Expenses are jumping to $82,297, largely thanks to increases in foliage maintenance. This will leave the society with a $26,857 deficit.
The society will maintain $4,775 in assets.
A lot of that added money is going toward fixing up storefront facades and enhancing green spaces.
At the annual general meeting on May 11, the treasurer of the WBES. Susan Fletcher, said the spending increase would ensure lots of greenery in the town’s main shopping area.
“We’re investing money into our planters by hiring someone to look after that for us,” Fletcher said. “The other area we’re increasing is façade improvement. I think we only spent a couple hundred last year and we’ve budgeted for over $9,000 this year.”
Fletcher said the façade funding is in conjunction with the Gerrish Street reconstruction project, which will get under way later this year.
The society members passed the boosted budget.
The majority of the society’s money comes from a tax levy administered through the Town of Windsor.
Businesses that operate in certain parts of town, including Gerrish Street up to Victoria Street, pay the levy.
The levy is 32 cents per $100 assessed property and was approved again by the society.
Some of the business owners at the AGM vocalized their disappointment with the service they received from the WBES last summer, especially in light of the planters.
“They were terrible, they were a disgrace,” Rick Dunham, owner of the Spitfire Arms Pub said at the meeting. “We took the planters down that were dead and put up our own. We don’t feel that we’re getting the value for our money.”
Heather Donohue, a director with the WBES, responded to his concern.
“This year, because of the issues with the planters last year, we did hire a professional landscaper and are giving it our best shot,” Donohue said. “As soon as we know there’s a problem, we’ll look into it.”
Some business owners brought up concerns with empty storefronts in the downtown, and Donohue said the society sees them too.
“The chamber of commerce and the town, we’re all looking at long-term solutions,” she said.
Some business owners said they’d like to see a bigger draw to the downtown, such as an outdoor farmer’s market, to bring in more traffic.
Wendy Geddes, the current chair of the society, said she is stepping down in June.
“I believe you always needs some new ideas to come through, so it’s good to change leadership every couple of years,” Geddes said.
She has been the chair for the past two years and a member of the society for six.
“It’s our job to make the downtown look good,” she said. “It’s not to fill up the vacant spots with businesses. We’ll work with other groups to make that happen. I want to see every storefront full.”
Geddes said the high number of business owners who attended the AGM was a positive sign, but added she’d like to see more attend every meeting.
The directors for WBES in 2015-16 will be Donohue, Fletcher, Mary Ruffell, Jocelyn Wright, Mary Jane Aubie and Jason Tucker. Laurie Murley will continue on as the Town of Windsor’s representative.
