Minutes:

Minutes of April, 8 2008

Minutes from the Monthly Meeting of the
Doylestown Business & Community Alliance
Held April 8, 2008 8:00 a.m.
Doylestown Borough Hall

ATTENDEES:  Cathy Russo/ Fulton Bank, Karen Lasorda/Bucks County Bank,

Matt Caffrey/Chambers 19, Jack Mikula/Bucks County Alive.com, Pam Mikula/Mikula Web Solutions/Heritage Conservancy, Steve Rock/ Community Conservatory, Rich Kempes/Attorney,

Ellen Majer/Booktenders Secret Garden, Patt Senn/Resident, Joyce Hanson/Resident,

Doris Neis/Resident, Colette Hearn/Minute Man Press/Sign-A-Rama, Ken Hackman/ Happy Snacks, Carol Shellock/Town Planner Calendar, Linda Plank/Doylestown Hospital, Don Stevens/Resident, Lynne Anne Donchez/ L.A.D., Beth Adams/Habitat for Humanity, Julie Dugery/Network of Victim Assistance, Nancy Blois/American Association of University of Women – AAUW Doylestown Branch, Barbara Gross/CB Cares, Paula Frame/David Frame Shop, Nurit Bland/DB Electronics, Bill James/3rd Federal Bank, Joan Doyle, Weichert/Council Person, Landis Agencies/Nationals

OPENING INTRODUCTIONS – Facilitated by Rich Slabinski

NEW OFFICE UPDATE – Univest will donate all of the furniture for our new office in town. We have a laptop and are waiting for phone lines to be installed.  Jim Sanders, Rich Slabinski and Colette Hearn have been working on getting a new sign for the building hopefully by June.

TREASURER’S REPORT - Bill James presented the report. Our balance (3/31/08) is $45,253.36

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Holiday – The next holiday committee meeting is scheduled for April 17 at 5:30 p.m. at Borough Hall.  We will be contacting all of the newspapers to get announcements out to our residents to recruit more volunteers.  Patty White has ordered 450 new decorations.  We are currently checking areas where we need to fill in and add additional decorations. The Borough will be funding the Holiday Committee $6,500.  John Davis is trying to get more funding on top of what has already been committed.  Mrs. Hawthorne of Doylestown Township has donated a blue spruce. 

Shop Locale – The new 18-month card will begin on July 1st; this timeframe will align with new membership.

Fall Arts Festival – The Fulton tent will be moved closer to the center of town.  Doylestown Hospital’s tent will go with all of the main sponsors.  A request has been made for two new sponsorships.  It has been decided that we will not do a program book this year.  The Intelligencer has dropped their support to pay for the booklet and it was becoming very difficult to secure ads.  Everything else is running very smooth.  Michael Woods is on board to chair the festival next year.

Flowering Baskets – All of the baskets have been planted.  Very pleased with the volunteers that came out but would like more DBCA volunteer support.  There has been discussion to add baskets to an additional 35 lampposts, which would mean an additional 75 baskets.  Patty White does not feel she could get enough volunteers for more baskets.  Volunteerism has been a major issue.  It was discussed that we could approach the High School to see if students could take this project on for a school grade.

UPDATES:

Meeting Representative - Joan Doyle spoke in regard to the recent article in the paper about the new Justice Center-parking garage.  It was learned that it would be at least two years before the county will have a plan for the Justice Center.  From the approval process through construction could then take another 3-5 years.  This will greatly impact the Doylestown business community.  She encourages all businesses to attend the meetings and voice their concerns.

After the Planning Commission approves the parking garage plan, final approval will need to come from Borough Council.  Council has, in the past, said that no garage plan would be approved until the plan for the Justice Center was provided to Borough Council.

This Sunday, April 13, the Borough will be honored with an appearance from former President Bill Clinton.  The ticket-only reception will be at Puck’s.

Bucks County Designer house  - Joyce Hanson announced that the Designer House would be open this year for 5 weeks instead of 4.  The house is located on Mechanicsville Road (near 202) in Buckingham and will be open April 27 through May 30.  A request was made to the DBCA for 9-10 volunteers to host at the house the evening of May 9, from 5:00–8:00.  The DBCA will pay a $10 fee per volunteer with the proceeds going to the Emergency Department at Doylestown Hospital.

CB Cares – Barbara Gross spoke concerning the CB Cares Educational Improvement Tax Credit.  Business owners can help support CB Cares by diverting your corporate business taxes for 1 or 2 years.  Instead of sending your taxes to Harrisburg, they can be directed to CB Cares.  Your business will get a tax credit of 75% for 1 year or 90% tax credit for 2 years.  For more information, please contact CB Cares at (215) 489-9120.

CB Cares is also looking for new partners for a coalition to work together on underage drinking.

Community Conservatory – Steve Rock spoke of the upcoming event “Helen on Rhapsody” Friday, April 25, 2008 at 7:30 at The James Lorah House.

For ticket reservations call (215) 340-7979.

NOVA – Invites the community and special friends to join us in commemoration of National Crime Victim’s Rights Week.  There will be a Candlelight Tribute to Crime Victims on Thursday, April 24th at 5:30 p.m. at Core Creek Park, Langhorne. 

There will be an auction at Warrington Country Club to support NOVA.  Come out and support this worthwhile event.  Tickets are $35.

For more information on both events contact Angela at NOVA, (215) 343-6543.

OLD BUSINESS – None

NEW BUSINESS – None

Meeting adjourned at 8:45 a.m.