Heart of the Rideau Canal
Economic Development Advisory Committee Meeting #02-2011
Corporation of the Town of Smiths Falls
Meeting Minutes
Meeting Date:
Meeting Time:
Adjourns:
Location:
Tuesday, May17th, 2011
6:00 p.m.
8:15 p.m.
Valley Heartland Community Futures Development Corporation
MEMBERS PRESENT: Robb Irvine, Jared Elenko, Tim Lee, Jack Clements, Irv Mazurkiewicz, David Donovan,
Darlene MacLachlan
ABSENT: Chris Saumure, DBA, Roger Cooke, Chair, Councillor Chris Cummings
Council Present: Shawn Pankow
STAFF PRESENT: Kim Leach – Economic Development Coordinator, Bob Cheetham – Manager of Economic
Development
Meeting
1.
Call to Order – 6:00 p.m
2.
Amendments to Agenda
Addition to the Agenda – Chinese Delegation Update
3.
Declaration of Monetary Interest – None to Report
4.
Adoption of Minutes
Motion by David Donovan to adopt the minutes as circulated from the April 17th, 2011 EDAC meeting
Seconded by: Robb Irvine
Approved
5.
Delegations - None
Town of Smiths Falls
Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) Minutes Continued –May 17th, 2011
2|Page
6.
Reports (3 minute maximum per updating body)
(Timely information regarding events and issues of importance occurring in and to the local business
community)
a) Council
Councillor Shawn Pankow reported that the new Council is very committed to Economic Development
and wants to see the community move forward with items outlined in the Economic Development Action
Plan. He reported the 7000 sq ft. expansion of the Giant Tiger store on Chamber Street. Recently
Council also had a presentation from a developer seeking to building 8 town homes on the vacant
property located on Chamber Street. The Tim Horton’s renovation and development plan is currently
awaiting the final report from the traffic study. It should be presented to the Council shortly. The Splash
Pad report was presented to Council for review and will cost around $250,000.00. A final location is still
being determined and will be reviewed by Council shortly. The Abbott Street Bridge will be delayed until
the end of June.
b) Chamber
Kim Leach reported the Golf Tournament is coming up on June 8th, 2011 and there is still space if
anyone is interested.
c) DBA
No representative present. Bob Cheetham reported that Jim McKenna, Chair has resigned and Bob has
a meeting on Thursday evening with the remaining four members.
d) Valley Heartland
Jack Clements mentioned this was his last meeting as he has is moving on to another community and
cannot remain as the representative on the board since he is out of the boundary area for Valley
Heartland CFDC. The annual conference for CFDC is being held in Niagara Falls this week and Fed
Dev will have representatives there to discuss program funding streams.
Tim Lee, Vice Chair offered his appreciation of Jacks involvement on the committee over the last two
years.
e) Staff
Bob Cheetham provided an overview of the Chinese Delegation coming to Smiths Falls on May 18th,
2011. The group will be arriving in Ottawa and will be accompanied by Bob to Smiths Falls. More
details will be available soon.
Kim Leach highlighted the Youth/Graduate Retention Program and upcoming Youth Forum.
7.
Correspondence Items (None)
8.
Priority Issues
a) Physician Recruitment
Priority should be set on the Hospital Board to focus on Doctor recruitment. Staff is currently
compiling a comprehensive list of other Municipalities actions toward Doctor Recruitment and Turn
Key Clinics.
Town of Smiths Falls
Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) Minutes Continued –May 17th, 2011
3|Page
Bob Cheetham referred to Chris Saumure’s interest in building a turnkey model clinic on Cornelia
Court if required.
Regular meetings are held with the Hospital and the Smiths Falls Community Healthcare Centre to
address the recruitment initiatives.
b) Communities in Transition
The Town of Smiths Falls received funding from this program previously and is currently in
discussions with the representative to submit a new proposal in the amount of $595,000 to support
eight projects. Some of these projects include design and conceptual model of the waterfront
boardwalk, graphic designer and social media coordinator, downtown connectivity to the waterfront
development area and other synergies to support the Economic Development Action Plan. The
proposal will be submitted in early June. This proposal will require a cash contribution amount of
$119,000 from the Town of Smiths Falls.
c) BR+E Leadership Team
An overview of the program was given by Jack Clements and he referenced his recommendation
for moving forward. The committee noted their preference to defer action until the fall so that
funding for a full time coordinator could be sought/received. Tim and Bob met with OMAFRA and
Bruce Moore recommended the Beckwith Township model for the interview portion of the program.
An application should be submitted to OMAFRA for the coordinator role and pursue training in the
Fall of 2011. The interim period should revisit the old visitation model of the Mayor and Economic
Development Department doing visits to local industry and business.
David Donovan is willing to help do the analysis job as before as long as someone does the data
entry.
Irv Mazurkiewicz mentioned using Queens to help with the BR+E program and see if the students
could do the interviews.
d) Youth Subcommittee
Staff discussed the benefits of engaging youth through mentorships. The area needs to develop
local trade opportunities and engage local educators to sit on the development committee. A Youth
Forum is planned for May 30th, 2011 all interested EDAC members are asked to contact Kim Leach
if interested in helping with the Forum.
e) Boardwalk Connectivity
Staff circulated maps of the walking path connectivity. An application was submitted to Healthy
Communities to seek a design concept and establish possible areas of connectivity not established
in the community.
Jack Clements expressed the south side of Queen Street should be revisited and discussions with
Land owners and Park Canada should be re-established.
Town of Smiths Falls
Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) Minutes Continued –May 17th, 2011
4|Page
9.
Roundtable (Identify opportunities to reach goals, information sharing regarding issues in the business
community, brainstorming)
Irv Mazurkiewicz would like ideas brought forward from the members for discussion.
Jared Elenko would like to know what is happening with the area where the old arena is being
developed. Bob Cheetham explained the overview to him and the long term plans for the house on the
corner of the property to become a Tourism Information Centre and future home of the Chamber of
Commerce.
Robb Irvine expressed his interest in Doctor Recruitment and offered to help if needed at later date.
10.
In-Camera Issues (none)
11.
Adjournment/Next Meeting – June 21, 2011, 6:00 p.m. – Council Lounge, Town Hall
12.
Motion to Adjourn the meeting by Jack Clements
Seconded by: Rob
Moved
Acceptance of Minutes
Motion By:
Seconded By:
Carried/ Changes