General
Membership Business Meeting
Friday,
May 11, 2007
The Maine Community Development Association held a joint
meeting with DECD’s Office of Community Development on May 10 and 11, 2007 at
the Lucerne Inn in Holden.
Christopher Spruce, President
Jim Gulnac, Vice President Town of
Don Keiser, Director own of Houlton
Rodney Lynch, Director City
of
Joella R. Theriault, Secretary NMDC
Paul Bernier Town
of
Suzie Paradis Town
of
Al Smith City
of
Ron Harriman, Treasurer Harriman Associates
Mike Bush Eastern
Maine Development Corporation
Gail Chase KVCOG
Duane Walton
Mary Walton, Director City of
Cyndy Carney CEI
Amanda Simillien Town
of
I. CALL
TO ORDER: MCDA Meeting called to order on May 10, 2007 at
10:30 a.m.
II. REVIEW
OF FEBRUARY 16, 2007 MEETING MINUTES: Motion by R. Harriman; seconded by D. Keiser
to combine notes taken by T. Levesque and C. Spruce and accept as the official
meeting minutes. All in favor.
III. TREASURER’S
REPORT: R. Harriman presented the following:
Revenues this month: $256.00 Expenditures
this month: $1,359.00
Net Loss of: -$1,103.00
Account Balance:
$5,859.00
Motion by J. Gulnac; second by M. Walton to accept
the Treasurer’s Report as presented. All
in favor.
IV. DISCUSSION OF OCD/MCDA PLANNING MEETING: J. Gulnac
made a motion to ratify last evening’s decision to vote up to $2,500 for this
meeting; seconded by D. Keiser. All in
favor.
Motion made by T. Levesque and
seconded by M. Bush to submit
recommendation to OCD opposing the word “contiguous” under the 2008 CDBG
proposed program changes, Item H2.(e) Restriction of Grant Awards. All in favor.
Motion by T. Levesque and
seconded by J. Gulnac to support other changes made, specifically changes from
last year as well as the timeline. All
in favor.
Discussion revolved mainly around
the economic development programs.
Specific concerns were with application deadline dates, time between
Letter of Intent and application, rounds of funding is not beneficial for
businesses in need of immediate assistance, task force should be formed to work
with OCD to try and improve the economic development program. Members interested in joining the task force
include Jim Gulnac, Duane Walton, and Mike Bush. C. Spruce will make the appointments.
Following this discussion, J.
Gulnac made a motion to recommend to OCD to move the economic development
program deadline dates to March and May; seconded by D. Keiser. All in favor.
R. Lynch moved to recommend to
OCD to insert Phase II planning as part of an eligible activity; seconded by C.
Carney. All in favor.
D. Keiser moved to recommend
to OCD not to have set-aside funds such as the money now earmarked for the Home
Repair Network; seconded by R. Harriman.
All in favor.
V. MCDA ACTIVITIES RELATED TO 25TH
ANNIVERSARY OF STATE CDBG PROGRAM: Moved by M. Walton and seconded by
VI. MMA CONVENTION PLANNING: C. Spruce will
be attending a meeting with MMA next week.
Suggestion by J. Gulnac to hold a follow-up meeting of the Housing TIF
program.
VII. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:
VIII. OTHER BUSINESS:
·
Nominating Committee consisting of Tony Levesque, Al smith, Mary Walton
and Rodney Lynch will work with MMA to contact new CDBG grantees to boost
membership of MCDA.
·
D. Keiser reminded members that joint MCDA/Downtown meeting will be held
in Houlton on May 31, 2007. The joint
meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Governor’s.
Anyone who has not previously registered, should do so as soon as
possible.
The
next meeting is scheduled for May 31, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. at Governor’s Restaurant
in Houlton. The meeting adjourned at
12:10 p.m.
Submitted by,
Joella R. Theriault
Secretary