MINUTES
Town of Blowing Rock
Board of Commissioners
Special Meeting- September 10, 2007
The
Town of Blowing Rock Board of Commissioners held a special meeting in
conjunction with the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Executive Board on
Monday, September 10, 2007 at 4:00 p.m.
The meeting was held in the Council Board Room at
The
purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Vision 20/20 Task Force Initiatives.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor
Lawrence called the meeting to order at 4:08 p.m. and welcomed those in
attendance.
DISCUSSION ITEM
Chamber 20/20 Vision Initiatives
Chamber
Director Charles Hardin gave a brief history of the Chamber stating in January
1927 the Chamber was formed to promote tourism for this area. Mr. Hardin spoke
of the Chamber’s excitement in 2003 when the Tourism Development Authority was
formed. He stated at that time the
Chamber felt the need to redefine their mission.
Mr.
Hardin spoke of the Chamber’s involvement in the development of the Blowing
Rock Leadership Challenge and of their interest in the economic development in
Blowing Rock. As stated in the 2004 Town
Comprehensive Plan, economic development was an issue that needed addressing.
Mr. Hardin felt the Chamber and the Town could create a public/private
partnership and work together. He
advised that Blowing Rock was a very successful community, but stated “current
success did not guarantee future success”.
He spoke of the many changes in the environment and that other
communities were emulating Blowing Rock and there was competition from these
other communities. Even though Blowing Rock was very successful it was no
longer the only tourist area around.
Mr.
Hardin advised approximately five months prior, the Vision 20/20 Initiatives
were created by a very diverse group of people with approximately 150 years of
combined residency, working with initiatives derived from the 2004 Comprehensive
Plan which each member of the group was required to read. Mr. Hardin spoke of the Chamber’s mission to
protect the village character of Blowing Rock and their desire to work in a
collaborative effort with the Town. Mr.
Hardin spoke of the following initiatives:
1.
Town
Center/Retail – What was wanted for Blowing Rock, how to get it, and how to keep
it- recruitment of new businesses in the downtown district to achieve an even
balance
2.
Historic
Preservation – Extend manpower and money to protect historic property located
in town
3.
321 By-Pass – Entrance
to Blowing Rock the most underdeveloped and vunerable area of Blowing Rock –
decide what is wanted, how to get and keep it
4.
Resource
Development – Research facts, gather information, apply for grants and funding
with the Town’s permission
Mr.
Hardin stated the Chamber wished to collaborate with the Town in all aspects
developing a secure partnership.
Pam
Vines, Executive Board President, and Bill Hall President-Elect, also
reiterated the fact that the Chamber wished to work with the Town in a
collaborative effort concerning economic development.
Mayor
Lawrence thanked them for their comments and asked if anyone had questions or comments
they would like to share.
Commissioner
Lentz advised that he felt the Chamber’s main function was to promote business
in Blowing Rock and that he was unsure as to why a subcommittee was formed
trying to perform many of the duties of town boards without Council’s
knowledge. Mr. Lentz stated that
historically Council appointed members to various Town boards. Commissioner Lentz felt that Council was
being micromanaged by this subcommittee.
Mr.
Hardin agreed that a joint session between Council and the Chamber was probably
needed sooner and this subcommittee was formed to add additional support to
Council and Town staff and they did not wish to infringe upon previously
determined objectives of the Town.
Mrs.
Vines stated the Chamber was initially interested in finding out and researching
this effort and seeing if it was possible. The idea of forming a subcommittee
was decided upon after receiving input from many people interested in aiding
the Chamber with this effort; by implementing and showing support. The intent
was never to micromanage but to gather ideas and move forward with their plans.
Commissioner
Lentz mentioned the Blowing Rock Appearance Advisory Commission approaching
Council offering their help in beautifying the town and the decision to create
such a board with members appointed by Council. Mr. Lentz felt the Chamber was
overlapping the Town in their initiative regarding the 321 By-Pass, stating this
area had been discussed by Council and Town staff for many long hours and
worked with N.C.D.O.T. and executed an agreement on amenities to be provided. It
was hard for him to digest that special interests groups were discussing other
plans for this area.
President-Elect
Bill Hall stated no action had been taken by this subcommittee and there was no
intention of doing anything without Council’s involvement. He felt there had
been some misunderstanding regarding the subcommittee’s intentions.
Commissioner
Ball stated after spending the past 14 years on the Town Council and being a
resident of Blowing Rock for the past 24 years, she felt insulted by several
emails that had been circulating around town regarding issues that Council and
Town staff had worked very hard on. She
felt these people should run for office if there were issues they wished to
change. Commissioner Ball affirmed that Town staff, volunteers on Town boards,
as well as Council had worked hard trying to maintain what Blowing Rock is presently.
