Allegro

Executive Board Minutes

June 15, 1999 -- August 3, 1999

Volume XCIX, No. 8September, 1999

TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 1999

Meeting called to order at 11:28 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Landolfi, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Bruno, Hafemeister, Rosen and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens.

June 8 minutes unanimously approved as amended.

President Moriarity read a letter to the board from a New York City Ballet orchestra rotation player with reference to the rotation players’ participation in the unit affairs of the orchestra.

Moriarity informed the board of a letter that he had received from Deborah Davis, communications coordinator of the AFL-CIO Union Privilege Program, describing two Union Privilege programs that would be of interest to our members: the Union Plus Credit Card and the Union Member Mortgage and Real Estate program. She expressed interest in meeting with the membership to talk about the Union Privilege benefits of various programs. Moriarity referred the matter to Price to follow up, since his office handles this program.

Blumenthal excused.

Assistant to the President Dennison informed the board that he had attended a meeting of the Broadway Theatre Fact-Finding Committee, during which a proposed use of the Lyceum Theatre was discussed. The Shubert Organization owns the theatre but some time ago transferred the air rights for the Lyceum, with an option to purchase the theatre, to an organization now owned by the Bertelsmann Group, a media company. Bertelsmann wants to exercise its option and install a Broadway Hall of Fame museum and a production entitled “The Spirit of Broadway.” This proposal was to be submitted to the NYC Department of City Planning for approval. The Shubert Organization opposed the project in a presentation before the Fact-Finding Committee. Richard Frankel, producer of “The Spirit of Broadway,” requested the opportunity to appear before the board to present his view and describe the project. Motion made and carried unanimously to invite Frankel to appear before the board to present his position regarding the proposal and his project.

Moriarity submitted a request from New Jersey Public Employees that Local 802 sign on as a sponsor and supporter of their Jobs with Justice public relations campaign. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Discussion held on the possible change in venue of Beauty and the Beast and the special situation request for the forthcoming production of Aida, both Disney Broadway shows.

Board members Giannini and Gale present at 12:27 p.m. Business Rep Lennon present for the ongoing discussion of the aforementioned productions.

Meeting recessed at 1:30 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:30 p.m.

Present: Moriarity, Price, Landolfi, Blumenthal, Gale, Giannini, Hafemeister, Rosen, Weiss, Bogert, Dennison and Owens.

Discussion held on the cost of the revision of the sound system at the Broadway Theatre for the production of Miss Saigon. Motion made and carried unanimously that President Moriarity be authorized to offer up to $2,500 to the producers and theatre owners to defray the cost of the sound treatment expenses.

Discussion held on recommendations and resolutions for the upcoming AFM Convention.

Meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m. to attend the scheduled membership meeting.


TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1999

Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Landolfi, Executive Board members Crow, Giannini, Hafemeister and Rosen, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison.

Assistant to the President Dennison reviewed briefly the Broadway Fact-Finding Committee meeting which was reported on June 8 (see June 8 minutes).

Producers Richard Frankel, David Singer and Tom Viertel appeared before the board to make a presentation regarding their production, The Spirit of Broadway, which they are projecting to present at the Lyceum Theatre. They outlined their plan to commission a musical production to be performed several times each day. Discussion held, during which each member of the production team presented a different aspect of their plans. After their presentation and discussion they were thanked and excused.

Board members Gale and Bruno present at 11:45 a.m., and board member Weiss present at 11:55 a.m., during the previous discussion.

Further discussion held on The Spirit of Broadway project.

Local 802 New Organizing Director Dubnau and Organizer Eisman appeared before the board to report on and discuss their recent visit to a nearby jurisdiction, during which they met with a number of musicians and conducted additional research to determine the feasibility of carrying out an organizing initiative in conjunction with the AFM. Dubnau submitted and discussed a possible organizing strategy and plan.

Meeting recessed at 1:05 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:20 p.m.

Present: Moriarity, Price, Landolfi, Blumenthal, Bruno, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Hafemeister, Rosen, Weiss, Bogert and Dennison.

Two New York City Ballet Orchestra musicians appeared before the board to present information about and bylaws of a recently-formed organization entitled New York City Ballet Orchestra Musicians’ Guild. This organization was formed to open another line of communication with Local 802 and to represent those members who are not dues-paying members of the “NYCB Orchestra Association.” Discussion held. Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens present at 2:53 p.m. during the previous discussion. NYCBO members excused.

