June 7, 2007 - Minutes of the BIA's annual meeting, held at the Rendez-Vous restaurant on June 7th, 2007.

Were present : Mike Wilson (President), Marie Thérrien, Bank of Canada, Katrina Carrera, Front Street Improvement Committee, Lysann Boisvert, CCEJ, Jennifer Nolet, (OPP), Gérald Gaudreau, Marc Dufresne, Patricia Marin-Carrier, Daniel Larochelle, André Plourde, Isabelle Boulanger, Eric Plourde, Nancy Plourde, Estelle Mignault, Nancy Vachon, Jean Vachon, Amélie Lachance, Elizabeth Brisson, Daniel Sigouin, Francis Bouchard, Victor Granholm et Diane Bernier (Secretary).

Subjects discussed :

- The President, Mike Wilson, welcomed everyone as well as business owners and special guests.  Mike explained the changes to the Agenda saying that Mrs.Thérrien and Mrs. Boisvert asked to do their presentation right after supper.  He invited all members to supper.

- Proposed by:  Gérald Gaudreau, Seconded by:  Eric Plourde

THAT the order of business be hereby accepted, with the addition of the following item: "Canada Day, July 1st", by Mike Wilson.

- Mrs. Marie Thérrien, Bank of Canada: 

Mrs. Thérrien informed members that the Bank of Canada is the only bank authorized to print money.  She also said that counterfeiting has been existing for a long time and mentioned that she's also offering presentations like this one just before festivals and events, because this is where counterfeiters are most active.  She reported that, in 2006, more than 60% of 10$ and 20$ bills were counterfeits and that 90% of those had been printed on ink jet printers.  Ontario and Quebec are considered the provinces with the highest rate of counterfeits.  Mrs. Thérrien explained and showed members how to detect a counterfeit by using all security items, either on the Bird or Canadian Era series.  She reported that a new series will be printed in 2011 and that a new one will be printed every 10 years.  Mrs. Thérrien and Jennifer Nolet (OPP) also explained what to do if we come into possession of counterfeit money and say that it is important to give all details to the OPP when reporting a counterfeit.

- Lysann Boisvert, CCEJ

Lysann explained the summer employment program from which employers can benefit from a $2 an hour salary grant for each student hired during the summer.  Employment must be for 16 weeks.  Lysann reported that the program no longer had students on their list but that employers could still apply and be put on a waiting list.

- Mike reported that the BIA will soon celebrate its 30 years of existence, as it was created in 1978.

- He resumed all activities and projects that were completed in 2006 and presented the new members on the Board and also informed members that there were two vacant positions on the Board for those that were interested. 

- Mike also informed members that the Summer Festival will take place on August  16-17-18 this year as this was what most merchants wanted. 

- He explained that new banners were purchased last Spring, that we planned to purchase new benches and that the street lights were a priority as they were no longer safe.

- Mike also explained that the Municipality has agreed to cover the entire cost of installing Christmas decorations in exchange of free parking days in December.  One member said that the the cost of installing the Christmas decorations should have always been the entire responsibility of the Municipality and Mike explained that these decorations were installed only in the BIA area.  Other members said that parking should still be free in order to bring more customers downtown, but some members think that this was not a good idea as parking spaces would be taken by merchants themselves and theirs employees and that there would be no more places available for customers.

- Mike asked members if they had the chance to read the minutes from the last annual meeting and resumed what was discussed during this meeting.  He then asked members if they had questions.  No one had questions.

- Proposed by:  Diane Bernier, Supported by:  Isabelle Boulanger

THAT the minutes of the 2006 Annual Meeting be hereby approved.

- None.
 

- Mike listed new businesses in the BIA sector, of those Greco’s Pizza, Perfect Look, SigNature, Kimba’z Hidden Gems, Maison Oasis, Euphoria and Everything Store.  He also listed businesses that closed and moved, but still stayed in the BIA sector.

- Mike W. presented the financial statements for 2006 and resumed revenues and expenses compared to budget for the same year.  Revenues for 2006 were $41,300, of which $8,550 came from contributions from the Municipality for capital projects and maintenance downtown.  Expenses for 2006 were $34,243.  In these expenses, we have meetings and conferences at $1,156, maintenance at $10,146, Christmas activities and promotion at $8,893, Summer Festival at $3,375 and the remaining amount for various expenses and promotion. 

- Mike explained that, because of a miscalculation over previous years and two accounts that should have been removed from the Assets many years ago, our projected deficit had decreased by more than $5,000.  This caused a surplus for 2006 of $4,772 because some budget constraints were done to recover the full deficit in the year.

- The President also presented the 2007 Budget as submitted to the Municipality, but not yet approved.  The total budget for 2007 amounts to $44,175,00. He informed members that the budget had been increased by 10% following a proposition at the last annual meeting.  The purchase of new benches and banners is included in the new budget. 

- One member asked why we did not buy the new benches locally and Gérald G. explained that they were purchased from a company from out of town because they were cast iron, did not rust and were more sturdier.

Proposed by:  Isabelle Boulanger; Supported by:  Daniel Larochelle. 

THAT Financial Statements for 2006 be hereby approved as presented, and

THAT the 2007 Budget be hereby approved as presented.

- Mike listed members on the Improvement Committee, of which Katrina that reported that they were open to all suggestions from the population. 

- Mrs. Carrera indicated that the Front Street sector also included George, 9th and 10th Streets and that this area had been designated as an improvement zone in the Official Plan that was approved last January. This designation gives us the opportunity to benefit from grants for the improvement of infrastructure.

- Shell and Esso refused to sell their land where there was a gas station.  But, these companies gave us permission to install a park or do parking spaces there.

- Mrs. Carrera indicated that the Committee has to establish priorities for improvements to be done in the short and long term and that a consultant will be hired to develop a plan which will be used to apply for grants.

- One member mentioned that this was a great project, but that things were not going fast enough.  He also said that people had to implicate themselves more and that we needed something to bring tourists in the area and customers downtown. 

- Mike asked everyone present if they were interested in becoming a Board Member, as there were two vacant seats.  Those interested can contact Mike.

- Some members noted a decrease in customers downtown and fear that the situation will get worse with the new commercial developments west of town.  Many think that efforts to revitalize the downtown sector will contribute to bring back customers downtown.

- Mike discussed about Canada Day on July 1st and asked members if they plan to open their store on July 2nd.  All members said that they will be closed on July 2nd. 

- Daniel Sigouin mentioned that he had the authority to give a free parking pass to tourists wishing to shop downtown, so if members know of any tourist shopping downtown to tell them to go at the Chamber of Commerce to get their free pass.  Daniel also mentioned that more than 5,000 vehicles go through Hearst every day.

- Francis B. suggested to implement a parking space for RVs somewhere downtown.

- The President thanked everyone present for their participation, their ideas, suggestions and questions.

Proposed by:  Daniel Larochelle, Supported by:  Patricia Marin-Carrier

THAT this 2007 Annual Meeting be hereby closed at 21:45.