Minutes from the Downtown Barrie Neighbourhood Association

Structure and Steering Committee meeting

Held October 7, 2009

Barrie City Hall:  Huronia Room A

Meeting began at 7:10 pm

1.       Member introductions were made.

2.       The BDNA Website has a “Blog” section where one can get informed as to events, news, and the minutes of various meetings. The “Forum” section is a place where you can start discussions and voice your opinions, ideas and concerns. The “News & Events” page has an organizational calendar which posts events, and meeting dates & times.

3.       There are 22 BDNA brochures leftover from the 100 that were printed. They were given out at the HNS BBQ and at the HNS drop-in where we were kindly allowed to pass out the brochures.

4.       Membership now stands at about 30-40.  Blind carbon copy “Welcome Letter” will be sent out to everyone. We need to get it out to show e-mail works. There are problems encountered in communicating with the interested parties who signed in at the first meeting, so we are hoping that they will get in touch with us.

5.       The structure for this committee will be the same as the sub committees: Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary/membership and Media person. It was decided that Ben would be chairman and Geof, Stephen and Bryan would be Vice Chairmen. The Vice Chairmen are filling in the other positions until other volunteers step forward for the other positions. Their role is to be the central clearing house for the suggestions and efforts of the other two committees, which are the Crime Prevention and Long Term Planning/Property Standards.

6.       Encore Telephone Solutions is an answering service which is willing to donate for six months 30 free minutes a month, after which there would be charges. We do not have a guarantor to guarantee payments over the free amount. A member offered to investigate the cost of a dedicated line and an answering machine. A physical mail address will also be investigated for cost and location.

7.       When the website is completed, we will advertise wide scale. A media blurb could tell people who we are, and how to get involved.

8.       The donation jar has $50.28 in it. A suggestion was made that we post a sponsor page for donations on the website. We could also offer Banner Ads to local businesses, where we in turn would post something like “Please visit vendors who are supporting us.”

9.       We are not funded by the City of Barrie, so we have to come up with ways to raise funds to pay for expenses.

10.   We were told that the liquor store on Mary Street will not be moving or closing down this location anytime within their current knowledge. They have recently installed a security guard at irregular and peak hours. They are also receiving the full and rapid co-operation of the Barrie Police. This should help stop some of the problems in that area.

11.   Discussion arose that the sub-committee needs to have balanced prospective, representation and position between Social Service Organizations and Citizens. It was also noted that our leadership structure is minimal and is as close to a grassroots democracy as we can arrange. Everyone has the opportunity and the space to register their comments, suggestions and or complaints on our website. So get involved!

12.   The Police have indicated that it is not financially possible for them to maintain their current extra effort much longer. Let’s find alternative methods of discouraging criminal, and just plain bad behavior downtown. Neighbourhood Watch and Citizens on Patrol have been suggested.

13.   It was clarified that all citizens of Barrie regardless of where they live are welcome to voice their opinions about downtown. The downtown belongs to everyone.

14.   The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday November 4^th, at 7pm.

The meeting adjourned at 8:15