MAP Executive Board Meeting

Friday, August 5, 2005

Minutes

I. Introductions

Attending: Noel Musson, Matt , Jim, Maureen O’Meara, Gwen Hilton, Beth DellaValle, Jane LaFluer, Rich Roedner, Rebecca Shaffner ? (student editor), Tom Marcotte, Hugh Coxe

II. Review Minutes (minutes can be found on the web page)

Minutes: Annual Meeting

• Change Donna White to Donna Larson
• Beth emailed two corrections
• Matt replaces Mat
• Minutes approved as revised.

Matt asked whether reimbursements were sent for the annual meeting.  Need to check with Fred about the status of this.

Does MAP need to concern itself with NNECAPA appointments? No, as some MAP members are not NNECAPA.

III. Presidents Report

Working on NNECAPA – meeting is only a month away. 

IV. Treasurers’ report

Fred – Emailed his treasure’s report.

• Something is not quite right with the annual meeting.  Possibly related to having to send refunds.
• Question – where do we stand on NNECAPA registrations?  Don’t know
• Comment – would like to see quicker check processing.  Some checks are taking a long time to clear.  Fred does this work as a volunteer…

Motion to accept the treasurers report passed without dissent.

V. Newsletter Update

• Maureen introduced Rebecca Shaffner.
• The newsletter is at the printers. It needs to be mailed ASAP to meet the early registration deadline for NNECAPA.
• Suggestion that we put labels into a format that works for everyone.
• The Newsletter has been going to members who have not renewed.  The next issue will include a reminder to renew.

• Advertising and sponsorships
• Beth asked whether we should increase advertising in the newsletter.  So far the ads that we are running are for annual meeting sponsors.  Maureen is willing to pass along the logos to the editor if someone else wants to take the lead on seeking sponsors.  Suggests a charge of $250.
• Rich volunteered to head up advertising and NNECAPA sponsorship. 
• Board suggests that sponsors would get:
• Poster display
• Newsletter placement
• Recognition during plenary sessions
• For NNECAPA – would not include registration for the conference
• Should there be a non-profit rate? 
• Motion: That MAP authorizes Rich to put together a solicitation for $250 ($125 non-profits) for NNECAPA sponsorship, newsletter, website. The motion passes unanimously.
  
  
• Beth DellaValle encouraging MAP representation in growth management education.
• Beth will look for someone who will take responsibility for writing a series of articles or coordinating writing this series articles.
• Need to educate planners – professional development rather than taking positions
• Possible sub-topics
• Understanding the differences between LURC and towns.
• Costs of Sprawl
• Economic realities for communities
• Maureen wants balance in each newsletter rather than balance over time.
• Writers might include: Evan Richert, Brian Kent, Wendell…, LURC Staff, etc.
• Beth will get back to the board, possibly at the October MAP Meeting.

• Rebecca Shaffner suggested newsletter outreach to planning student.
• Beth - Might be good to have an interview with the student planner of the year profile in the newsletter.  Follow-up with former students to see how reality meets up with their expectations.
• Jim has added the past newsletter to the MAP Website on the newspage.  Rich Roedner (I think) will take responsibility for converting the MS Publisher file to a PDF and sending it to Jim.

VI. MAP Discussion of Growth Management

• How can we keep MAP involved in this debate. 
• We need to provide balance to the strong position taken by the Maine Municipal Association
• Maine planners need to be alerted of the issues and ways that they can be involved in the debate. (see newsletter discussion)
• Motion: Maureen proposes that MAP dedicate $10,000 to conduct a study and write a report on the Maine growth management act.  This includes the $2,200 Meck presentation approved earlier. Maureen is authorized to explore possible actions.  A final commitment will be required at a future meeting.
• Maureen is willing to do the leg work to find other sponsoring organizations.
• Meck’s group did a very thorough job documenting this debate in other states – e.g. Michigan
• We need to learn more about how other states are dealing with growth management
• Motion carries with on opposed and one abstention.
• Beth – it is not enough to show up and testify at the public meeting.  We need to have someone present at the workshops, providing information, etc.
• What direction would we go with this effort?
• Support SPO involvement in the comprehensive planning process, but consider changes in the process.
• Identify ways to adapt the growth management act to Maine’s diverse regions and Maine’s financial capacity limitations.
• Lessons that we can learn from other states.
• Who is attending the Land Use Summit in Bangor?  Are planners going to be sufficiently involved.  Many planners cannot manage due to the length of the commitment. 
• What are the impacts of the recent supreme court takings decision on growth management or planning in Maine?  Maine legislation does not allow takings for private use.

VII. MAP Sponsored Meetings

a. Stewart Meck

i. Motion to sponsor $2,200 for the Meck presentation – passed

ii. Who is going?

iii. Can we get guidance from APA and Meck on how to defend the growth management act?

iv. GrowSmart Maine – gets top billing for the Meck presentation, but has withdrawn financial support for the presentation. 

b. GrowSmart Maine– Meeting is planned for October.

o MAP has been asked to provide mailing labels for a future GSM mailing

o The board requests that GSM provide MAP with materials that we can send to the list serve and post to the MAP website.

o GrowSmart Maine will maintain its policy to require full registration charges for members of sponsoring organizations.

o Motion: Beth moves that MAP send a letter to the GrowSmart Board that MAP is the primary financial supporter of this event and should have primary recognition.  Jane has volunteered to take this message to the next GSM Board meeting that she can attend. Motion withdrawn.

o GrowSmart is trying to raise $600 K to bring the Brookings Institute into Maine to demonstrate the connections between smart growth and economic benefits (cost of sprawl).  Raising funds through businesses, non-profits and individuals.  Hope to complete the study for the next election cycle (Nov, 2006)  Holding fund raisers now.  See the Brookings Study on Pennsylvania. www.brookings.edu/es/urban/publications/pa.htm

o MAP will not sponsor the conference this year.

c. MMA

i. Conference will be October 5 – 7

ii. MAP may work with MCDA to see whether we will co-host a session. Noel is looking into this.

iii. Our only expense

d. Other

VIII. NNECAPA Meeting Update

a. Noel is working away on planning

b. Jim sent in the awards nominations

c. One NNECAPA member from NH sent a letter to the editor complaining about the location.

IX. Legislative Committee Activity

a. No Report

X. Membership/Web page

a. We need to encourage people to renew their memberships – we are short on members just now.

b. Noel asked Matt to send a list of names that are or are not renewed at present.  Maureen asked Matt to send a list of current members out on the listserve

c. Matt is working on an update of the MAP Directory.

XI. Other Issues

a. None

XII. Next meeting

a. The MAP board will not meet on the regular first Friday of September.

b. MAP will have some state-event 4:30 – 5:30 Thursday September 15 before the reception.