2012 Golf Tournament   |  Minutes of Meetings   |  Map of New Hamburg   |  Local Businesses  |  Local Events  |  Search This Website

« Previous page

New Hamburg Board of Trade Executive Meeting

Minutes: Kristen Hahn

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Present: Tim Bender (New Hamburg Cleaners), Doug Brenneman (Expressway Ford), Leslie Elkeer (The Waterlot), Joe Figliomeni (Dundee Wealth Management), Nigel Gordijk (Common Sense Design), Meredith Hagen (MeMe’s Café), Paul Knowles (English Garden Publishers), Tom Hinz (Tom Hinz Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning), Cheryl Gordijk, Steve Wagler (Josslin Insurance), Kristen Hahn (Upper Case Books).

Regrets: Dietmer Walch

1) Township Council Meeting Reports:

  • Members of the executive will attend Township Council meetings. A schedule will be circulated, and possibly a Google Calendar created so that we can share information online.

2) Budget:

  • The budget committee (Steve Wagler, Cheryl Gordijk, Doug Brenneman) will meet the last week of January.
  • The financial report (which is due 90 days from Fiscal Year End) will be presented to the general membership at the February meeting.
  • The Board of Trade is shifting software to Simply Accounting. Joe Figliomeni will give a quick tutorial.

3) MTO 7/8 Open House, week of January 23

  • The Executive noted that this meeting was poorly publicized. Time and location are unknown, but Tim Bender will forward whatever information he receives.
  • MPP Michael Harris, guest at the January Board of Trade General Membership meeting for January, will be briefed on the issues surrounding the MTO and changes to Highway 7/8.

4) Federal Budget consultation:

  • January 20, 2012, Tim Bender has been invited to consult with MP Harold Albrecht regarding the Federal Budget

5) Trail System, Bus Route public consultation:

  • Past discussions have centred around the creation of a trail along the river, but in many cases, there exists no land easement. Property owners command right to the water’s edge, or the center of the river, therefore a river trail will be difficult to create.
  • A trail has been proposed to connect the residential areas to the Recreation Centre.
  • A bus route to the Boardwalk development in Waterloo has been suggested, leading to concerns that this may draw business away from New Hamburg, or possibly raise taxes. If a bus route is created, the Executive feels it is important that there are an equal number of buses going to New Hamburg as there are those leaving from New Hamburg.

6) Downtown Revitalization Workshop:

  • A meeting will take place within the next month with the Region of Waterloo.
  • Although Peel St. is a Regional street, and Huron is municipal, all evidence seems to suggest that the maintenance of the downtown (specifically garbage cans and inlaid brick) is a Township concern, though it has been noted that the Region was responsible for damage to the aforementioned.

7) Plowing Match in Ayr:

  • A query has been placed with the Township about whether they are putting up a display. If so, the Board of Trade would like to be represented. As yet, there has been no response from the Township.

8) Monthly, Town-wide 50/50 Draw:

  • Tom Hinz investigated this as a BoT fundraiser. 3% of the cost for the maximum ticket sales purchases the license from the Township.
  • Tom volunteered to manage the administration of this fundraiser, suggesting ticket sales be stopped a few days before each draw.
  • Joe Figliomeni discussed the Knights of Columbus “Share the Wealth” fundraiser, in which each member must sell a book of ten tickets. The tickets are valid for draws throughout the entire year. Structurally, this idea is very similar to the Lion’s “Cash Calendar” fundraiser.
  • Meredith Hagen suggested that we begin work on the “50/50” fundraiser immediately, then launch a “Share the Wealth” campaign at the Fall Fair in September.
  • Both ideas pending the approval of the General Membership, whose support this endeavour needs.
  • A subcommittee has been struck: Tom Hinz, Cheryl Gordijk, and Joe Figliomeni.

9) New Business:

  • Summer Student: Paul Knowles reminded the Exec that the application for summer student help must be done soon.
  • Guest Speakers: Paul announced that our guest for the next General Membership meeting is MPP Michael Harris. Going forward, as we consider future speakers, Paul advised that we be cautious about inviting business people from outside the community who, in the past, have typically used the meetings as a platform to promote their businesses. Paul has some future speakers in mind, and at the request of the Executive, will follow up on these leads.
  • Membership Committee: Meredith has requested an up-to-date list of members.
  • Dinners: MeMe’s Café in January, Waterlot in February, MeMe’s in March, April TBA.
  • Mail: the Board of Trade received a request from MP Harold Albrecht that his office be permitted to circulate a flyer to the membership. As the Board of Trade is non-partisan, there followed some discussion as to whether this should be permitted, in the light that MPP Michael Harris is our next speaker. The Executive decided that MP Albrecht may not circulate his flyer to the Board, for it is clearly self-promotional and intended for his supporters. MPP Michael Harris, as our speaker, will be fielding questions from supporters and non-supporters alike.

10) Planning Meeting:

  • The planning meeting will take place on Sunday, February 12, 2pm at Josslin Insurance. It will conclude no later than 5:30pm
  • Sam Lucibello will be asked to chair
  • The Executive will seek to define the mission statement, take reports from the standing committees, and plan out the future direction and focus of the Board.

Motion to Adjourn: Doug Brenneman