

18:53time. Uh

18:56try to think what other

18:59there are a lot of things going on in

19:00the city the next couple weeks. I am

19:02[clears throat] going to participate in

19:04the pumpkin dash. Not to win everybody.

19:06Don't look for me to win. [laughter] Um

19:08I'm participating.

19:10Uh so I will be there at that. Um I

19:12think that there are folks there. I know

19:13there's a 5K tomorrow. Uh sorry,

19:15Saturday. I think it's today's Friday.

19:17Um Fall Fest was a huge success. There's

19:21lots of things going on. Please email us

19:23or you can email me rg graziano

19:25reviewer.org and I'll share it with the

19:27folks on the committee uh council excuse

19:30me we would love to be present at your

19:32projects if we can be um and I think we

19:35all walked away that were present for

19:37the event at Chakalaf. Thank you so much

19:40for for hosting us. Um it was an

19:42intimate gathering but it was a really

19:43fun gathering and it was a lot of

19:45excitement. Um, and thanks to Greg Tales

19:47who came from the Massachusetts Cultural

19:49Council, Mayor Keefe who showed up, uh,

19:52Steve Morabido, uh, it was a great

19:55little event. I don't think we've had a

19:56meeting since then, so I want to just

19:58shout out, please support your local

19:59businesses.

20:02>> Yeah, we're going to be, uh, you're

20:03going to be at the pumpkin dash. I'm not

20:04sure if I'll make that, but I will be at

20:06the, um, 5K on Saturday.

20:08>> Oh, run that one.

20:09>> You running?

20:10>> Yeah, I'm running.

20:11>> You're running? Yeah.

20:12>> Oh, wow.

20:13>> I'll be uh, I'll be there. But uh since

20:15you mentioned those I I also

20:17participated at the fall festival um

20:19it's nice very nice event but for all of

20:22you out there that are you know have

20:24questions not specifics but if on the

20:26process if you see us in the community

20:28just ask we'll help you and we'll show

20:30you the process and and all that if you

20:32have questions about the process. So

20:33just wanted to mention that if you see

20:35us talk to us.

20:36>> Yes. I actually was stopped in Target by

20:38someone at Target. I was like oh you're

20:40on the re and I was in a baseball cap

20:42and my gym clothes. I was like, "Oh,

20:44you're you're on TV at the Rever

20:45Cultural Council." I'm like, "Oh, so you

20:47watched that was great." Um, so we do

20:50want we love being part of the

20:51community. We're really grateful to be

20:53uh to be in a position. We did, just for

20:55those of you that are at wondering, we

20:56did go up about 1,300 bucks from last

20:59year. I think we had 4,400 was it 44,600

21:03last year and now we're 45,900

21:07to grant. So that is a small reach, but

21:10it is it is an increase. So, we'll take

21:12it. Um, again, no, if you're in doubt,

21:17apply.

21:18What's the worst that happens? We say

21:20no. You know, this isn't this isn't

21:22something that's going to take you four

21:23hours. It'll probably take you, you

21:24know, a little a little bit of time

21:25because you got to gather information.

21:27You have to submit some documents, but

21:29what's the harm in um applying in and

21:32seeing what happens? And we we love

21:35seeing the stories and hearing the

21:36stories from the folks that do receive

21:37the grants. um especially um the ones

21:40from the schools because that was really

21:42nice to see that our money really really

21:44made an impact as well in some of the

21:46other areas of the the city. So is there

21:50any new business that we need to

21:51discuss?

21:52>> No, I'm just excited you found someone

21:54from TV Land out there on Target.

21:56[laughter]

21:56>> I was TV Land. Yeah.

21:59>> You know what's really interesting? like

22:01so my partner gets tired of it sometimes

22:04and it was just one of those days we're

22:06just like oh hi

22:09>> yeah you know

22:09>> no nothing else to add I just wanted oh

22:11the only thing would be that yes ask us

22:14for the process but no we follow the

22:15process from the mass cultural council

22:17and everything is out there and they

22:19they record all of the um their webinars

22:22so you can find them on their um on

22:24their website or YouTube so um a lot of

22:26information out there so like Rocky said

22:29if you're not sure apply It takes a a

22:31few takes a little bit of your time, but

22:33but go for it.

22:34>> And truly, no project is too small or

22:37too big. Now, here's the reality,

22:38friends. I think I said this in the last

22:40call. We're not restricting a dollar

22:42amount where we're saying that there has

22:43to be x amount of money. This is the max

22:45that we're going to do, which we can do.

22:47We're not going to. The average grant

22:49amount uh across the state um is about

22:52$2,500. They think the minimum we can

22:55grant is $ 250. Uh we do not follow the

22:58$2,500 restriction necessarily. We can

23:00talk about it at the at the money

23:02meeting um in December, but note that

23:05$45,900

23:07is all we have for everyone,

23:11which means if you submit an application

23:14for $90,000,

23:16you obviously can't get that because we

23:18don't even have the money to give it to

23:19you. Um right now, um our financial

23:22report looks like, uh we do have some

23:23pending payments going through. We

23:25aren't going to have any additional

23:26funds to carry over to grant at this

23:29time. That might change and if it does

23:30then we'll certainly the money's there

23:32for us to re to redistribute. It's not

23:34there for us to keep. Um so we will

23:36happily do that but right now it doesn't

23:38look like that's going to be the case

23:39once all the dust settles and all the

23:41finances we're going to be at flat. So

23:43we we will have 45,900 to grant. So when

23:47we have that meeting in December, we

23:50will go through that and then team if we

23:52decide that we want to have another

23:53event and hold some money then we can

23:55talk we can I submitted the report

23:57without that but we do have a little bit

23:59left from last year

24:00>> from um our last event but we can also

24:03add additional monies if we need to.

24:07All right, I was rusty at this but I

24:10feel like we're we're good. So motion to

24:14adjurnn.

24:15>> Motion to adjurnn.

24:16All right. All All in favor? I

24:18>> I

24:19>> Meeting adjourned at 6:24 p.m.

24:23>> You're really