Minutes from 2009 Annual General Meeting

Minutes from last year were passed at this year's AGM. Here they are:

Hespeler Village BIA Annual General Meeting Minutes


January 21/09 6:00pm at Ernie’s Road House; meeting called to order at 6:30 pm; Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.



1. Welcome – Loris Manni welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the Board.



2. Review of Minutes of Last Year’s Meeting – Cliff Vanclief motioned to accept the minutes. Lynn Craig seconded. All in favour. Passed.



3. Board Introductions and Projects:



• Cliff Vanclief – Vice-Chair – in charge of the Spring Event. Wants to make it a Fun Run/Walk Event and keep it in the Core. Time frame for event – around Mother’s Day.

• Deb van de Water – Secretary – takes minutes and also produces the quarterly newsletter. Please let her know what you would like to see in the newsletter. Contact her through the BIA email.

• Lynn Craig – Member of the Music and Lights Committee (2nd year). Music and Lights in the Village kicks off Christmas in Cambridge every year. Her role is liaison between committee and BIA Board, and also to encourage business and property owners to decorate and “light up” for this event. BIA sponsored the printing of the program for this event and ensured all downtown businesses ended up in the map inserted into the program. M&L begins with a play at the library, followed by a concert at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian, ending with the tree lighting ceremony at Old Town Hall. Lynn gives special thanks to Company of Neighbours and Mill Crossing Church for this year’s event.

• Greg Robbins – brand new Board member. No projects yet.

• Linda Frazao – in charge of website and was responsible for website re-design. Also for the Christmas Decorating Contest. Please send her an email with any ideas you may have.

• Trevor McWilliams – city staff member assigned to the BIA Board.

• Rick Cowsill – City Councillor for Hespeler; informed us that Shawky Fahel’s plan for American Standard goes to council in February; also that the Mayor is coming to the next BIA meeting (Feb 18); spoke of challenges due to recession and urged us to be positive.

• Ken Buller – sits on CARAC Board; also official greeter for new businesses coming to the downtown core.



4. Advertising – presented by Frank of SNAP

• His experience thus far has been 100% positive. His business is growing because the community has caught on.

• He is keen on promoting Hespeler and gives his advertisers free articles and promotion of events.

• He provided the map of downtown Hespeler that is in every issue. Please notify him of any changes needed.



5. Treasurer’s Report and Proposed Budget 2009 – Loris Manni reviewed the past year’s activities and costs. For the upcoming year, she discussed banner and baskets specifically. The plan is to have 2 sets of banners for downtown for 2009. Baskets – we are in need of new ones. Loris found 40 new ones at no cost to us. She also went to Council to ask the City to pay for basket watering since we found out that Galt’s watering costs were paid for last year.



Linda Frazao motioned to accept the Treasurer’s Report. Lynn Craig seconded. All in favour. Passed.



Loris presented the budget for 2009. There was some excess at the end of 2008 because of projects that did not come to fruition. Six thousand per year is set aside for advertising in SNAP. There is money allowed for a summer and a fall/winter set of banners; also for the summer event at Forbes Festival and Christmas (includes the Santa Claus Parade). Ken Buller motioned to accept the 2009 Budget. Ken Boyle seconded. All in favour. Passed.



6. Decorating Contest Draw – Rick Cowsill drew the winning ballot – Alison Fraser of Handorf Drive won the $50 to spend downtown. She voted at Essence Salon.



7. Question and Answer Period:



• Tim Hilborn asked why we couldn’t have a summer or fall version of Preston’s Candyland? Lynn Craig replied that the Board would love to have more activities but needs more help to make these things happen. Ken Boyle suggested contacting neighbourhood associations to help. Ken will present this to his board (Hespeler Village Neighbourhood Association).

• Lary Turner mentioned that this is the 150th Anniversary of the founding of Hespeler, and a great reason for a party.

• Loris thanked Rob of Ernie’s for the hosting of the AGM



8. Next Meeting: Wednesday February 18th, 2009, 6pm, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 73 Queen St.