Bayfield Ratepayers Association

Minutes, Annual General Meeting, August 1, 2009

  1. Meeting called to order at 10:10. With only 19 BRA members in attendance, the meeting did not have a quorum as required by the Constitution. As a result, a subsequent General Meeting is required to approve any motions made at the meeting.

Also in attendance were Mayor Bill Dowson, Deputy Mayor Dave Johnson, Councillors Tyler Hessel and Jim Ferguson, as well as J. Campbell of the B.S.R.A.

  1. Minutes of August 2, 2008 Annual General Meeting.

Motion to accept: G. Kurtz, G. Davidson. (Minutes attached).

  1. President’s Report.President Roma Harris provided a summary of the Association’s activities and issues addressed over the past year. (Report attached).
  1. Treasurer’s Report. Treasurer Brian Carrier reported that the Association had a net income of approximately $ 200 for the year.

Motion to accept the audited financial statements as filed: B. Carrier, Lola Cook.

Motion to designate John Elliot as BRA auditor/financial Reviewer for the fiscal year 2009-2010: B. Carrier, Dave MacLaren.

  1. Committee Reports:

Communications & Membership:

  • Sondra Buchner reported that the membership list currently stands at 548 members, including 201 life members and 140 paid-up members. Additional efforts are underway to reach current members and recruit new members, including obtaining up-to-date email addresses for all members.
  • Dave MacLaren introduced a new website for the Association with interactive features, such as automated notices of events and meetings, which would enable the BRA to communicate more effectively with members and the broader community.

Motion to approve a budget of $600 U.S. for the new website for the 2010 fiscal year: D. MacLaren, D. Bieman.

  1. Election of Directors:

Motion:The following slate of Directors was nominated by D. MacLaren and R. Harris for 2009-2010:

  • Returning for the second year of their first two year term: Gary Mayell, Sondra Buchner, Erin Roy, Alan Vihant
  • Returning for the second year of their second two-year term: Roma Harris, Lynne Gillians
  • Nominated for a second two-year term: David MacLaren
  • New Nominees for a two-year term: Gary Davidson, Bernadette Hill, Paul Hill
  1. HuronCounty Official Plan Five Year Review: D. MacLaren presented Alan Vihant’s report on the proposed changes to the Huron County Official Plan. The most significant aspect of the Plan and changes is the apparent conflict between the key economic drivers in the County, Agriculture and Tourism, and the need for the Plan to clearly set out priorities for balancing environmental issues with these economic drivers.
  1. Water Quality and Blue Flag Initiative: D. MacLaren reviewed the BRA presentation to Bluewater Council summarizing the water quality monitoring program of the Lower Bayfield River funded by Council and delivered by ABCA in 2008 – report attached. Council has approved the BRA funding request for 2009 to continue the monitoring program and to set the terms of reference for a sub watershed plan. Bluewater was denied Blue Flag status for the BayfieldMainBeach as the water quality did not meet Blue Flag standards.
  1. Budget Update – D. MacLaren reviewed the Municipal budget for 2010, indicating that our emphasis should be on what we (Bayfield Taxpayers) are getting for our money.
  1. Priorities, Fiscal Year 2010 - Roma Harris proposed the following priorities for the coming year:
  • TAXES AND FAIR ASSESSMENT
  • WASHROOMS ON MAIN STREET
  • IMPROVING BEACH AND MARINA WATER QUALITY
  • BEAUTIFICATION OF MAIN STREET
  • PUBLIC LIBRARY PROJECT
  • COORDINATED PLAN FOR THE REVITALIZATION OF MAIN STREET, INCLUDING TREE REPLACEMENT IN BAYFIELD
  • BYLAW ENFORCEMENT

Motion for the BRA to adopt the above-listed priorities for the 2010 fiscal year: Roma Harris, Lynne Barlow.

  1. Comments from Council: Mayor Dowson brought greetings from Council and offering Council’s appreciation for the efforts of groups like ours. Councillor at Large Jim Ferguson reminded us of the new funding available for Heritage and Culture, which could help us with revitalization initiatives.
  1. New Business:
  2. Dave Bieman requested that, as in previous years, the BRA make a donation to the annual Bayfield Fair.
  3. Motionthat the BRA provide a grant in the amount of $ 100 to the Bayfield Agricultural Society: Roma Harris, Gary Davidson.
  4. Dave Bieman indicated that the Fair Board would provide a booth at the Bayfield Fall Fair to the BRA at no charge.
  1. Adjournment.

Motion that the meeting be adjourned at 11:40 a.m.: Roma Harris, Gary Davidson.