May 5th, 2004 - Minutes of the BIA's annual meeting, held at the Rendez-Vous restaurant on May 5th, 2004.

Were present : Mike Wilson (President), Mario Barette, President of the Town of Hearst Economic Development Corporation, Gaëtan Lacoursière, Manager of Business Solutions, Northern Telephone, Gérald Gaudreau, Yvette Gaudreau, Francine Lecours, Estelle Mignault, Colette Fortin, Manon Pelletier, Chantal Sévigny-Lacroix, Jean Vachon, Hélène Vachon, Daniel Larochelle, André Plourde, Fanny Joanis, Mark Addie, Denis Cantin, Ginette Cantin, Teri Brunet, Michel Ouimet, Martin Lanoix, Huguette Boisvert, Julien Boisvert, Line Lanoix, Paul Blanchette, Hélène Blanchette, Joël Plamondon, Louis Corbeil (Secretary).

Subjects discussed :

- The President, Mike Wilson, welcomed everyone present as well as enterprise owners and guests of the BIA.  He then asked the Secretary to present the 2003 Financial Statements and the 2004 Budget.

- The Secretary presented excerpts of the provincial law governing the fields in which Ontario BIAs can invest (view document).  With a Power Point presentation, the Secretary illustrated the 2003 revenues and expenses vs the 2003 budget.  He also presented the 2004 budget which was submitted and approved by the Municipality, except for two capital expense items; the patio and the parking north of Hwy 11 with a welcoming kiosk for tourists of the ACR.  These two items will have to be further discussed.  The total budget for 2004 is $40,095 (view Budget 2004).

- Prop. by: Gérald Gaudreau; Supp. by: Joël Plamondon.  THAT the 2003 Financial Statements be approved as presented.

- The President explained the progress the BIA has made since its beginning by emphasizing on the period since 1997 where particular efforts have been made, in cooperation with the Municipality, to renew the sector's infrastructure.  He also explained the principal activities and the promotion and cooperation efforts of various private and public organizations.

- The President also presented excerpts of the '20/20 Perspective', the economic development strategy for the Town of Hearst, that the BIA Executive has consulted and from which the Board had taken two priority projects, of particular interest to the BIA; develop a parking space on a parcel north of Hwy 11 and develop a better tourist welcome center for ACR tourists.  The President said that the BIA would like to be the 'Lead' for this project and asked the first guest, Mr. Mario Barette, to indicate in his presentation if the BIA was on the right track. (view document)

- Mr. Barette read a document written by Mr. Claude Laflamme, Town of Hearst Administrator, for the Economic Development Corporation (hereinafter called the Corporation) that explains the mandate the Municipality has assigned to the Corporation (view French document).

- Mr. Barette explains that Mr. Plamondon is employed by Nord Aski whose mandate is regional.  The job offer in newspapers is for a director for the Corporation who will work on development projects for the Hearst community and who will insure that the strategic plan called "20/20 Insight", developed by the Municipality in 2003, is implemented.

- In response to a question regarding the 'Leads', as defined in the 20/20 Insight study and if the BIA is on the right track in proposing to be the 'Lead' for the development of a parking project and a welcome center, Mr. Barette says that these projects will have to be realized in cooperation with the Corporation.

- A BIA member says that the Municipality does not support new development as much as other communities do.  This same member also says that the Municipality does not reinforce its own regulations with regard to the level of cleanliness and of building maintenance.  Mr. Barette responded that Hearst had excellent infrastructures compared to other communities and that, even if there were economic development problems, with the recruiting of a director for the Corporation and the 20/20 study, we were on the right track. 

- Another member said that there should be posters along Hwy 11, east and west sides of the BIA sector, announcing the Downtown area.

- Mr. Lacoursière presented, with the help of a ‘Power Point’ presentation, services offered by Northern Telephone.

- Mr. Lacoursière underlined that, with the improvements undertaken by the company, the cellular service should be available on 90% of our region's territory, including Calstock, within a year.  There will be two new towers installed, one in Calstock and another in Lowther. 

- A member stated that the tower that serves the town of Hearst is too far off West, which results in poor quality of the cellular service.  This is why it is difficult to use our cellular phone even in the Companion Hotel.  This is unacceptable.  He also highlighted the fact that the High Speed Internet version of 1 megabyte is not available for the town.

- M. Lacoursière indicated that he will investigate on those two points and that he will communicate the results to the BIA President.  He will also verify the possibility of discounts for small businesses in Hearst.

- A member stated that inflatables during the street sale attracted children.  Another member suggested that there should be more presentations like dog shows, aerobic dances and others, like a couple of years ago.

- The issue of a downtown patio was also discussed.  A member have submitted a request for the installation of a patio in front of his business on George Street and is waiting for an answer from the Municipality.

- The President underlined that the BIA supports the development of downtown patios and has included money in its 2004 budget in case capital expenses were required to build a sidewalk that would go around the patio, like they did in Rouyn. 

- Many members indicated that they supported this initiative because this will attract customers downtown.  It is suggested that a petition be made in support of the project and that the media be informed of the Municipality's reluctance towards the project.
 

- The President welcomed all new building and business owners to the downtown area. (view list).

- The president thanked members for their presence, questions and participation at this annual meeting.