HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01-29Orono DBIA January 29,2024 meeting
Notes — Karen Lowery, Vice -Chair
The Municipality of Clarington is situated within the traditional and treaty territory of the
Mississaugas and Chippewas (chip-uh-WUH) of the Anishinabeg (uh-NISH-in-NAH-bek)
known today as the Williams Treaties First Nations.
Our work on these lands acknowledges their resilience and their longstanding
contributions to the area now known as the Municipality of Clarington.
Subject: January DBIA Meeting, January 29th/24 at 9:00
Attendance: Gavin Crabb, Chair, Karen Lowery - Vice Chair, Frank Maitland -
Treasurer, Marg Zwart - Ward 4 Councillor, Amanda of Orono Beauty/Wellness Spa,
Manish Jagwani of Holistic Physio & wellness, Jessie of Nirmana School of Yoga,
Perry Kirkbride with Orono Town Hall, Heather of Strands Studio
Topic - Moving Forward - Orono as a Destination
Karen Lowery has spoken with Bonnie Wrightman and Rhonda Armour of CBOT and
with Laura Knox of Invest Clarington and requested help with promoting downtown
Orono moving forward. Both have been requested at the next Orono DBIA meeting in
February. Thoughts for moving forward and investing in the future of Orono
1. Possibly have the Mayor and Willie Woo at the next meeting with Margaret.
2. Use the Big Box Money - Available funds $32,000.00
3. Alison Dee with the Clarington Library has expressed an interest in coming to
BIA meetings and also using the library washrooms for public use. Sam was
helpful at the Halloween pumpkin walk.
4. Perry Kirkbride to check with the Orono Town Hall as to the feasibility of using
washrooms by side entrance for the public. Someone like Dan, with a Janitors
background to maintain the washrooms.
At present there are no public washrooms available. We are missing the bakery
business in town. Also closed is (Wood. The Bistro has never re -opened. There
are 5 storefronts empty at present.
5. Better Cross promotion with our downtown businesses and Business like
Calderwood House - Tea Room up the street, 1840 Farm House & Vineyard, Cat
World, Brimacombe, Co-op, etc. Orono Trail system, Orono Town Hall and the
Orono Arena.
6. Up -date the Orono Website.
7. Up -date the TV advertising at Orono Arena - Get the "how to" add on info from
Timothy Jackson.
8. Laura Knox to check on some Grant funding coming out on Feb.15tn
9. CBOT suggested having an appointed representative from the municipality to
collectively update things like the web sites. It has been pointed out that Timothy
Jackson is currently doing most of this.
10. Connect with the cyclist groups and have a coffee shop / gathering space up by
Spring.
11. Find the names and phone numbers of the landlords of retail spaces available
downtown - Karen Lowery to check - One of the longtime issues to renting
restaurant space are the ageing septic systems of properties and the larger
amount of water being used. People have expressed interest in renting space for
a restaurant, coffee shop , women's/men's clothing, if they could contact
landowners.
12. Marg Zwart to see if she can locate the owner of the old Mercer lot
13. Revisit Dog waste Stations in town and at the trail. It was suggested by
Margaret that maybe just a Post with a box of bags attached and situated by
current garbage bins could work over having the waste bins attached. Concern
as to who would collect the garbage.
14. EV charging station has been installed over at the library. We should have a
public notice and be on a website of "where to find" station's in Ontario. Like
"Charge Hub"
15. Connect with Sam Kent to see if a co-op p/u space for the farmers market would
work in one of the retail spaces. Jessie had a similar idea.
16.Orono bags with the current businesses and the farmers market listed on the
back - cross promotion - to be used by all. A simple sheet handed out each time
suggesting the different businesses to visit while in town.
17. Gavin seeking suggestions as to where the Orono sign could be installed
18. Perry to talk to Derek Boucher of Employment Services - Durham College re:
employment services
19. Perry advising of Movie night at the town hall Feb. 02 at 7:00 pm - bring a
perishable item for the food bank.
20.Amanda wondered if there could be a standing discount if several of the
downtown businesses were using the same septic company.. To check into
same.
20. The Orono DBIA requires a Secretary. Consider a volunteer position. Heather to
check with Timothy re social media request.
Next Meeting - Tuesday, February 20th, 2024 at 8:30 am at the Orono Town Hall to
start a discussion on the above with CBOT and Invest Clarington.
Karen Lowery
Vice Chair
Orono DBIA