President Moriarity reported to the board that an unfair labor practice against Local 802 had been filed at the NLRB by an NYC Ballet Orchestra rotation player.

Discussion held on various Broadway theatre matters.

June 15 minutes unanimously approved as amended.

Motion made and carried unanimously to purchase two tickets at $50 each, for a total of $100, to a breakfast given by “Association For a Better New York” that will discuss the recent report on the City University of New York.

Motion made and carried unanimously to donate $100 from TEMPO802 to a fund-raiser for “People for [Fernando] Ferrer.”

Motion made and carried unanimously to donate $100 from TEMPO802 for a breakfast fund-raiser for NYC Councilmember Walter McCaffrey.

Motion made and carried unanimously to donate $100 from TEMPO802 for a breakfast fund-raiser for NYS Assemblymember Scott Stringer.

A request was received from the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health to pay the annual membership dues. Controller Bogert was requested to verify the amount and report back to the board.

Moriarity reported that the collective bargaining negotiations with Local 802’s staff, represented by OPEIU Local 153, had been concluded and the agreement ratified. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Discussion held on the renovation and rental of the unoccupied space on the sixth floor.

Report made by Moriarity on staff personnel.

Meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m.


TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1999

Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Landolfi, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Bruno, Crow, Gale, Hafemeister and Rosen, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison.

June 22 minutes unanimously approved as amended.

Board members Weiss and Giannini present at 11:40 a.m.

Controller Bogert reported that Local 802 paid $250 in 1998 dues to the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH). Motion made and carried unanimously to remit $250 to NYCOSH for 1999 dues.

Recording Vice-President Price reported to the board that he had granted the following leaves of absence:

  1. Scott Kuney, from the Broadway production The Civil War, from May 30-June 11, to perform in Europe.
  2. Susan Follari, from the Broadway production Ragtime, to extend her prior leave of absence to June 1-29, for personal reasons.
  3. Tony Cecere, from the Broadway production Beauty and the Beast, from June 27-July 18, to study in Banff.
  4. William G. Whitaker, from the Broadway production Peter Pan, from June 14-20, for personal reasons.
  5. Scott Wendholt, from the Broadway production Fosse, from June 10-July 11, to work out of town.
  6. Lowell Hershey, from the Broadway production The Phantom of the Opera, from July 5-24, to perform with the NYC Ballet in Saratoga, N.Y.
  7. Katie Dennis, from the Broadway production The Lion King, from July 13-Aug. 23, to tour Japan and to play the Bard Festival, with the proviso that she not substitute in The Lion King during that period.
  8. John Cipolla, from the Broadway production Cats, from July 5-12, to present a lecture in Oostend, Belgium.
  9. Ted Nash, from the Broadway production Cats, from June 18-July 12, to work out of town.

President Moriarity submitted a request from NIKO Associates, a Broadway theatrical production company, for Special Situations status under the terms of the agreement between Local 802 and the League of American Theatres and Producers. This request is for a production entitled Saturday Night Fever, a stage musical based on the 1977 film, which opened in London in April 1998. The production is scored for 18 musicians, including conductor, and is scheduled to open in September 1999 at the Minskoff Theatre, which has a musician minimum of 24. Included in the packet of information supporting the producers’ position were letters from the composers, orchestrators, musical supervisor and musical coordinator. Discussion held. The board directed Moriarity to respond, denying the request due to the lack of appropriate information.

Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens present at 11:48 a.m. during the previous discussion.

A request was received from Richard Frankel Productions for consideration as a Special Situation, in accordance with the Local 802/League of American Theatres and Producers agreement, of an upcoming production entitled Swing at the St. James Theatre. The production is scored for eight musicians, while the minimum in the St. James is 24 musicians. According to the documentation supplied, this show will be a music and dance revue that will incorporate the contemporary, new-swing sound used in dance clubs and music revues. Discussion held on the concept of the show, the number of musicians, the use of keyboards and electronic instruments, and the possibility of sampling, augmentation and/or enhancement of acoustic instruments.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the request with the proviso that Local 802 is able to verify that no synthesizer sampling and/or electronic augmentation or enhancement of acoustic instruments will be utilized in the score, as represented by management.

Moriarity responded to a request from Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens for a discussion on board policy decisions. He reported that the members’ handbook will be distributed after review by the officers and supervisors. Further discussion on the employees’ handbook is still to take place. However, the non-discrimination section of the handbook has been distributed to the staff. Further discussion held on staff activity.