Mr.
Hall stated he was not aware of the emails that Mrs. Ball was referring to, and
it was never the intent of this group to undermine Council. Commissioner Lentz stated that Public
Hearings were held while developing the comprehensive plan and lots of hard
work had gone into the planning. Mr.
Hardin responded that there were areas of the comprehensive plan that remained
to be done and they were there to assist Council. Commissioner Lentz stated the Chamber needed
to work at getting the businesses in town currently not members of the Chamber
to join. Mr. Hardin stated the chamber
would like to have all businesses located in town as members but businesses come
and go in town and the chamber used to promote tourism but the TDA is now doing
that. Several members of Council felt
the areas in which Mr. Hardin spoke of had been in progress for years. Mr. Hardin apologized if Council was insulted
by the Chamber initiatives but they were only researching and trying to find
what was available so they could bring these resources to Council to aid in the
progression of these initiatives.
Chamber
President Pam Vines stated the Vision 20/20 committee consisted of business
people in town and she felt they had done a good job. Mrs. Vines stated she did not want the Town
to lose its quaint character and felt the chamber needed to help businesses
find a spot on
Commissioner
Lentz felt Council should be informed of plans made by the Chamber if they were
going to be using Town properties. He
stated that “Mitford Days” had already been planned and advertised to the
public before Council was approached about the use of Town properties during
this event.
Commissioner
Wiseman stated that Council wanted to work with the Chamber but she had a
problem with the Vision 20/20 committee soliciting money without Council’s
approval. She also stated she was
approached by a Vision 20/20 member regarding the initiatives and it was
announced that she endorsed the Vision 20/20 Initiatives 100 percent. Ms.
Wiseman stated she did not endorse anything that overlapped what the Town was
already doing or any fundraising efforts that were being done without Council’s
knowledge.
Commissioner
Wiseman mentioned several comments she had heard regarding rent along
Commissioner
Klutz stated the Vision 20/20 Committee and the Town had a common interest and
he felt they could work together to accomplish their goals. He also mentioned
several comments he had heard that he did not agree with, but there were
certain areas of the comprehensive plan that needed to be addressed.
Commissioner
Lentz advised that in his opinion the subcommittee was trying micromanage the
Town. He stated that Council was open to
suggestions and could accept them or not, the same as other committees in town
such as the TDA, Blowing Rock Appearance Advisory Commission, etc.
Commissioner
Tester stated the Vision 20/20 concept was good and the meeting between Council
and the Chamber should have happened sooner.
He also stated that in looking back on the decision to increase
Occupancy Tax in 2003 and the development of the TDA, in his opinion this
decision jerked the heart and soul from the Chamber of Commerce requiring them
to redefine their goals. He wished Council had taken a little more time
thinking about the consequences of creating the Tourism Development Authority
and how it would take away Chamber responsibilities. He also spoke of the
stressful relationship between the Chamber and the TDA and felt the Vision
20/20 initiatives if done correctly could supplement what Council and staff
were doing.
Commissioner
Lentz responded that
Commissioner
Tester stated that two thirds of occupancy tax money was to be spent on the
promotion of tourism. He spoke of
Blowing Rock being a quaint town with quaint shops, but the environment was
changing and the motels in town did not have the 21st Century
technology that people were looking for today.
Commissioner
Ball felt the Chamber needed a clear understanding as to where they stood and
she did not feel they should overstep or duplicate what the Town was already
working on.
Chamber
President-Elect Bill Hall stated it was never the intention of the Chamber to
duplicate the Town and he apologized for this misunderstanding but he felt they
could all work together and accomplish what was best for Blowing Rock.
Commissioner
Wiseman wanted to know what direction to go at this point. It was decided that Town Manager Hildebran and
Chamber Director Charles Hardin should meet and discuss what direction the
Chamber should follow and how they could assist the Town.
Commissioner
Klutz spoke of the need to preserve Blowing Rock and he did not feel Blowing
Rock needed to be compared to other towns or cities, and Blowing Rock had gotten
to where it was today by itself.
Commissioner
Ball mentioned that she did not understand why people moved into Blowing Rock
and then felt the need to change it.
Commissioner
Tester stated it did not matter if a person was a resident in town for 1 year
or 25 years as long as they paid taxes to the Town they had a right to voice
their opinions.
Mayor
Lawrence thanked everyone for attending the meeting and stated that Council was
always open to suggestions.
ADJOURNMENT
With
no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
MAYOR
______________________________
J.B. Lawrence
Attest:
_____________________________
Sharon Greene, Town Clerk