A meeting of the Archdiocesan Council took place at the Cranberry Twp. Diocesan Center on July 6, 2009. Chairing a Council meeting for the first time, His Grace, Bishop MELCHISEDEK, called the meeting to order with prayer at 7:00 PM.

In addition to His Grace, the following members of the Archdiocesan Council were present: Archpriest Paul Ziatyk (Chancellor), Archpriests/Priests Igumen Patrick (Carpenter), W. Evansky, J. Govrusik, D. Hendershot, G. Johnson, J. Kopcha, A. Matychak, I. Soroka, P. Suda; Deacon Joseph Mell; Messrs. S. Daniels, E. Markoff, G. Nescott, (Subd.) J. Schultz; G. Sidorick, R. Skvir. Excused: Fathers Reeves and Zahirsky; Messrs. G. Avdakov and (Subd.) E. O’Brien.

1.         The Council waived the reading of the April 21, 2009, meeting minutes. A motion to accept the minutes as previously e-mailed was made (E. Markoff/ Igumen Patrick     (Carpenter)). Passed unanimously.

2.         The recently submitted 2007-2008 Auditing Report for the Archdiocese was read by the Secretary. A copy will be forwarded to each parish and priest via postal mail in the near future. The auditors reported no problems to be corrected in the Archdiocesan financials.

             A motion (G. Nescott/ S. Daniels) to accept the Auditing Report as submitted was made.

            Passed unanimously. A discussion also noted that it might be possible in the future to

            mail such reports to the clergy and parishes electronically, with only those without e-mail

            receiving it via postal mail.

3.         The Secretary read a thank-you note from Mrs. Johanna Pleska thanking everyone in the Archdiocese for the kindness shown her and the family at the consecration of Bishop MELCHISEDEK. Archpriest Paul Ziatyk also noted that a thank-you note was received from seminarian Joseph Lucas for the scholarship assistance received.

4.         The bishop’s consecration was reviewed by General Chair Archpriest Paul Suda. He thanked everyone for the cooperative efforts that made this event so memorable in the life of the Archdiocese. All areas of this complicated event went smoothly and were done with great decorum. He especially thanked Igumen Patrick (Carpenter) for his intensive labors in many areas and Archpriest William Evansky for organizing the banquet along with Matushka Myra Oleynik and Mrs. Claudia Steeb. Likewise, the Women’s Association of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral should be commended. Igumen Patrick then initiated a discussion about the possible production of a consecration video. It was also noted that video clips will be posted on “YouTube” and a photo gallery will be posted on www.oca.org. After a lengthy discussion a motion (G. Nescott/ J. Schultz) was made stating that the Council authorizes a committee to be named by the bishop to explore the video production and that the committee should report back to Council via e-mail for final approval. Passed unanimously.

            (The Committee will be comprised of Bishop MELCHISEDEK, Fr. Ziatyk, and Igumen Patrick.)

5.         The written Treasurer’s Report submitted by Archpriest Dennis Hendershot was reviewed with comments exchanged. Highlights include:

            A.         Financials were reviewed - $ 14,000 balance currently available

            B.         A certificate of deposit was cashed to help defray recent operating costs

            C.        The books of the Archdiocese will be given to the Auditing Committee in the near future so the committee can begin work for the required audit

            D.        Assessments “tardy” from parishes include Weirton (which is catching up from being in arrears in 2008) and Homestead which is contributing assessments due to the Archdiocese but not the money due to the O.C.A. (two years now)

            A motion (Igumen Patrick (Carpenter)/ Archpriest A. Matychak) was made to reconsider a previous Council motion that moved money from the NexTier account, stating now that the money shall not be repaid since it was used for long-term diocesan improvements.

             Passed unanimously.

6.         The Chancellor reviewed the status of the signatures required on Archdiocesan accounts. A motion (Archpriest P. Suda/ E. Markoff) was made stating that His Grace, Bishop MELCHISEDEK, Archpriest Paul Ziatyk, and Archpriest Dennis Hendershot shall be authorized to sign the checks; two-of-three signatures required on each check.

            Passed unanimously.

