TOWN OF PROVINCETOWN
VISITOR SERVICES BOARD
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2005
Chairman Lynne Davies convened the
meeting at 10:05 AM noting the following attendees:
VSB members: Lynne Davies, Chairman, Peter Bez; Kathleen Fitzgerald; Laurel Guadazno; Michael Peregon; Hersh Schwartz [arrived 10:15 AM]
Absent VSB member Mick Rudd (excused absence)
Other attendees: Bill
Schneider, Administrative Tourism Director; Michelle Jarusiewicz, Acting
Assistant Town Manager and Grant Administrator [arrived at 10:23 AM]
Recorder: Cynthia Curran
The following are meeting minutes, in
brief:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION: Move to approve the minutes of the October 25, 2005 VSB
meeting as written.
Motion by: Michael Peregon Seconded by: Peter Bez
Yea 5 Nay 0
NEW
BUSINESS
Lynne
Davies said that two RFP’s had been received.
Copies were distributed to each member present. They will be discussed at the next meeting. Ms. Davies said that if the Board did not
like the candidates, the RFP can be reissued.
Lynne
Davies said that the meeting about the Community Marketing survey will be held
on November 9th at FAWC. She
said it was unfortunate that the advertisement in the Banner did not mention
the VSB’s involvement in the survey.
She thought that the VSB should be given credit since it paid half of
the cost.
Ms.
Davies said that the VSB had never received a final accounting for the Lopes
Square project. She requested that the
Bill Schneider contact the DPW to request a final accounting of the
expenditures. She said that the double
lights have not been installed. Ms.
Davies also said that she has heard complaints from numerous residents that the
trash barrels have been covered over.
Laurel also indicated she had heard complaints for Town folks. This is not only unsightly, but makes it
look as if the Town is closed for the winter.
[Hersh Schwartz arrived at 10:15 AM]
MOTION: Move to contact the DPW requesting a final accounting of
the expenditures for Lopes Square and questioning the status of the double
lights at Lopes Square.
Motion by: Lynne Davies Seconded by:
Peter Bez Yea 6
Nay 0
MOTION: Move to contact the DPW regarding the covered barrels in
Lopes Square stating that they are unsightly and give the impression that the
Town is closed for the season.
Motion by: Lynne Davies Seconded by:
Peter Bez Yea 6
Nay 0
Ms.
Davies said that the expenditure for interim staffing had been approved until
October 22nd. Since that
date has passed and a fulltime Tourism Director has been hired, Michelle
Jarusiewicz interim staffing assistance was no longer needed. She has been paid to come to the meetings to
advise the VSB and to work with Bill Schneider. The Board can still ask her for advice, as any other committee
can do. Bill Schneider agreed that Ms.
Jarusiewicz would be invited to attend the meetings, but would not be required
to attend.
MOTION: Move to thank Michelle Jarusiewicz for a job well done and
let her know that the funding for her position will come to an end effective
today.
Motion by: Lynne Davies Seconded by:
Peter Bez Yea 6
Nay 0
Ms.
Jarusiewicz arrived at this time. The
chair and other members thanked her for all her hard work. Ms. Jarusiewicz said that she felt very
comfortable in turning over the reins to Mr. Schneider.
Lynne
Davies said that several years ago funds had been set aside for the
beautification of the waterfront. This
money was not used at first and then combined with DPW money to improve Lopes
Square. Ms. Davies is still concerned
about the area between the Chamber of Commerce and Mojos and would like the VSB
to oversee some improvements to the site.
She envisions an expenditure of about $30,000. The money could possibly come from leftover Shuttle money or from
the proposed carnival. Laurel Guadazno
suggested that the members take a stroll along that area. Ms. Davies ask that the members think about
the project before the next meeting, so that a proposal could be made to the
BOS.
