Map Board Meeting
09/07/07
Minutes

Attending: Rebeccah Schaffner, Carl Eppich, Linda Johns, Steve Condon, Jim Fisher, Fred Marshal, Hugh Coxe, Stacy Benjamin, Jane Lafleur, Beth Della Valle, Noel Musson, Maureen O'Meara, Fred Marshal

Guests: Kathy Fuller, Britta Stein

June meeting minutes

• approved without revisions
• already posted to www.meplan.org

Review of agenda

Treasures Report - see five page handout

• Membership renewals are bringing in revenues.
• Budget forecast was pretty good - we went over on some workshop sponsorships
• Annual meeting expenses were minimal
• We have some reserves that will enable us to support workshops, etc.
• One half of all surplus should be put into the reserve account
• We have not drawn down on assets this year
• Treasure's Report approved without dissent

MMA Conference - October 3-4

• There is space at the conference
• What would we present? Discussion of the Informed Growth Act – provision requiring impact analysis of big-box development
• There are several organizations interested in this law
• Institute for Local Self Reliance - lobbied for the informed growth act, They are putting together a packet of information
• MMA
• Stacy Mitchell is putting together an information packet
• Michael Star (?) at MMA suggested that SPO send someone to a panel
• SPO
• MCDA proposed a session on housing, but might be interested in this topic
• Beth Della Valle circulated on copy of documents designed to assist Municipalities in conducting the required impact analysis. Stacy raised questions about whether these documents have gotten ahead of rule making. They contain several untested assumptions and interpretations.

Beth - would like to organize a training workshop at some time in the future.   (Tabled for later discussion)
Is this law ready for a presentation?
The sample documents are not in final draft

Hughe moved that MAP sponsor an informative (non-advocacy) session on the Informed Growth Act.

• Maureen and Rebecca volunteered to organize the session
• Maureen would MC

Vote - 8 in favor, 4 opposed - motion passed

Growsmart Conference - too late to do a session

AICP Continuing credit
Many MAP members are AICP

• MAP can help planners to get AICP credits
• Credits must come from registered providers
• Kathy Fuller - volunteered to help organize this
• Want to find out what it takes to be a registered provider
• Need to find out the fee structure and other administrative details
• Carl Eppich - NNECAPA Board member has found this to be a murky process
• there is a substantial movement to repeal the requirement
• Need to be sure to include some ethics training - perhaps the next MAP meeting.

Beth moves that Kathy chair a group to investigate how to make AICP more accessible to Maine Planners. 

• Maureen asked for a report in November
• Passed without dissent

NNECAPA - request to know whether MAP would participate with other northern New England groups in purchasing CD training.

Five sessions at $90 per session

• Carl - you purchase the CD's as prep material
• This is followed by a web caste-conference call session
• October 3rd
• February
• March 5th  (possible date for Maine)

The CDs have background documents - the session is different and carries a separate fee.
Discussion went back on forth about whether MAP should join NH and VT in this purchase.
In favor: all but 1 Opposed: 1 Motion passed

Newsletter

• schedule will be on the newsletter
• this issue goes to printer next Friday
• Next newsletter - December/January
• Need more content for future newsletters - USM Students? Planner guest columns? Each board member can write one article this year. Carl and Jane volunteered to write articles, SPO
• Deadline is Nov. 9th
• Working waterfront
• Energy
• LURC (Beth DellaValle)

Website

• Jim - noted that the website is chugging along
• Maureen asked that we move thumbnails for the sponsors to the homepage.  If that works we can consider other sponsorship opportunities

Other Business

Beth - asked whether MAP wants a display board - yes

Beth - asked whether a long time planner be considered for a mid-year award.  Maureen suggests that MAP clamp down on any ad hoc awards.  Awards nominations can be submitted early in 2008. 

Beth - Professional Development

• Informed growth act would be a good training topic.
• Maureen suggests that MAP hold a discussion of professional development at the next MAP Board meeting

New Email Address: Steve - steve@holdenmaine.com

Next MAP Meeting - October 5th at 12:00 
Meeting adjourned at 2:00