7.         The status of the hierarchs travel allowance was then discussed at great length. His Grace stated that his preference is that a vehicle (new or used) be either bought or leased for the Archdiocese (whether or not he obtains a driver’s license). The following summarizes many of the discussion points brought forth:

            A.         Leasing a vehicle may be problematic since there is often an age minimum included for insured drivers

            B.         Discussions should be initiated (and appropriate letters written if necessary) with dealers who might be willing to outright donate a vehicle or deal with the Archdiocese for a greatly reduced vehicle purchase

                        (Several Pittsburgh area and Johnstown auto dealers were mentioned.)

            C.        This should be considered an “operational expense,” not part of the bishop’s overall “package.”

            D.        High liability coverage should be included in the insurance package to protect the Archdiocese’s assets

            A motion (J. Schultz/ E. Markoff) was made to remand the topic of the vehicle purchase and ancillary issues to the already existing committee concerning the hierarchs “package.” Passed unanimously.

8.         The Archdiocesan Family Day was reviewed --- August 16, 2009, is the date; the Allegheny-Beaver Valley Deanery is scheduled to host this year; Lory Nescott and Matushka Myra Oleynik have once again graciously agreed to co-chair the event; information about this event will be forthcoming shortly.

9.         The Budget Committee’s preparation of the new budget was then discussed. It was decided that the Budget Committee would not meet formally until the special committee dealing with the bishop’s “package” made more information available.

10.       The annual Diocesan Assembly was discussed; the Chancellor noted that, if we follow the past rotation, the Mon-Valley Deanery should host the 2009 Assembly. His Grace stated that, at least for this year, this rotation would hold. A motion (Archpriest G. Johnson/ R. Skvir) was made to annually set the first Saturday in the month of November as the date of the Diocesan Assembly. Passed unanimously.

            [Secretary’s Note: This means that Saturday, November 7^th is the 2009 date.]

11.       A motion (Igumen Patrick (Carpenter)/ Fr. Deacon J. Mell) was made stating that the stipend previously approved for those driving the bishop continue for the time being.

            Passed unanimously.

12.       The Chancellor reported that the annual Stewardship Appeal has not been sent yet as would have been the case in other years. It was decided to wait until the consecration ad book and banquet solicitations were completed. The Stewardship Appeal will be mailed in mid-September.

13.       The status of the Late Vocations Program was reviewed. The Chancellor stated that it is time to start a new cycle of this program. His Grace noted that he wants to re-work the program, perhaps expanding its scope. A suggestion was made that the Archdiocese consider conducting a satellite program in the Johnstown Deanery or at least place the class site as far east in the Archdiocese as possible.

14.       Property improvements to the Diocesan Center were discussed. Acting upon the request of His Grace, a motion (J. Schultz/ Archpriest J. Govrusik) was made to create a permanent Buildings and Grounds Committee to be appointed by the hierarch.

            Passed unanimously.

15.       His Grace distributed a preliminary schedule he will be using for his episcopal itinerary. He also noted that there will be two diaconal ordinations in the Archdiocese this month: Matthew Stahoviak (July 12 - Ambridge); Joseph Lucas (July 19 - South Side, Pittsburgh).

16.       A motion (Archpriest A. Matychak/ J. Schultz) was made to set the second Wednesday of each month as the date for the Archdiocesan Council meetings, with the second Monday of each month being the alternative date if necessary, and, furthermore, that the time of the meetings be set as 6:30 PM. Passed unanimously.

           Secretary’s Note: The following 2009 dates are therefore on the calendar:* August 12 / * September 9 / * October 14 / * November 11 / * December 9

17.       The final discussion concerned clarifying the honorarium to be offered to His Grace when visiting parishes. The bishop stated that no honorarium is being requested since visiting diocesan parishes is clearly his duty as our Archpastor. However, honoraria for the deacon (and possibly subdeacons) accompanying him on a visitation would be appropriate. (It was noted that deacons, in the past, were routinely offered $75 when serving the Holy Liturgy.)

18.       Having nothing further to discuss, a motion (Archpriest P. Suda/ E. Markoff) to adjourn was made and passed unanimously at 9:02 PM. The meeting closed with prayer.

Respectfully submitted,

________________________

Archpriest William J. Evansky

Secretary

Approved:

Bishop MELCHISEDEK                                                                  Archpriest Paul Ziatyk

Bishop of Pittsburgh and Western PA                                              Archdiocesan Chancellor