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 Thursday February 8th, 2007. Here were the subjects discussed:
 

Present: Gérald Gaudreau Sylvie Otis Patricia Marin-Carrier Marc Dufresne, Council Rep. Isabelle Boulanger Daniel Sigouin/S. Verrier, Resource Person Diane Bernier, Secretary

Absent:  Mike Wilson, President Sylvie Leroux Brenda Rosevear

Subjects discussed :
 

1		Opening - Agenda. - The meeting was declared open at 7:40 a.m.  Agenda: - Prop. by: Gérald G., Supp. by: Patricia M-C.;  CARRIED.
2		Report of the meeting held on January 11th, 2007. - Minutes of the meeting held on January 11th, 2006.  Prop.  by: Gérald G., Supp. by: Isabelle B.  CARRIED.
3		List of cheques issued between January 1st and January 31st, 2007 and current financial statements. - The list of cheques issued between January 1st and January 31st, 2007 were presented for approval.  The current financial statements were not available at this time.  We are still waiting for the Municipality's report on BIA expenses to finalize financial statements for December 2006.  Prop. by: Sylvie O., Supp. by: Patricia M-C. CARRIED.
4		Cinema Cartier. - Cinema Cartier is selling advertising space at the beginning of each show and would like to know if the BIA would be interested in taking an ad.  Members think that this would be a good idea and would let people know that the BIA still exist.  Marc suggested that maybe the BIA could share advertising space with one of the business that is interested in taking advertising space and that the BIA logo be included with their advertisement.  Some members think that it was the responsibility of each business to pay for their own ad, but that the BIA could place an ad when there are special events like the sidewalk sale, Midnight magic, etc. and that we should take the ad for the whole year instead of six months.  Marc would like to have statistics on how many people frequent the cinema each month in order to have a better idea if an ad would be beneficial to the BIA.
5		Community Transport. - Marc explained that the donation of $1000 for the community transport is an annual donation.  Members found this amount a bit high.  Marc said that he suggested to Mr. Laflamme to maybe install a board on the bus for anyone who wished to advertise an event.  Ex.:  the BIA could buy its own board to advertise the sidewalk sale.  The only thing that would change every year is the date.  When the sidewalk sale is over, the board is removed and stored for the next year.  This subject will be discussed further at the next meeting.
6		Correspondence. - Letter from Ontario Provincial Police: Members were very surprised and happy to have received a letter of appreciation from the O.P.P. - 2007 Business Improvement Areas National Conference (program): The program for the next conference is in.  Gérald seems very interested to attend and will ask Thérèse if we have enough funds for this.   Marc and Shana also would like to attend, but their schedule does not permit them to go.  - Email (Commercial Facade Improvement Program for BIAs): The information we had previously received on this program was only for the Toronto area.  We will inquire with the Municipality if such a program is available for Hearst.  Marc said that Daniel S. once said that money would be available for facade improvement through the tourist project.  Shana will confirm this. - RDEE- Bio-Com: Workshop: Shana explained that this workshop was to inform people on how to develop their own enterprise, how to prepare their business plan, where to begin, etc. - Communities In Bloom Ontario: Info - Le Bulletin newspaper + calendar: Info. - Kloda Productions : Info. - Airbounce (new catalogue): Info. - Les Attractions Gastoni Ltd: Info.
7		Other subjects. - Marc informed members that, following his suggestion, the Municipality has purchased a giant electronic billboard, at the cost of more than $50,000, for advertising special events, etc.  This billboard will be installed between the fire hall and the beer store. - Diane informed members that Francine Lecours had brought back the missing elves suits.  Last year, Marc Dupuis had borrowed them from the Chamber of Commerce along with the Santa Claus suit and he had only brought back the Santa Claus suit and forgot to bring back the other suits.  Shana said that it would be a good idea to have the person borrowing the suits sign a form and ask for a deposit of maybe $50 or $100, that way if the suits are not brought back, we could use that money to have new ones made.  This deposit would be reimbursed to the person upon returning the suits. - Diane informed members that the BES conference was advertised on the BIA web site and asked them to visit the site.  Shana V. said that those who do not have their tickets for the conference yet, should buy them soon as they were selling fast. - Marc D.  asked, since the BIA is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, if all members of the BIA can profit from the discounts offered to members or if only one person can profit from it. - Diane informed members that the organization La Vieille Branche would like to know the date of the next sidewalk sale as soon as possible in order to have tickets printed for their annual draw.  Members present seem to prefer that the sidewalk sale be held in mid-August, but no date has been decided yet.  The Hog event will be held during the weekend of August 18th and members would like to ask Mario Villeneuve if there is a possibility to organize an activity with them.  This subject will be further discussed at the next regular meeting and a decision made.  Members also wish to bring back the variety show this year and put more emphasis on it in order that this activity becomes larger and better each year.  No member wants the sidewalk sale to be held for more than three days and think that from Thursday to Saturday is long enough.  Many members think that a water activity for children would be very popular. - Marc and Shana informed members that the NeORA conference (The Northeastern Ontario Recreation Association) will be held in Hearst from September 11th to 14th, 2007, with approximately 125 delegates.  Public conferences will also be held.  Marc mentioned that we could give out promotional bags to delegates present.  These bags could hold discount coupons or promotional items from businesses interested in participating.  Shana will take care of the promotional bags.
8		Adjournment - The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 a.m.