Local 802 Business Rep Voccola appeared before the board to request strike authorization against Dean Karahalis and the Concert Pops of Long Island. Discussion held, during which Voccola outlined the situation. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve a strike authorization against Concert Pops of Long Island.

Discussion held on the possibility of implementing the recommendations made by AFL-CIO Director of Education Bill Fletcher with regard to membership education utilizing the MEMO program.

Moriarity reported that the officers had received an evaluation memo from Cal Sutliff, the facilitator of the supervisors’ seminars.

Meeting recessed at 1:15 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:30 p.m.

Present: Moriarity, Price, Landolfi, Blumenthal, Bruno, Crow, Hafemeister, Rosen, Weiss, Bogert, Dennison and Owens.

Moriarity reported that the Special Situation panel was scheduled to meet to decide on the request submitted by Buena Vista Theatrical Ventures, Inc. (a.k.a. Disney) for the upcoming production of Aida.

Financial Vice-President Landolfi submitted an agreement with the Queens Symphony Orchestra. This agreement meets all the parameters of contracts reached with the other freelance concert orchestras. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Landolfi submitted an agreement with the New York Grand Opera (Vincent LaSelva, conductor) for performances in Flushing Town Hall, a 300-seat auditorium. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Moriarity led discussion of the AFM Recommendations and Resolutions submitted for the upcoming 93rd AFM Convention in Las Vegas.

Crow excused at 3:38 p.m.

Assistant to the President Dennison reported that bids had been submitted by the three contractors recommended by the architect who drew up the plans for the renovation of the sixth floor. The final lowest bid of $118,000 was found to be acceptable by the planning committee. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the $118,000 bid and proceed with the renovation.

Dennison reported that the show The Scarlet Pimpernel closed at the Minskoff Theatre on May 30, 1999, and has been scheduled to reopen at the Neil Simon Theatre on Sept. 8, 1999. Local 802 had informed the company that, according to the League agreement, the hiatus does not apply and the musicians must be paid for the time off. Furthermore, according to the agreement, this is considered an ongoing production.

Meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.


TUESDAY, JULY 6, 1999

Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Landolfi, Executive Board members Crow, Gale, Hafemeister, Rosen and Weiss, Controller Bogert.

June 29 minutes unanimously approved as amended.

Board members Giannini present at 11:40 a.m. and Bruno present at 11:50 a.m., during the previous discussion.

President Moriarity reported that the Buena Vista Theatrical Ventures, Inc. (a.k.a. Disney) Special Situations request for their upcoming Broadway production of Aida had been approved by the hearing panel 4-2. Executive Board member Giannini, who is also a member of the hearing panel, made a detailed report on the procedure and result. Discussion held on the Special Situation clause in the Local 802/League of American Theatres & Producers, Inc. agreement.

Moriarity reported that Local 802 had been requested by Jack Goldstein, Executive Director of the Theatre Development Fund, to join the theatre owners and producers to help fund the Broadway Initiative. This is a plan, which developed from a coalition of theatre unions and management that would allow Broadway theatres to transfer their developmental air rights to real estate developers on the West Side. Discussion held. (For further information, see minutes of April 14, 1998.) Motion made and carried unanimously to deny the request.

A request was received from the League of American Theatres & Producers, Inc. that the union approve a waiver of the performance schedule during the two-week Christmas/New Year period of December 1999-2000. The producers want the flexibility to schedule seven performances in one week and nine performances in the other week without additional compensation. Discussion held, during which information was submitted that several Broadway productions had revised their schedules for the period so that no shows would take place on Christmas and New Year’s Eve and they would still retain a schedule of eight shows for each week. Motion made and carried unanimously to deny the request.

Director of New Organizing Dubnau appeared before the board to report on current organizing activities.

Meeting recessed at 1:30 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:15 p.m.

Present: Moriarity, Price, Landolfi, Bruno, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Hafemeister, Rosen, Weiss and Bogert.

Discussion held on the MEMO (Membership Education and Mobilization for Organizing) program. This program had been the subject of seminars held in the past but had not been implemented by the officers and the board. Moriarity appointed a subcommittee to seek ways to implement the MEMO program and to promote increased membership involvement.

Board member Hafemeister distributed a report on strategic planning and requested that the board consider this for its future agenda.

In response to a request by Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens on June 28, Executive Board policy decisions since 1983 were researched and extracted from the minutes and distributed for the board’s information and review.

Moriarity announced that the Theatre Musicians’ Association conference will be held on Aug. 23 & 24 and the ICSOM conference will be held beginning on Aug. 25. Motion made and carried unanimously to pay expenses of travel and per diem for President Moriarity to attend these conferences.