TOURISM
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Bill
Schneider said that the Tour Guide Appreciation Day had been a big
success. He included copies of all the
written responses he had received in his written report. The tour guides said that the day had been
educational as well as enjoyable. One
tour guide, George Morgenroth, said that many tourists might want to visit the
museums, but would find it difficult to walk to them because many of them are
elderly. It was suggested that perhaps
some kind of shuttle service could be set up.
After a brief discussion Ms. Davies said that it was a very interesting
topic, but, in the interest of time, would have to be tabled for now. Mr. Morgenroth also proposed having some of
the tour guides meet with the Tourism Director or the Board to show them
Provincetown through the tour guides’ eyes.
Mr. Schneider said that he would get back to Mr. Morgenroth and let him
know that the Board liked his ideas. He
had also drafted a letter to send out to all those who had helped with the
day. Ms. Davies suggested putting an ad
in the Banner instead. This would not
only publicly thank them, but also let the Town know about the work the VSB is
doing to promote bus tours.
MOTION: Move to place an ad in the Banner thanking those who helped
with Tour Guide Appreciation Day.
Motion by: Peter Bez
Seconded by: Hersh
Schwartz Yea 6 Nay 0
Michael
Peregon said he wondered how the VSB could keep track of the number of bus
tours that come to Provincetown. Ms.
Davies said that the Board has discussed this issue. Most buses stop at the Red Barn in Eastham and they might be
asked to keep records of the number.
Peter Bez wondered if the parking lot attendants could keep a
count. Ms. Davies said it is one of the
goals of the Board and the subject should be revisited.
Ms.
Davies said in October there was a drop off in the number of people visiting
the web site. She said the email
newsletter is about to go out. She said
there would be an issue in December, a combined January/February issue and then
a return to monthly issues.
TOURISM
OFFICE STAFFING UPDATE
Bill
Schneider said that they had received ten applications for the Administrative
Assistant position. The position is
split between the Town Clerk’s office and the Tourism office. The interviews will be held on
Wednesday. Mr. Schneider said he will
have an update at the next meeting.
TRADE
SHOW BOOTH UPDATE
Mr.
Schneider said that the representative was not able to come to today’s meeting,
but will come to the meeting next Tuesday.
After the presentation the Board will make its decision.
Mr.
Schneider also said that he has ordered the shopping bags. They should arrive in about six weeks.
PROPOSED
GUIDELINES – FY07 GRANT PROGRAM
Ms.
Davies said that the basic outline of the application is:
1. What the project
is.
2. How it benefits Provincetown
3. The marketing plan
4. The budget
The
Board went over the application page by page and made various corrections and
additions. The application includes
numerical scoring. The Board wanted to
make clear that this would be a tool in granting applications, but not the only
one. The application must be approved
by the BOS before it can be distributed.
If the BOS approves it on November 14th, it will be put on
the web site on the 15th and copies will be available in Town
Hall. It will be advertised in the
following week’s Banner.
Lynne Davies said she will revise the application following the Board’s
suggestions and email it to the members for review. Michael Peregon thanked Ms. Davies and Mr. Schneider for all
their work on the application.
STOREFRONT
INITIATIVE UPDATE
Lynne
Davies asked what needed to be done for this project. Hersh Schwartz said that she has many storeowners signed up. Mr. Schneider said that he has contacted the
Truro school system, but hasn’t had a response. He would like to open it up to the community and all
artists. Ms. Davies said she is
concerned that the project be done well and represent the Town in a good
way. Ms. Guadazno agreed that if it
weren’t done well, it would be worse than having empty windows. It was suggested that perhaps some artists
could get together with kids and work together to produce pictures. Ms. Davies said that there probably wasn’t
time to do that this year. She said
that the Board must have some control over the art that is put up and reserves
the right not to display any picture it thinks is inappropriate. Ms. Davies thought that the pictures should
be a standard size and do not need to cover the whole window. Ms. Schwartz said that they should focus on
the stores that have closed already or are closing soon. The Board wants to publicize the project and
put out a press release as soon as possible.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:53 PM.