Trimmer Hawkesbury
BIA withstands
another challenge
richard.mahoney@eap.on.ca
resigned en masse in December.
H AWKESBURY
The BIA board quit following town
council’s December 20 decision to halt
funding for the Société de development
A trimmer Hawkesbury Downtown
commercial et touristique de Hawkesbury.
Business Improvement Area (BIA)
When the town eliminated its $120,000
Commission survived another challenge
annual grant, theSociety’sboardofdirectors
at last week’s annual meeting of the
alsoquit andclosed itsofficeat LaMaisonde
organization whose future has been in
l’île.
doubt since last fall.
The money had been used to pay the
Cutting its budget andmembers’ fees by
salaries of two employees who worked for
about 50 per cent, the current boardwas re-
the Society, the BIA and the Chamber of
electedbyacclamation, butnot beforemany
Commerce.
of the 16 members present criticized the
At Wednesday’s meeting, members
organization for about two hours.
questioned theactionsof current and former
The budget has been set at $40,450; last
directors.Asthecomplaintscontinued,board
year, members paid $98,150 in taxes.
member Reno Viola suggested that the
This year, rates on 158 Main Street
meeting had become too negative. “Jesus
premises will decrease from $575 to $240
Christwasonlycrucifiedonce,”heremarked.
Photo Richard Mahoney
while members in other parts of the zone
“Don’t shoot the messengers,” said
Reno Viola (left) and Corey Assaly, who last year had signed a petition calling for the
will be charged $110 compared to $250 last
Councillor Michel Thibodeau.
dissolution of the BIA, are now serving as members of the commission’s board of
year.
When nominations were sought nobody
directors.
However, some members such as Roger
cameforwardtojointheboard.Bogue,Viola,
Charest continue topress for thedissolution
Thibodeau and Corey Assaly continue as
of the BIA, which was formed in 1985. In
directors. Jacques Tardif has stepped down.
November, he and Marielle Charlebois
Converts
presented a petition asking town council to
Members such as Jacques Charlebois
shutdownthecommission,sayingthegroup
complainedthat businesspeopleareheavily
1836 ~ 2011
does little to help downtown businesses.
burdened. “We are taxed up to the neck.
The petition, signed by 29 people who own
More taxed than that and you die,” he
106 properties in the BIAzone, was rejected
declared.
bytheformertowncouncilwhichconcluded
Assalysaidhecouldappreciatemembers’
therequesthadnotbeenproperlypresented.
frustrationswith theprevious fees. “I signed
The loss of the BIA would be a setback,
the petition to kill the BIA. Iwanted to lower
arguedLarry Bogue, president of the board
the rates and we got them lowered,” he
-
thatwasformedwhenthepreviousdirectors
added.
For a special cause
PROGRAMME D’ACTIVITÉS du 26 juin au 1 er juillet 2011, sous le chapiteau situé dans le stationnement devant l’église au 1057, rue Queen, L’Orignal
Bracelets en vente au coût de 25 $ chacun pour toutes les activités et spectacles sous le chapiteau
LE 26 JUIN 2011 : • Parade de St-Jean-Baptiste • Spectacle « Manon Séguin à 175 milles à l’heure » avec artiste surprise LE 28 JUIN 2011 : • Soirée « Rock’N’Roll » avec musiciens (Garden Guppies), danse et costumes des années 1960/1970 • Prix de présence, costumes et danse. LE 30 JUIN 2011 : • Spectacle « Michaël Rancourt ». Michaël Rancourt est un des rares artistes à bien imiter différents personnages artistiques. Le point fort du spectacle est l’imitation.
LE 27 JUIN 2011 : • Défilé de mode de plusieurs boutiques LE 29 JUIN 2011 : • Théâtre d’Athéna présente : « Les murs de nos villages » LE 1 er JUILLET 2011 : • Spectacle « Chorale de l’amitié » • Frisotine pour les enfants • Fête du Canada avec feux d’artifices dans la cour d’école
BRACELETSENVENTE AUX ENDROITS SUIVANTS :
L’ORIGNAL : Bertrand Supplier McEwen Gas Bar Dépanneur Olinick Salon Tammy Marché Richelieu Voldi Esthétique L’Orignal Packing
HAWKESBURY : Banque CIBC Marché Lacroix ALFRED : Valu-Mart Dépanneur Lamarche
Photo Linda Groulx
BruceFisher, shownherewithhisniece, TaraHoare, andChamplainCouncillorGerry
Miner, received a good receptionwhen he cycled intoHawkesbury Sunday. A sumof
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$361 was raised when about 20 people turned out to greet Fisher, a 71-year-old who is
cycling from Brockville to St. John’s, Newfoundland to raise money for the Special
Olympics program. Among the well-wishers was a 94-year-old man, relates Fisher’s
Renseignements : www.villagedelorignal.ca
sister, Linda Groulx, who helped organize the visit to town.
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