May 14 , 2009 - Minutes of the BIA's annual meeting, held at the Rendez-Vous restaurant on May 14th, 2009.

Were present : Mike Wilson (President), Katrina Carrera (Presentation on PAC), Luc Pépin (President Chamber of Commerce), Gérald Gaudreau, Marc Dufresne, Luc Vachon, André Plourde, Isabelle Boulanger, Francis Bouchard, Kevin Gow, Thierry Guindon, Denise Doyon, Shana Verrier et Diane Bernier (Secretary).

Subjects discussed :

- After supper, the President, Mike Wilson, welcomed everyone present as well as business owners and special guests for the meeting.

Denise Doyon would like to add the item "Water park for children".

Denise Doyon and Jean Vachon would like to add the item "Free parking on Friday and Saturday".

- Proposed by:  Isabelle Boulanger, Supported by:  Marc Dufresne

THAT the order of business be hereby accepted with the addition of the items "Water park for children" and "Free parking on Fridays and Saturday".

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:  Gérald Gaudreau, Supported by:  Denise Doyon

THAT the minutes of the 2008 Annual Meeting be hereby approved.

- Mike mentioned his disappointment for merchants' participation at this annual meeting, but congratulated members present saying that this demonstrated that they had their downtown at heart.

- He mentioned that the current economy and the fact that retail stores were establishing outside the downtown area was greatly affecting the downtown area.

- He summarized all activities and projects that were done in 2008 and presented the executive members specifying that there was room on the committee for more members for those interested.

- Mike reported that, this year, the Summer Festival will take place on July 2-3-4, 2009.

- He also reported that new BIA brochures have been printed and distributed to all merchants.

- Mike discussed about the Hwy 11 Improvement Project - Front Street and BIA Area and presented the latest developments since the first meeting in August 2008. J.L. Richards & Associates Limited was hired for the elaboration and presentation of the plan. The principal goal of this improvement plan is to make the downtown area greener and more friendly.

- Mike mentioned that the BIA needed new ideas, initiatives and energy in order to improve and that there was still room for new members on the Executive Board.

- Mike listed new businesses that opened their shop downtown in 2008, of which is Northern Medical Mobile Inc, Kevin Gow and Pierre Dalcour also new owners of the Ginsue building. Studio Derma (Chantal Macameau), Service d'évaluation et de ressources du corridor du nord, Perfect Look, Le Pôle now at la Pharmacie Brunet-Cantin-Vachon and Fleurs Phoenix, on Front Street where Le Pôle was situated, Mona and Michel Habel are also the new owners of this building. He also listed businesses that closed or moved in 2008.

- None.
 

- Mike presented the financial statements for 2008 and resumed revenues and expenses compared to budget for the same year.  Revenues for 2008 were $47,953, of which $11,111 came from contributions from the Municipality for capital projects and maintenance downtown.  Expenses for 2008 were $50,187.  In these expenses, we have maintenance at $17,984, Christmas activities and promotion at $6,988, Summer Festival at $10,690 and the remaining amount for various expenses and promotion. 

- He explained that 3 new benches were purchased and installed and that the cost for these benches, totaling $4,508, had increased considerably. This is why the section "Beautification and Maintenance" is so high.

- The President followed by presenting the 2009 Budget that had already been submitted to the Municipality but not yet officially approved. The total budget for 2009 is $48,950,00.

- Mr. André Plourde asked if the BIA could afford a budget that high. Mike responded that the budget is planned in accordance with the special BIA tax that the Municipality collects from building owners in the downtown area and that this tax can vary from $300 to $1,000 per building.

- Denise Doyon asked why her mother (which still owns a building) still pays for this special tax even though she closed her restaurant. Mike explained that it was now building owners that were responsible to pay this special BIA tax and not businesses that rent a space in the building.

Proposed by: Isabelle Boulanger, Supported by: Marc Dufresne

THAT Financial Statements for 2008 be hereby approved as presented.

CARRIED

Proposed by: Gérald Gaudreau, Supported by: Isabelle Boulanger

THAT the 2009 Budget be hereby approved as presented.

CARRIED

- Katrina Carrera, special guest, presented the Front Street and Downtown Improvement Project and discussed of the different aspects of this community project.

- Members present asked if the Municipality could do something about abandoned buildings, as they defaced the landscaping and were dangerous. Katrina reported that, unless a particular building was considered a danger to the public, the Municipality can not do anything, but that she will bring this suggestion to the Municipality and get back to us on it.

- Thierry Guindon mentioned that he had the building where the Queen's Hotel was situated appraised and that the appraiser told him that the building was a complete write off. The appraiser also told him that it would cost approximately two million ($2,000,000) million dollars to renovate it and approximately sixty ($60,000) thousand to destroy it.

- Some members mentioned that pressure should be put on owners of vacant buildings to force them to do something with their old buildings.

- Luc Pépin, current President of the Chamber of Commerce, discussed about the local buying project. He mentioned that the Chamber of Commerce has done a study during the last Springfest and reported that people seem to agree that local buying is important. However, the study also reveals that there is a lack of large retail stores, such as Walmart, in Hearst. Luc mentioned that the local buying project does not depend on any help from the Municipality.

- The goal for this project is to establish a kind of card system with the accumulation of points in Hearst. Those who will possess such a card will be able to accumulate points for each purchase done locally, but he reported that, for this system to work, it needed the cooperation and participation of local businesses. He also mentioned that he will let us know about the final study results as soon as they were compiled.

- Denise Doyon requested that the BIA support the petition that her daughter is currently doing for the installation of a water park in Hearst. Members present did not have any objections to supporting this petition and a letter of support will be sent to the Municipality. Marc Dufresne mentioned that there was a possibility that a skate board park and a water park be installed, but that the Municipality decided to wait for grants before installing them. Marc recommended that Denise send her petition to the Municipality and that it will certainly be taken into consideration.

- Denise Doyon requested the permission to install a sign on Hwy 11 in order to inform passersby of the location of her restaurant. Katrina explained that she might probably be given the permission to install such a sign, but that she will have to do it in a secure way and by following the Municipality's guidelines for signage.

- Mike also mentioned that following a meeting with the Municipality, it was decided to establish free parking on Friday nights and Saturdays for a trial period of two months, May and June, in order to help customers and increase patronage downtown. However, some members think that free parking should have been established all day on Fridays and Saturdays.

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

Proposed by:  Denise Doyon, Supported by:  Marc Dufresne

THAT this 2009 Annual Meeting be hereby closed at 21h37.

Winners of door prizes:

1st prize: $50 in BIA money - drawn by Luc Pépin - Winner: Denise Doyon
2nd prize: $50 in BIA money - drawn by Denise Doyon - Winner: Shana Verrier