Minutes:

Room Minutes from the Monthly Membership Meeting of the
Doylestown Business & Community Alliance
Held January 12, 2010 8:00 a.m.
Borough Hall Conference Room

ATTENDEES:  Colette Hearn/Minuteman Press/Sign.A.Roma, Ellen Mager/Booktenders, Joan Doyle/Borough Council, Bill James/3rd Federal, Molly Lowell/Mercer Museum, Jim Wessier/Prestige Home Mortgage, Ron Martin/Mortin Kueny Insurance Solutions, Jim Sanders/County Movie Theater, Matt Caffrey/President/Chambers Restaurant,  Jack Mikula/Doylestown Alive, Tony Mauriello/Fastsigns, Lynne Ann Donchez/LAD & Co., Steve Schmidt/Family Office Group, Jay Deppeler/DVFPS, Bill Barnish/MSSB, Steve Rock/Community Conservatory, Bill Norcross/Speddiprint’r, Paula Frame/David Frame Shop, Nurit Bland/DB Electronics, Matt Kaminski/DVC, Rich Kuper/Adty

PRESIDENT’S REPORT – Matt Caffrey

• The DBCA as an organization has experienced a huge loss with the sudden passing of Don Stevens.  All of Don’s years of service to this town were a labor of love and he will be greatly missed.  Cathy Hoot has stepped up to the plate and we are actively looking for assistance to help with this committee.  Please get in touch with Matt if you are interested.
• The holiday decorations will be coming down on Saturday, January 30th and volunteers will meet at Starbucks at 8:00 a.m.  The rain date is scheduled for Sunday, January 31.  Volunteers will need to bring a 6 ft ladder and clippers to cut the plastic ties that are holding the snowflakes to the lampposts.  Help is also needed with taking down the lights from the Christmas tree.

• The Community & Governmental Affairs Committee of Borough Council has a meeting at 7pm tonight at Borough Hall.  DBCA is on the agenda to present why the organization should receive a waiver of police costs for the various annual events it holds to benefit the community.  The overtime for DBCA events has not had an increase in over 10 years.  Members are encouraged to come out and show support for the organization’s position about needing at least the $5000 credit and possibly increasing it.   Borough Council is going to adopt a policy about what groups and/or events will qualify for a full or partial waiver of police costs.

• A facebook page has been setup for the DBCA.  Please sign up and spread the word about the DBCA.  This is a great communication tool to get information out about our events.

TREASURER’S REPORT – Bill James presented the report. Our ending balance for December 2009 was $12,805.10.

501(c)(3) update – Rick Kempes

• The IRS stated based on the paperwork they have received, that we are a civic organization and would be approved as a 501(c)(4).  Rick believes they are hesitant to approve us as a 501(c)(3) since our organization is not 100% devoted to charity.  He will stress with the IRS that we handle the budget for the flower baskets, and winter decorations, which relieves the Borough of this expenditure. Our history is that we work on civic causes in Doylestown.  We should know by next week, one way or another.  If we do not get approved, we will proceed with the 501(c)(4) status although this will make fund raising harder.  Rick will look into what the differences are between the 501(c)(3) and the 501(c)(4) and report back to the membership. 
• In 1981 the DBCA was incorporated as a PA non-profit, which is very important to this organization.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Arts Festival – Matt Caffrey

• Arts Festival meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 19, at 5:30 at Saxby.  Please stop by if you are interested in attending.

Holiday Decorations – Matt Caffrey

• Santa’s house has been undecorated and removed from town. The locks and floor have been changed and Matt will determine if any touch up paint is needed.
• The Dreidal was flipped over 2 weeks ago and sustained a little damage.  Matt will check out the damage and look into any repair or paint that is needed.

