Mass Cultural Council approves updated out-of-state travel policy; Chair reports emergency travel approval for staff to Americans for the Arts

Acting Executive Director David Slatery reported that Senior Director of Business Operations Cathy Cheng-Anderson and Program Officer Greg Torrales were approved by the Chair to attend the Americans for the Arts Conference in Albuquerque in early June at a cost of $2,055, because the travel request came to staff after the April 14 Executive Committee meeting and before the June Council meeting.

Slatery presented proposed revisions to the Agency's out-of-state travel policy that would establish a Council-approved annual travel budget within the overall spending plan, permit the Executive Director to approve most staff travel within that budget, and require only higher-cost trips above set thresholds to return to the Executive Committee or Council for approval. The proposal also includes a lower threshold for additional approval of the Executive Director's own travel to avoid self-approval of higher-cost expenses.

Chair Ché Anderson expressed support for the revised policy and the Council had no questions. Tom Bernard moved to approve the policy and Julie Wake seconded the motion. The Council voted in favor and the minutes record a resolution approving the Agency's updated Out-of-State Travel Policy as presented.

The Council was informed the approved travel will proceed in early June and staff will implement the revised policy moving forward, bringing higher-cost travel back for additional review as described.