Meetings

This page will contain the minutes of the BIA's last executive committee meeting, along with the agenda of the upcoming meeting a few days prior to said meeting. Meetings are held every first Thursday of the month.

The minutes of previous meetings will be available in the Archives section of the site.

The last BIA executive's monthly meeting was held on Friday February 14, 2003. Here are the subjects discussed:
 

Present: Mike Wilson, President Rosanne Gratton, Vice-President Lorraine Charlebois Estelle Mignault Gérald Gaudreau Manon Pelletier Daniel Lemaire, Concil Rep. Louis Corbeil, Secretary

Absent: Francine Lecours  Daniel Larochelle

Subjects discussed :
 

1		Opening. - Prop. by: L. Charlebois, Supp. by: G. Gaudreau. ADOPTED.
2		Correspondence. - Chamber of Commerce: Membership 2003 ($110).  Prop. by: L. Charlebois, Supp. by: E. Mignault.  ADOPTED. - Hearst University: 50th Anniversary Celebrations; August 1 to 4, 2003: Info. - Searches done on the BIA web site: Info.
3		Minutes of meeting held on January 9 2003. - Prop. by: L. Charlebois, Supp. by: G. Gaudreau.  ADOPTED.
4		Pecuniary interest. - None.
5		Meeting with Municipality. - Subject: Budget 2002 and preliminary budget 2003; The Secretary presented a comparative chart of the 2002 Budget, as submitted by the BIA to the Municipality, and the proposition from the Municipality. It is noted that there is only one item in dispute; maintenance of trees in the downtown area and shrubs and kiosk at the municipal parking lot.  According to a report on actual expenses for 2002, this expense amounts to $1,481.  Daniel Lemaire informs members that Councilor Rhéaume, who is part of the Municipal Finance Committee, has asked to meet the BIA to settle this matter. - As for the 2003 Budget, the Secretary presented a preliminary budget and members discussed possibilities to meet the Municipality to have it approved. Everyone agree to present the budget on a 50/50 cost sharing basis for capital and maintenance expenditures.  The Secretary will contact the Municipality Administrator to schedule a meeting.
6		Storage of Christmas Decorations. - Gérald Gaudreau explains the work he and the Secretary have done. The Municipality will lend us part of the airport hangar, which is perfect for Christmas decorations, because of its long and high walls.  There would also be a closed section at the back.  We have given a draft to Rhéal Gagnon showing where hooks would be necessary to hang big decorations.  He will evaluate the cost and labor to fabricate and install these hooks. The question of cost sharing will have to be negotiated with the Municipality. The BIA is willing to supervise the project and supply labor to built a closed section at the back of the hangar with mezzanine. - Prop. by: G. Gaudreau, Supp. by: Lorraine Charlebois; That the warehouse project for Christmas decorations, as presented by Gérald Gaudreau, be submitted to the Municipality for 50/50 cost sharing approbation, same as for the purchase of Christmas decorations in 2002, on the 2003 Budget.  ADOPTED.
7		Participation at Annual OBIA Conference. - March 2 to 4, 2003; No member is available to attend. - Prop. by: R. Gratton, Supp. by: G. Gaudreau: That the Centre-ville Hearst Downtown  BIA be a member of the OBIA Association at the cost of $99 for 2003. ADOPTED.
8		Souvenir sale and other at the Moose Festival. - The BIA representative on the Moose Festival Committee ask that the way these sales will go be clarified.  She stresses out that the BIA does not have the mandate to raise funds, as it is not a charity or community organism.  We are part of the Municipality because our funds are collected from businesses and commercial buildings in the BIA sector by a special tax collected by the Municipality.  Furthermore, members of the BIA are appointed by the Municipality. - Daniel Lemaire says that the BIA could collect funds, but that these funds would have to be placed in a special account and serve solely for the Summer Festival which is part of the Moose Festival. After discussion, it is suggested that the BIA executive meet again on Tuesday March 18, 2003 to finalize this subject. - Lorraine Charlebois suggests that polar fleeces, fabricated in Mattice, be sold. It is also suggested that the BIA not sell any items for which another store in the BIA area shows interest in.
9		Revision of BIA strategic plan. - The President says that it is time to revise the strategic plan made in 2000, especially since the Municipality is elaborating a global plan for the Hearst area.  This item will be on the next meeting agenda.
10		Web page access. - 729 hits in January, 2003.
11		Other subjects. Suggested activities and purchases for 2003: - Organize activities during the Hearst University 50th Anniversary Celebrations, have a theme, special banners; - Fabricate or purchase caps for meters; - Study with the Municipality the possibility to increase the BIA sector and make a park North of Hwy 11; - Design a parking space North of Hwy 11, corner of 9th (Esso yard); Prop. by: R. Gratton, Supp. by: L. Charlebois: That Laurent Vaillancourt be sought to do a design: ADOPTED.   This design will be presented to the Municipality, to BIA members and to future members, if there is an increase in the BIA sector, and used for grant applications, etc.