Minutes of a Regular General Meeting of the

Town of Tecumseh Business Improvement Area (TOTBIA)

Meeting #:

Date:

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Time:

6:00 P.m. - 8:00 P.m.

Location:

Tecumseh BIA Office

12122 Tecumseh Rd. E. Unit 2

Tecumseh, ON

Present:

• Chair, Eddy Hammoud
• Vice Chair, Lauren Carcelen
• Treasurer, Director Sandra Zanet
• Councillor, James Dorner
• Councillor, Brian Houston (liaison)
• Chair, Director Leo Demarce
• Director, Carlyn Bistany
• Director, Heba Al-Faouri

Also Present:

• BIA Coordinator, Julie McShee

---

A.

Call to Order

The meeting is called to order at 6:03pm by Eddy Hammoud, Chair.

B.

Roll Call

Heba Al Faouri left the meeting at 7:20pm.

C.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest

No disclosure at this meeting.

D.

Delegations

no delegations at this meeting.

E.

Communications

Motion: BBM - 20/25

Moved by Laura Carcelen

Seconded by Carlyn Bistany

That the February 19, 2025 regular general meeting minutes and the February 26, 2025 In Camera meeting minutes of the Town of Tecumseh Business Improvement Area as were duplicated and delivered to the members, be adopted.

Carried

1.

TOTBIA Board Meeting Minutes Feb 19

Motion: BBM - 20/25

Moved by 

Seconded by 

That the February 19, 2025 regular general meeting minutes of the Town of Tecumseh Business Improvement Area as were duplicated and delivered to the members, be adopted.

F.

Supplementary Agenda

G.

Reports

Motion: BBM -  21/25

Moved by Sandra Zanet

Seconded by Laura Carcelen

That all reports as presented to the Board be accepted.

Carried
                                                        

1.

Chair Report

The Chair reviewed a number of topics with the Board members.

1. Board Member meeting attendance *Sect 10.2 in the constitution
       - Ensure Email responses/communication is a priority

2. 2025 AGM date
       -Wednesday, October 8th, 2025  *Sect 17 in the constitution 

3. 2026 Budget Dates 
          -August draft review, September Board Approval, AGM draft presented for approval, submit to Town for approval

4. Sponsorship for events (BMO example)

5. Link BIA website to Town website for meetings
          -work with ESC to ensure BIA website is hosting meeting minutes

6. New Board Member Package (Town Policies/By-laws/boundary map/etc.) *Sect 19 in the constitution

7. Role of the Vice Chair
         -be included on emails/communication for consistency purposes in Chairs absence

8. Chair to establish Committees and Committee Chairs
          -Committee Chair to complete Committee Reports (due one week before Board meetings)
          -waiting for new members to join before confirming Committee members

9. Executive Meeting with the Town update
          -The Executive is looking to meet regularly with the Town to enhance communication and will share updates with the Board

2.

Treasurer Report

Sandra Zanet reports on the month end financial report:

a.

February 2025 Financials (budget statement)

The Treasurer updated the Board on the February Financials. 

There was discussion and consensus to allow for monthly bill/invoice payments to be made via etransfers adding payees to the WFCU operating bank account including regular service providers or contract services such as Cogeco, Miconex, Rock Morgtages, Xero, BytheBook, etc. if permitted by the Town procedural by-law.

b.

Events Budget Adjustment

The Treasurer suggested that the 2025 Operating Budget be reviewed to allow for a reallocation of funds to provide $600 for educational events.

Events	2024	2025	Notes
Mixers	-1459.7	-1800	2/yr.
Sector Meet-Ups	-	-1800	3/yr: Restaurants, Retail, Service
Education Talks	-	-600	3/yr: ex. Health & Safety, Social Media, Sales, Accounting, Insurance, Real Estate

3.

Coordinator Report

BIA Coordinator report presented.

Discussion on sending out information on the Community Clean Up April 17 and Board member attendance was discussed. 

The Coordinator is to work with the Finance Committee on the Enbridge Sponsorship Fund application.

The Chair requested that the Coordinator look into ordering branded clothing for the Board Members and staff.

 

4.

Council Report

Council update provided by Councillor Brian Houston including a $3.8 million renovation of Lakewood Park and upgrades to Southwood Park as well

2024 Citizen satisfaction survey was reviewed at Council, including value for tax dollars, safety and demographics were included.

Results were very positive.

Tecumseh Ribfest will be held July 25-27, 2025 at the Tecumseh Arena. Projecting 2,000+ attendees which will have economic impacts to community.

A staff report was reviewed to provide updates and information that address new US tariffs.

The Chair noted that future BIA Board meetings will reflect the operations and procedures of Council meetings. 

5.

Committee Reports

Committee updates were provided.

The Board requested that reporting options for Tecumseh Dollars be investigated with Miconex and brought back to a future meeting.

a.

Marketing, Events and Beautification Committee

a.

Tecumseh Tastes Program

b.

ESC Marketing Data and Analytics

c.

Tecumseh Lakeshore "Place" Branding project

b.

Membership and Governance Committee

Meetings will be the first Monday of the month. Continuing the work on New Member Package and timeline for events planning documents including timelines. 

H.

Unfinished Business

The Board needs to book the OBIAA governance training. Coordinator to follow up with information.

The Coordinator will work with the Town to coordinate Microsoft 360 training for all Board Members.

1.

New Board of Director Applications/Review

Motion: BBM -  22/25

Moved by Leo Demarce

Seconded by Sandra Zanet

That the BIA Board support the applications received to fill the vacancies on Board of Directors;

AND THAT the Coordinator notify the Town of the endorsements for Council consideration.

Carried

2.

Constitution Review

The Board requested that the Coordinator add "Constitution Review" to upcoming Board meeting agendas as a reoccuring topic under unfinished business. This will help achieve the goal to have the Constitution reviewed in 2025 with any amendments added to the AGM agenda for membership approval. 

The progress with the review process will also be shared with the Town when the Executive meets quarterly.

I.

New Business

New Business was discussed and included:

-The Events Committee will work to finalize the Educational Event April 24th at Tecumseh Arena with $600 budget allocation.

-The Coordinator will connect with the WFCU to see about hosting/sponsoring a member mixer or educational session in 2025.

-Events Committee will follow up with BM0 to coordinate an educational session for the members.

-The BIA laptop and Cell Phone be replaced.

Motion: BBM -  22/25

Moved by Sandra Zanet

Seconded by Leo Demarce

That the new business and action items discussed for the Board of Directors be approved;
AND THAT the Coordinator work with the Committees to follow up on necessary tasks and report back to the Board on progress.

Carried

J.

Next Meeting

The next regular general meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, April 16 at 6:00 pm and is currently scheduled to be held in person in the BIA Board Room and electronically.  The live stream will be available on the BIA website. 

K.

Adjournment

Motion: BBM -   23/25

Moved by Carlyn Bistany

Seconded by Leo Demarce

That there being no further business, the March 26, 2025 meeting of the Town of Tecumseh Business Improvement Area be adjourned at  7:54  pm.