May 8 , 2008 - Minutes of the BIA's annual meeting, held at the Rendez-Vous restaurant on May 8th, 2008.

Were present : Mike Wilson (President), Jocelyn Blais (Special Guest), Gérald Gaudreau, Marc Dufresne, Patricia Marin-Carrier, Luc Vachon, André Plourde, Isabelle Boulanger, Réjean Gagnon, Eric Plourde, Michel Habel, Sandra Lanoix, Conrad Morissette, Thérèse Morissette, Sandra Lanoix, Mona Gauthier, Isabelle Aubin, Sylvie Otis, Sylvie Leroux, Sylvie Mousseau, Francis Bouchard, Victor Granholm et Diane Bernier (Secretary).

Subjects discussed :

- After supper, the President, Mike Wilson, welcomed everyone present as well as business owners and special guests and added that the BIA is entering its 30th year or existence this year.

- Proposed by:  Gérald Gaudreau, Supported by:  Sylvie Mousseau

THAT the order of business be hereby accepted.

Mike asked everyone if they had time 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:  Isabelle Boulanger, Supported by:  Sylvie Leroux

THAT the minutes of the 2007 Annual Meeting be hereby approved.

- Mike reported that he was disappointed of the interest that members showed for the BIA annual meeting and that so many members were interested in knowing what is going on in their downtown.

- He reported that the BIA is entering its 30th year of existence this year, as it was created on June 16, 1978, by the Ontario Municipal Affairs Commission. He also reported that the BIA's mission was the embellishment and maintenance of infrastructures, land and municipal buildings as well as the promotion of the downtown area as a commercial zone and that a special levy, collected by the Municipality, is invoiced to all building owners in order to fulfill this goal.

- He also resumed activities and projects done in 2007 and presented the executive committee saying that there still were vacant seats on the committee for those interested.

- Mike also reported that, this year, the Summer Festival will take place on July 3-4-5 and that, at the same time, there will be a volleyball tournament and a Tribute to CCR show.

- He explained that new benches had been ordered and that they would be installed as soon as they arrived. Eric Plourde from Central Garage offered to pick them up for free, if he was in the Toronto area when the benches were ready for pickup.

- Mike discussed about the Front and George Street Revitalization Project. He reported that the committee for this project have chosen the firm J.L. Richards from Sudbury for the preliminary study and that they were waiting for a confirmation from NOHFC and the RED Program for financing. Step 2 is already begun and we need members' comments and ideas.

- Mike listed new businesses that opened their shop downtown in 2007, of which is Vénus, Cuticles, Isabelle Aubin RMT, Coup d'Oeil, Inspired Design, Blue Bird Taxi, new owner Conrad Morissette. He also listed businesses that closed or moved but still are in the downtown area. Mike mentioned that he found it very unfortunate that Hearst Bargain Shop and Perfect Look were destroyed by fire last December.

- None.
 

- Mike presented the financial statements for 2007 and resumed revenues and expenses compared to budget for the same year.  Revenues for 2007 were $47,899, of which $10,062 came from contributions from the Municipality for capital projects and maintenance downtown.  Expenses for 2007 were $48,360.  In these expenses, we have maintenance at $14,432, Christmas activities and promotion at $7,438, Summer Festival at $8,316 and the remaining amount for various expenses and promotion. 

- The President also presented the 2008 Budget which was submitted to the Municipality, but not yet approved. Total Budget for 2008 amounts to $47,350,00.

- Mr. André Plourde asked what "Bank Indebtedness" meant and Mike responded that this meant that the BIA had a line of credit with the bank in the amount of $5,000 in case of unforeseen expenses.

Proposed by: Sylvie Otis, Supported by: Sylvie Leroux

THAT Financial Statements for 2007 be hereby approved as presented.

CARRIED

Proposed by: Eric plourde, Supported by: Gérald Gaudreau

THAT the 2008 Budget be hereby approved as presented.

CARRIED

- Mr. Jocelyn Blais, special guest for this meeting, was at his first presentation with the BIA. Mr. Blais is the only person in Northern Ontario to make presentations in French on climate change. He was chosen amongst 3,000 applications and was trained to do these kinds of presentation along with 250 other persons. He was trained by Mr. Al Gore. Mr. Blais will be, in the following weeks, making presentations in schools of the area. During almost an hour, Mr. Blais presented various information on climate change and on what we could do to minimize its effects. 

- Mr. André Plourde asked about the project to replace the existing street lamps. Mike responded that it still was a priority and that it was included in the Front and George Street Revitalization Project.

- Victor Granholm asked if more trees will be planted downtown. Mike responded that this was also part of the Front and George Street Revitalization Project.

- Some members asked if they had to remove ashtrays that were installed on their building since their was a new municipal law on smoking in front of businesses. Mike mentioned that we have to keep the ashtrays there for people to butt out their cigarettes before entering a business. They also asked if they had to keep the Municipal poster in their windows all the time. Mike mentioned that this was a Municipal law that was instated following a provincial law.

- The President presented new executive members again before thanking the audience for their attendance, questions and participation at this annual meeting.

Proposed by:  Gérald Gaudreau, Supported by:  Patricia Marin-Carrier

THAT this 2008 Annual Meeting be hereby closed at 20h50.

Winners of door prizes:

1st prize: $50 in BIA money - drawn by Francis Bouchard - Winner: Michel Habel
2nd prize: $50 in BIA money - drawn by Michel Habel - Winner: Réjean Gagnon