Town of
Provincetown
Visitor Services Board
Judge Welsh Hearing Room
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday January 11, 2005
Present: Peter Bez; Lynne Davies, Vice
Chairman; Patricia Fitzpatrick, Tourism Director; Ellen Freeman; Steve Melamed,
Chairman; Mick Rudd and Barbara Rushmore.
Other Attendees: Candy
Collins-Boden, Provincetown Chamber of Commerce Director, Rick Murray and Judy
Cicero.
Steve Melamed called the meeting to order at 10:02 AM.
Chairman Melamed expressed heartfelt sympathies for the passing of Tourism
Director’s Patricia Fitzpatrick’s husband and requested a moment of silence in
his honor.
Today’s Agenda:
1. Approval of 12/21/04 VSB
Meeting minutes
2. Old Business
a. Marketing
Plan Revision
b. Holiday
Lighting Project
c. Grant
Selection Guidelines
d. Tag
Line Committee
e. Tourism
Director’s Report
f. Other
old business
3. New Business
a. Budget
Update
b. Other
new business
Discussion about Tourism Director’s report, specifically travel
writers. Ellen Freeman requested the
Tourism Director submit a copy of the document with information regarding the
marketing contracts and their short rate.
Mick Rudd arrived at 10:10 AM.
Motion: Move to approve the
VSB meeting minutes from 12/21/04
Move: Ellen Freeman
Second: Peter Bez
Vote: 6-0-0
Discussion about the grant selection guidelines. Each member of the Board offered their comments regarding the
proposed grant criteria selection form.
Lynne Davies reported on the tag line committee. The VSB needs to develop a committee to
establish guidelines for using the tag line.
Ellen Freeman stated the Women’s Innkeeper Association does not like the
approved tag line (“Provincetown, like nowhere else”). Patricia Fitzpatrick also expressed her
opinion that the tag line is non-memorable and not worthy of spending $200,000
to promote. Chairman Melamed addressed
his concern that the tag line be used for the effective “branding” of
Provincetown. Mick Rudd confirmed the
U.S. Copyright Office is unable to grant a copyright for a slogan, which the
VSB tag line is considered.
The Tourism Director’s report was revisited. Ellen Freeman requested the Tourism Director elaborate on the
Town’s advertising commitments, to include how many insertions have been run
for each publication contract and the financial impact for the Town should any
of the contracts be cancelled. The
Tourism Director confirmed the contracts are near the end of the term (FY
2005), but will provide the information requested by Ellen Freeman to enable
her to complete the review of advertising rates. (This information was previously sent by the Tourism Director on
December 13, 2004.) Mick Rudd suggested
a new agenda item to discuss the interaction between the VSB and the Tourism
Office regarding marketing and advertising.
Chairman Melamed suggested this matter be tabled until the February
meeting, after the grant applications are completed.
The revised budget was discussed after the Board was provided copies of
the revised YTD budget reports. Lynne
Davies addressed the concerns of the Board and Ellen Freeman confirmed she
needs additional financial information from the Tourism Director (FY 2005 funds
remaining which can be used by the VSB to promote the 2005 season) in order to
move forward. Chairman Melamed tabled
this matter until the February meeting.
The Holiday Lighting Project was discussed. Lynne Davies asked about the response from the vendor. The Tourism Director expressed her
disappointment with the project. The
vendor has agreed to return in the spring and complete the project to our
satisfaction. The Tourism Director
expects to have an update on the project after the vendor has returned and
completed the lighting project. Lynne
Davies asked it the lights surrounding the Bas Relief Park would be removed and
stored. The Tourism Director confirmed
the lights would be removed for storage by the DPW. (The lights were removed last week and have been stored at Town
Hall).
Public comments were heard. Rick
Murray asked about the amount of marketing funds not yet used being redirected
as soon as possible to properly promote Provincetown for the upcoming tourist
season. Chairman Melamed confirmed the
goal of the VSB is to move forward quickly.
Judy Cicero commented about the tag line, marketing and the grant
application process, which Chairman Melamed and Tourism Director Fitzpatrick
responded to.
The AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod has requested the VSB to reimburse
them for $2,000 to fund for their advertising despite the fact they did not
include any VSB logos in their advertising.
Motion: Move to approve
the request for payment of $2,000 for the grant approved by the VSB on 2/3/04
and approved by the BOS on 3/8/04
Move: Mick Rudd
Second: Ellen Freeman
Vote: 6-0-0
Barbara Rushmore addressed the VSB Tourism Fund request by the VSB in
the amount of $5,000 for approval of benches for the pier, which was denied by
the Board of Selectmen last night because the amount exceeded the anticipated
expenditures submitted. The Board
discussed their concern about funding for town enhancement grants, which should
not require a 50 per cent match as required for promotional grants.
Motion: Move that the
VSB did vote to provide $5,000 from the tourism fund which budget does not
require a 50 per cent match on Town enhancement grants as opposed to
promotional grants
Move: Barbara Rushmore
Second: Stephen Melamed
After discussion, both Barbara Rushmore and Stephen Melamed withdrew
their motion.
Motion: Move that the
town enhancement grant for request be resubmitted for the BOS and the Tourism Director
will complete the cover sheet to show approval for $5,000*
Move: Lynne Davies
Second: Peter Bez
Vote: 6-0-0
(* The Tourism Director
does not agree with this decision.)
The grant application process was discussed by the Board.
Motion: Move that Lynne
Davies will draft a letter to be sent to the grant applicants acknowledging
receipt of their grant and advising them the VSB will be meeting on February 9th
to do the grant selection process, and that they are invited to attend, but
they will not be allowed to present their application, and should be prepared
to answer any questions from the Board.
Move: Lynne Davies
Second: Barbara Rushmore
Vote: 6-0-0
Discussion among members of the Board regarding the grant application
process continued.
The next meeting of the VSB will be Wednesday, February 9th
at 9 o’clock to resume the grant application process.
The meeting was adjourned by Chairman Melamed at 12:25 PM.
Minutes submitted by: Bill Schneider, Tourism Office Assistant
______________________________ ________________________
Stephen Melamed, Chairman Date