Hanging Baskets  - no update

Shop Local – Ellen Mager

• The new committee has been formed and has met twice.  It was discussed that we need someone doing publicity for this program as well as all of DBCA events
• To be part of this program you must be a DBCA member.
• A card will be available for purchase for people who do not want to join DBCA.
• Looking at doing a few events throughout the year with a different charity for each.
• Anyone who is interested in doing story telling at any of our events, please contact Ellen Mager.
• Read Across America will be on Dr. Seuss’s birthday, March 3, 2010.  Coin jars will be placed in the stores to collect for charity from February 29 – March 8, 2010.  Each year the program will honor merchants who have done so much for the community.  This year we would like to add Don Stevens to the list of names.

• Jim Sanders stated to build on what Ellen said. It’s prudent to have a marketing committee as an organization and is a disservice not having this for our organization.  We need to get a committee together.  Please let Matt Caffrey know if anyone is interested in heading this.  Tony Mauriello from Fast Signs has agreed to help with this committee.

Memorial Parade Committee – Nurit Bland

• Would like to have a committee meeting to discuss what will be done this year. 

Membership  - Joan Doyle

• The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 19th at 3:00 at Saxby.  The membership committee meets on the 3rd Monday of the month.
• The resident membership has been approved for a $5 increase, which will bring the membership cost to $30.  The new membership will include the shop local/dine local card.  This card can also be purchased separately. The additional increase will go towards the beautification of Doylestown. 

• Once all of the details pertaining to the shop local/dine local program are made available the membership committee will then work on getting the membership letter out.  Membership letters to the businesses will also have a letter about parking issues in town and discusses purchasing parking permits for employees.
• Everyone needs to talk up membership to friends and family and support and attend our monthly meetings.

5K – Nancy Taylor

• The Doylestown 5K is scheduled for Saturday, May 29, 2010 and we will partner again with OLMC.
• A series meeting will be held Wednesday night.  We expect to have a 10% increase in attendance from last year.
• Biggest change to the race this year will be going to disposable chips.
• This year we will be doing a sports bag in place of doing a t-shirt for pre-registered runners
• Sponsor letters are being worked on and will be mailed out in the next few weeks.

Council/DRB Liaison - Joan Doyle  

• We are partners with the borough for classic towns.  We have decals to display in your windows.  Stop by the DBCA office at 63 E. State Street if you would like to pick up a decal.  We will not rejoin for next year, the money was not well spent. 
• The recent headline in the newspaper regarding Borough Council/Entertainment district.  This is controversial but is something that we have to do.  Anyone can bring in adult entertainment to our town and this is being done in order to protect the borough.  If you want this use it has to be in a particular zoning.  We are advertising an ordinance and it will be in the C1 district in Ward 2, which is part of Doyle Street and the south side of Broad Street.  To keep this out of down town and the residential district we have to move quickly.

New Business 

Sign/banner posting at Starbucks – Matt Caffrey

• You will have to fill out a permit with the borough with information on when the sign is going up and coming down.  This is a standard borough operating procedure.  You will also need approval from Rick Lyons the owner of the Starbucks building.  Contact Rick’s secretary Terry to request approval.

Borough Bulletin – Matt Caffrey

• Stop by the Borough and grab a Borough Bulletin.  Joan Doyle wrote 2 articles, one on council corner and the other on DBCA.  Both articles tell people who we are and what we do.  Joan writes a DBCA article in every issue.

Mercer Museum

The construction has started on the expansion of the museum.  The Folk Fest will be going on hiatus this year because of the construction and the drop off of attendance and vendors.  The Mercer will be taking a year off to see what can be done in the future to increase attendance.

The winter calendar of events is available

Community Conservatory

Mardi Gras Celebration

Saturday, February 13, 2010

7-11 p.m.

Patron reception 6-7

Gardenville Hotel

Pipersville, PA

For Information call 215-340-7979

Or visit www.communityconservatory.org

Chamber Music

Bach looking back – music from Bach, Biber, Buxtehude, Froberger & Schmelzer

Saturday, January 30, 2010

7:30 p.m.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Doylestown PA

Tickets at door: $35/$30 (seniors)/$15 students

Fire Company

Pancake day breakfast is scheduled for Saturday, March 20.

Old Business – None

Meeting adjourned at 9:00