FRYEBURG BUSINESS ASSOCIATION GENERAL MEETING Tuesday April 1, 2014




Join us for the general meeting and up-dates regarding 2014 projects & community events.
MEETING NEW TIME: 5:30 PM
FRYEBURG BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
GENERAL MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014
5:30P M
FRYEBURG FAIRGROUNDS MEETING ROOM

FBA is a member organization and as such participation during the general meeting is limited to members only.  All non-members wishing to speak at a general meeting will have the opportunity at the end of the meeting, under the “Public Comment” section of the Agenda.  Each speaker will be limited to five minutes, and may not speak a second time, until all present that wish to speak have had the opportunity.
  1. Call to Order / Declaration of Quorum / Welcome / Introductions
  2. Approval of Minutes from March 11, 2014
  3. Approval of Financials:Period ending March 31, 2014
  4. Old Business:
    1. Web Update - MC
    2. Business2Student Mentoring Program – WC
    3. Follow up on letter for Emergency Department Community Survey
  5. New Business:
    1. Proposed changes to meeting platform
  6. Committee Reports
    1. Committee Assignments
    2. < >Membership Committee - MC
    3. Economic Development Committee – HF
    4. Community Events/Bradley Park Concerts - DW
  • < >Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce
  • Greater Bridgton Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Agenda planning / next meeting date
  • Public comment
  • < >
Below are the minutes from General Meeting, 3/11/14 
FRYEBURG BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
Tuesday, March 11, 2014, 5:30pm
Fryeburg Fairgrounds
Minutes
  1. Call to Order/Declaration of Quorum/Welcome/Introductions:
President Donna Woodward called the meeting to order at 5:30. With 9 voting members present, a quorum was declared for all purposes.  
  
  1. Secretary’s Report:
On motion of Bonnie Gould second of Wanda Richard-Cox and unanimous vote, the Minutes of February 21, 2014, were approved as presented.
  
  1. Treasurer’s Report:
On Motion of Donna Pearce, second from Mia Purcell and unanimous vote, the verbal Treasurer’s Report was approved as presented.  Several membership dues payments will be added to the account.  Treasurer’s report attached.
  
  1. Old Business
    1. Website:  DW reported in MC’s absence.  Krack Media has been hired and has already begun implementing changes.  The first thing to be done was a new logo design. The new logo will be utilized on letterhead, pamphlets, business cards, etc. Rachel Damon has sent numerous photos to Eric with Krack Media.  DW will contact Cindy Alden for future photography projects.  Eric will be asked for future changes what the degree of difficulty will be.  MC is to maintain the website once completed.  The new website should be easier to maintain with MC’s attention to detail.  Axel will remain as an advisor as well as hosting the website and maintain the domain.
    2. Business – Student Program/Mentoring:  Wanda Richard-Cox did immense research into the legalities and liabilities of the Business/Student Mentoring Program.  It was determined in a prior committee meeting that the Fryeburg Business Association should and will continue its mission with the program of being a liaison between the Fryeburg Academy and local business.  A survey still needs to be developed and sent to the local business with the academy’s contact information.  FBA will develop a “How to start a mentorship program” guide and forward it to interested businesses.  Links will be added to the website to the documents to assist in establishing a mentorship.
A job fair to be held in the fall of 2014 for 7th through 12th grade students was discussed.  The desire to have this by years end was shared by all.  Madeline Litz, Lakes Region, will be contacted and asked to join the committee, or at least asked for guidance on the program and setting up the job fair.  Incorporating the job fair into the class curriculum is a necessity.
  
  1. New Business
    1. Emergency Departments – Chief Weymouth: Trying to get the word out and community buy in.  Emergency services is trying to be proactive in determining need, desires, what is the town’s vision for building and services.  Proposal to send out survey in reference to public safely, town office building site, and other future developments.  New building could reflect an increase in taxes.
Jeff Cox suggested sending bullet statements and a cover letter with the survey as to why new infrastructure is so important; trying to draw new families and businesses into the community with the updated emergency services.  Jeff will draft bullets/cover letter by the 18th to enable publication in the Fryeburg newsletter.

DW will forward survey to David for distribution via an e-mail blast to membership with a response to ER services.

Ambulance services can raise funds from private entities.
  
  1. Committee Reports
    1. Committee Assignments:  This was tabled for this evening’s meeting.
    2. Bradley Park Concerts:  Donna W met with Nancy this past week in reference to Bradley Park entertainment line-up and Nancy indicated this would be her last year on the committee.  Every Tuesday night in July has been booked with wonderful entertainment.  Children’s night is the first night to consist of wildlife range, hands on exotic animals, interactive sessions.  Business to business booth will be set up again this year on the first Tuesday although last year turn out for businesses was poor.  Last week of school an email blast will be sent to parents to remind families of these summer events.
    3. First Friday – requested committee member volunteers
    4. Membership Committee Report.  As of today there are 104 members, 14 non-renewals, 6 new businesses.  DC and HF will compare lists of member data for accuracy, combine and update.
    5. Economic Development Committee Report, Rick Eastman:  two meetings
have been held, topics included updated maps of Fryeburg, infrastructure, comprehensive plan on what needs to be changed.  Educate community members about benefit of changes.  Rick and Jeff Cox will work collaboratively on emergency services, school, business retention missions. Suggested to use Channel 3 for information sharing.  Business plan for town, goal for town, mission statement for town.
  
  1. Trying to attract new business
  2. What needs to be done to maintain current businesses
  3. Mill rate is too high
  4. Town has lost over 100K in revenue sharing
  5. 75% of line items eliminated
  6. School funding formula has changed, needs to be voted on.
    1. Yes/no on school
    2. Yes/no on funding
  7. Western Maine Economic Council, Mia Purcell:  Start-up business classes to begin.  Mia was asked to participate in the job fair.  Wanda and Mia will collaborate on subject matter.                
  8. < >Mount Washington Valley Chamber.Jeff Cox reported the Chili Cook-off was a great success.Jeff will update MWVCC website with FBA information.
  9. Greater Bridgton.Winter Carnival is this weekend, 14-15th February and Freezin’ for a Reason.
  10. All. Assembly of God, Dave.In the process of establishing a public child care facility.It was suggested church members involved in this project attend business workshops put on by Western Maine Development Council.And to speak with SCORE for guidance.
  11. Prior to adjourning, a majority vote was taken to change the date for next meeting from April 8 to April 1, due to many board members projected absence on the 8th.The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m. on a motion from Wanda Richard-Cox, second by Mia Purcell, and unanimous vote of all present.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Donna M. Pearce
Donna M. Pearce, Secretary

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