January 31, 2008 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

Board debates rate hikes
by PETE MAZZACCARO

Board members of the Chestnut Hill Community Association continued on Jan. 24 to struggle with how to set the price for association membership and subscription to the Chestnut Hill Local, which the association owns.

The issue was raised most recently by association president Tolis Vardakis, who proposed in November several alternatives to increase the price of both membership and subscription to the paper. At the time, Vardakis said the rates had not been raised in many years and that both organizations needed the extra revenue in order to operate.

The CHCA membership fee currently is $30. Local subscriptions cost $20. Membership in the association includes the Local, and the paper keeps $15 of every membership.

Vardakis’ proposals included raising the membership cost to between $40 and $45 and increasing the Local’s newsstand price from 50 to 75 cents or $1.

He predicted that the move would generate between $64,000 and  $98,000 in additional revenue between both the association and Local.

The discussion at last Thursday’s meeting began with a proposal by Anne Spaeth to price membership at $20 for individuals, $40 for households and $50 for businesses. She suggested that memberships could be given to people who demonstrate an inability to pay.

Debate followed with some board members expressing the opinion that Chestnut Hill residents could afford rate increases while others felt membership could be given to all who live in the neighborhood.

Board member Joanne Dhody recalled working on membership during the tenure of former CHCA president Maurice McCarthy in 2000 and said that at the time she thought it would be appropriate to make everyone in the neighborhood a member.

“Our energy should go into PR [to promote the association].” she said. “I think we’d sell more Locals.”

Dina Hitchcock, CHCA vice president of operations, said she had real concerns for the ability of the Local and the CHCA to pay operating expenses.

“I’m really worried about the CHCA,” she said, noting that the only way the CHCA made enough money to cover its roughly $100,000 annual costs was through the $2,500 a month it receives in membership dues and whatever it can make through fundraisers like the Black and White Gala and the Holiday House Tour.

“Membership [dues] is a very important part of making the budget,” she added.

Several board members, including Marie Lachat and Jane Piotrowski noted that the CHCA has had a problem conducting a successful membership campaign.

“I’m the only person on the Membership Committee,” Piotrowski said. “It’s hard work to get members.”

There was also some discussion of what people might be willing to pay for the Local. Cheryl Massaro, the Local’s circulation manager, said that the last time the paper increased its price, in 1996, it lost nearly 20 percent of its readers.

Board member Carol Cope suggested that the CHCA undertake a professional survey to determine what people might pay for the Local and/or CHCA membership.