BY FRED LAWRENCE

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

The Windsor Business Enhancement Society (WBES) held its Annual General Meeting Thursday evening, June 7 to discuss the past year’s events and set a course for the future.

Some of the items the WBES is working on currently include resuming the responsibility for hanging baskets for downtown merchants. It was agreed that the Society would hire a contractor to care and water the plants this year to ease some of the burden for shop owners.

The Society contracted an individual to clean Gerrish and Water streets daily and it was generally agreed this was great value for the money. The person hired to do the work, Robert Knee, was doing a very good job that is a benefit to the town and potential visitors.

The popular Friday Night Concert series will continue this year and include the Farmer’s Market held Saturdays throughout the summer.

Mural replacement/repairs

WBES chairman Andrew Connolly told members there’s a need to do some work on the murals painted on downtown buildings. As a result of paint chipping and weather damage, it was agreed to redo the large ‘Windsor Harbour’ mural on Avonia Place.

The mural, painted by renowned artist Ken Spearing, will be painted on panels “in the same manner as the Black Watch on the side of The Hants Journal building” Connolly said, so it can be cared for properly and will withstand the elements.

Connolly brought up two ventures that were unsuccessful last year: the New Year’s Eve gala, which was cancelled due to poor ticket sales; and the uncertain situation regarding Star’s Bride Park.

Connolly informed the group that Irving Oil owns the land and that the park has been for sale for some time. The lease on the park has expired and “it’s our intention to maintain occupancy of this property and our hope is to continue to lease it from Irving,” Connolly said

He noted the group has been unsuccessful to date in getting a response from the company.

Ways to work together

After approval of the agenda and the year’s financial reports, the WBES received a PowerPoint presentation from Windsor CAO Louis Coutinho. The presentation focused on the town’s historical significance and how Windsor could partner with adjoining municipal units and the WBES to capitalize on assets that already exist.

“I drove by this town for 25 years and never once stopped in until I had to come for a job interview,” Coutinho said, explaining he didn’t see “anything other than Tim Hortons to draw me in.

“What made me drive by and not stop is because I’ve been all over the place and visited many other towns,” Coutinho said. This is a concern every business owner in the room acknowledged with a consensus that the problem must be addressed.

Since moving here, Coutinho said he has learned about the wonderful history of this area and noted that a group is looking into Fort Edward with plans to rejuvenate interest in the site and a plan for the Fort’s future.

“It’s the root of our Acadian history and this is what we need (to promote) to get people here,” he said.

Lack of industry poses tax concerns

Coutinho said there’s only one industry within the Town limits; Biomedics Laboratories, now located in the former Vocational School building on Wentworth Road.

“Kings-Edgehill School is the second highest economic generator in the town,” Coutinho said, stressing the importance of developing new industry and subsequent tax revenue.

Coutinho cited the Woodshire Inn, Clockmaker Inn, Mill Island and Avonia Place as examples of new tax generators. “These businesses are helping to expand our tax base as there is no other way of doing things without an increase in (tax) funds.

“If tourism and small businesses are all we have, then we must look at things we can do something about because tourism is so very important. How come tourists keep driving by? What have we not explored?”

The CAO said Ski Martock receives between 100,000-200,000 visitors each season. “How can we get some of those people to stop in Windsor on their way to or from Martock and how can we partner with them to make things better for everyone?”

Accentuate the positives

Other topics Coutinho highlighted were the new transit system set to be in operation by September; eco-tourism, such as birding and the tides; enhancing streetscapes and business facades; increasing signage; and promoting and developing the waterfront. Coutinho said $20,000 has been designated to the ongoing waterfront project. “We’re not going to spend this money on another study; we want to work together with you to get things done and get better value from the waterfront,” he said.

The meeting was upbeat and informative and the Town of Windsor is taking a “hands-on” approach to dealing with the many issues that affect business owners and taxpayers. Coutinho said he wants to work to create a new relationship with other local councils, government and businesses that will benefit the area.