Controller Bogert distributed the vouchers of June 1999.

Crow excused at 3:45 p.m.

Discussion held on the AFM IEB recommendation #3 to the convention, which recommends salary increases for the AFM President, Vice-President from Canada and Secretary-Treasurer. Motion made and carried unanimously that, in light of the AFM’s financial uncertainty, the board directs its convention delegates to vote against the recommendation in its present form.

Meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.


TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1999

Meeting called to order at 11:40 a.m. Present: Recording Vice-President Price, Executive Board members Crow, Gale, Giannini, Hafemeister, Rosen and Weiss, Controller Bogert. President Moriarity excused to attend AFM pre-Convention committee meetings in Las Vegas. Financial Vice-President Landolfi excused because of illness.

July 6 minutes unanimously approved as amended.

Price reported to the board that he had granted the following leaves of absence:

  1. Jeff Zahn, from the Broadway production Cats, from July 3-Aug. 31, to pursue writing projects for TV and recording, with the proviso that he not substitute in Cats during that period.
  2. Glenn Drewes, from the Broadway production Fosse, from July 4-11, to perform in Europe.
  3. Jeff Carney, from the Broadway production Beauty and the Beast, from July 4-Aug. 1, to perform in Europe.
  4. Glen Estrin, from the Broadway production Beauty and the Beast, from July 20-Oct. 17, for personal reasons.
  5. Stacey Shames, from the Broadway production Beauty and the Beast, from June 21-July 10, to perform and teach at the Aspen Music Festival.
  6. Susan Follari, from the Broadway production Ragtime, to extend her prior leave of absence through Aug. 31, for personal reasons.
  7. David Bakamjian, from the Broadway production Miss Saigon, from June 21-July 3, to teach and to perform at various chamber music workshops, with the proviso that he not substitute in Miss Saigon during that period.
  8. Kaitilin Mahony, from the Broadway production The Lion King, from July 3-25, to perform at Saratoga with the NYC Ballet.
  9. Ming Yeh, from the Broadway production Miss Saigon, from June 30-July 10, for personal reasons.
  10. Sandra Billingslea, from the Broadway production Miss Saigon, from July 8-19 to perform out of town, and from Oct. 22-Nov. 2 to perform in Japan.
  11. Michael Rice, from the Broadway production Peter Pan, from July 7-25, for personal reasons.
  12. Edward S. Hamilton, from the Broadway production Annie Get Your Gun, from June 15-July 19, to work on a recording project, with the proviso that he not substitute in Annie Get Your Gun during that period.
  13. Veronica R. Salas, from the Broadway production The Phantom of the Opera, from July 12-16, July 19-23, Aug. 9-14 and Aug. 23-Sept. 17, to perform out of town and out of the country, with the proviso that she not substitute in The Phantom of the Opera during those periods.

John Henry Lambert, d.b.a. the Gramercy Brass, submitted a request to audio/videotape upcoming concerts of the Gramercy Brass for grant application purposes. He will sign the agreement and follow all Local 802 guidelines as established for this activity. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve, with the proviso that an affirmative two-thirds vote be obtained from the bargaining unit before recording.

Price distributed policy decisions which had been extracted from previous minutes dating back to 1983 for the board’s information and further review, including the draft of the staff gift policy. Discussion held, during which the board directed Executive Board member Crow to rewrite the staff gift policy memorandum.

Business Rep Voccola appeared before the board with an agreement with New York Brass Choir (Concert Pops of Long Island). Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Motion made and carried unanimously to contribute $500 from TEMPO802 to [Charles] “Rangel for Congress 2000.”

Motion made and carried unanimously to contribute $250 to the MusiCares Foundation for the Tribute to Les Brown fundraiser.

Motion made and carried unanimously to approve the June 1999 vouchers.

Meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.


TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1999

Meeting called to order at 11:35 a.m. Present: Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Landolfi, Executive Board members Bruno, Crow, Gale, Hafemeister and Rosen, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison. President Moriarity excused while on vacation.

July 13 minutes unanimously approved as submitted.

