Present at the January 9^th, 2002 meeting were Alex Bacon, Bob Ballengee, Arcangelo Bollella, Mary Brigante, Michael Clohosey, Frank Golden, Sister Mary Rose Golden, Vincent Greco, Tom Lindgren, Joanne McMahon, Dorothy Mitchell, Connie Quarrie, Eugene Quarrie, Father John Quinn, Ann Silvestri, Corinne Strianese, Edward Strianese, Barrie Watson, and Lynn Watson.

            Ann Silvestri led the Parish Council in Vespers.  Father Quinn outlined the agenda for the meeting which included old business, committee reports, announcements of scheduled dates for upcoming parish events, and updates on the Parish Center and Fundraising Campaign.

            The meeting began with a review of the dispute between St. Patrick’s and the architect, Alex Bacon, over payment of Alex’s fees for the cancelled classroom extension project.  Alex distributed copies of a 15 page report on the dispute to all present.  From this report, the Parish Council learned that Alex had billed St. Patrick’s $79,316.42 and had received $50,000.00 in payment on November 19, 2001.  St. Patrick’s also paid  $7,096.65 directly to John Meyer, a subcontractor of Alex’s.  The disputed amount is the remaining balance of $22,219.77.

            Father Quinn affirmed the responsibility of the Finance Committee, of which he is a member, to protect the parish’s financial resources.  He stated St. Patrick’s position on the dispute, which is that the parish’s payments of  $57,096.65 are more than generous for a project for which construction had never started.  However, Alex considers that sum to be only a partial payment on the parish’s account.  To resolve the dispute, Father Quinn and Alex met on November 20^th for 2 1/2 hours.  That meeting was unsuccessful.  Next, Alex requested a meeting with Tom Lindgren, Frank Golden and Peter McNamara, which Tom scheduled for January 8^th.  Alex cancelled that meeting as he felt that it, too, would prove unproductive.

            In a letter to the Parish Council dated January 8^th, and at tonight’s meeting, Alex asked that members of the Parish Council intercede with the Finance Committee for closure on this issue.  His request was denied, as the Parish Council has no authority in matters of finance.  Father Quinn granted Alex’s request for expanded membership on the Finance Committee by appointing Vince Greco and Lynn Watson to that committee.  Together with Frank Golden and Tom Lindgren, they will make recommendations to Father Quinn for resolving this dispute.

            Turning to committees, Bob Ballengee reported that the Social Concerns Committee’s Food Pantry collections for the last 2 months totaled 80 bags of food and $970 in donations from St. Patrick’s, and 45 bags of food from the Food Emporium.  The Christmas drives yielded 2 1/2 carloads of presents for patients at the Ruth Taylor Geriatric Center and 2 carloads of gifts and $500 in donations for the children of the inmates of the Bedford Hills Facility.  Eight volunteers work at the Food Pantry, and six are on the Helping Hands Committee.

            Joanne McMahon told the Parish Council that Congregation B’nai Yisrael in Armonk invited her to an ecumenical meeting on January 29, 2002, which Father Quinn would like St. Patrick’s to host.  Joanne was very proud of our teens as they gave witness to their faith at the Ruth Taylor Care facility during an ecumenical service in December.  Joanne noted that sixteen teens attended the C.Y.O. Convention on the weekend of November 30th - December 2^nd.

            Pat Cummings reported that the Respect Life Society prays the rosary before the 10:30 A.M. Mass on Sundays.  Upcoming events include the March for Life on January 22^nd and the Blessing of Expectant Parents in May.

            Vince Greco expressed the parish’s thanks to Renata Scotto for blessing St. Patrick’s with her presence and her magnificent singing at the 12:00 P.M. Mass on Christmas Day.

            Father Quinn introduced Mary Brigante who works with Ann O’Sullivan.  Mary’s responsibilities include the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Program.  The Parish Council joined Father Quinn in welcoming Mary to St. Patrick’s.  At the November meeting, the Parish Council voted unanimously to require the eight grade students to sign in at Mass on Sunday.  Father Quinn was pleased to announce that as a result of that resolution, the students and their parents are both attending Mass.  Follow up is needed for those who are not attending.

            Father Quinn made the following announcements: Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day will be celebrated on February 10^th, The St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance will be held on March 16^th at the Canyon Club, and March 17^th will be the date of Zeppole and Scone Sunday.

            Tom Lindgren informed the Parish Council that plans for the Parish Center and the related Fundraising Campaign are proceeding very smoothly.  It is expected that construction will start the end of April.  The Fundraising Campaign has surpassed 45% of its goal amount with donations averaging over $25,000 in the first stage of fundraising.

            The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Wednesday, February 13^th following the evening Mass for Ash Wednesday.