Recording Vice-President Price reported to the board that he had granted the following leaves of absence:

  1. Joyce Hammann, from the Broadway production The Phantom of the Opera, from July 19-Aug. 12, for personal reasons.
  2. Claudia Hafer Tondi, from the Broadway production The Lion King, from June 17-Aug. 8, for personal reasons.
  3. Robert S. Gustafson, from the Broadway production The Scarlet Pimpernel, from July 18-Aug. 31, for personal reasons.
  4. Valerie D. Naranjo, from the Broadway production The Lion King, from Aug. 12-Sept. 23, to teach at Berklee in Boston and to perform in Africa.
  5. Julie Green, from the Broadway production Miss Saigon, from Aug. 2-Sept. 6, for personal reasons.
  6. Todd Reynolds, from the Broadway production Annie Get Your Gun, from Aug. 1-7, to attend a creative residency.
  7. Paul Garment, from the Broadway production Jekyll & Hyde, from July 27-Aug. 1 to play concerts on Cape Cod, and from Aug. 10-15 to play the Bard Festival, with the proviso that he not substitute in Jekyll & Hyde during those periods.

Board member Crow submitted the revised draft of the staff gift policy of 1990 to the board for review. Discussion held.

Board member Weiss present at 11:48 during the previous discussion. Price and Crow excused to attend funeral services for the wife of a staff member.

Meeting recessed at 12:05 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:10 p.m.

Present: Price, Landolfi, Bruno, Crow, Gale, Hafemeister, Rosen, Weiss, Bogert and Dennison.

Price and Assistant to the President Dennison reported on the AFM Convention recently held in Las Vegas. Discussion held.

Business Rep Donovan appeared before the board to submit a contract with Swift Co., L.P., for the production of A Good Swift Kick at the Variety Arts Theatre. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Financial Vice-President Landolfi submitted an agreement with Dicapo Opera Theatre for a performance at Queensboro Community College next spring. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Landolfi submitted a request from the Lauri Strauss Leukemia Foundation to show a three-to five-minute compilation of previous grant application videotapes from 1990 through 1999 at the annual benefit concert on Nov. 15, without additional compensation to musicians. This will be a one-time-only showing and one copy of the tape will be delivered to Local 802. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Meeting adjourned at 2:50 p.m.


TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 1999

Meeting called to order at 11:40 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Executive Board members Bruno, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Rosen and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. Financial Vice-President Landolfi excused to attend her mother’s funeral in St. Louis.

The following staff supervisors – Hannen, Gulluscio, Jaffe, West, Portugal, Cronin, Kayne and Dubnau – were present at the meeting to hear President Moriarity’s report on the 93rd AFM Convention, recently held in Las Vegas. Discussion held on the Recommendations and Resolutions adopted by the convention. Recording Vice-President Price, Board member/delegate Giannini and Assistant to the President Dennison, who attended as an observer, added their input to the report.

Meeting recessed at 12:50 p.m.

Meeting resumed at 2:20 p.m. Present: Moriarity, Price, Bruno, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Rosen, Weiss, Bogert, Dennison and Owens.

Moriarity reported that the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast will cease performances at the Palace Theatre the first week of September and will resume performances at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre at the end of October.

July 27 minutes unanimously approved as submitted.

Moriarity reported that the Broadway production The Scarlet Pimpernel had ceased performances at the Minskoff Theatre and will resume at the Neil Simon Theatre after performances in Dallas, Houston and Atlanta.

Moriarity further reported that negotiations had been suspended with Broadway Television Network for pay-per-view showings of Broadway productions, and that the League had submitted the failure to reach agreement to arbitration.

Controller Bogert distributed and explained financial statements for the six-month period from January through June, 1999, after which a discussion was held.

Senior Organizer Elsila appeared before the board to submit an agreement with Enigmatic Images, Inc. (a.k.a. Reggie Workman) for the employment of musicians in concert and club performances and lecture/demo engagements. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve.

Elsila submitted an agreement with John Hicks/Elise Woods for the employment of musicians in various venues. Discussion held. Motion made and carried unanimously to approve. Elsila excused.

Manager of Information Systems Cronin and Computer Network Supervisor Kayne appeared before the board to discuss additional computer training for Kayne in the Windows NT 4.0 system now installed in Local 802’s computer network. Kayne outlined the computer education courses needed to keep her current in her ability to maintain the new system, install upgrades, configure, customize and troubleshoot without the delays of trial-and-error, on-the-job training. She described the classes and their cost. Cronin and Kayne excused. Discussion held.

Motion made and carried unanimously to authorize two programs of training classes; #803, “Administering Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0” and #922, “Supporting Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0 Core Technologies” at a cost of $2,700 and to submit this to the CAC for reimbursement. Cronin and Kayne returned and were advised of the board’s decision.

Meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.