2.                   Approval of Minutes

            Moved by Bob Campbell, seconded by Don Brazier,

                        “That the minutes of the June 19/04 General Meeting be approved.”           Carried.

 3.                   Executive Committee

             3.1        President John Gillespie provided an overview of 2003-04 BSRA activities and initiatives, and outlined the 2004-05 Association Priorities as provided in the distributed printed materials.

            3.2        Harlie Johnston reviewed the printed “Treasurer’s Report” and the

“Statement of Revenues and Expenditures” for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2004.

                                    Moved by Harlie Johnston, seconded by Glen May,

                        “That the report of the Treasurer be received.”      Carried. 

            3.3        Jim Chapman reported that Greystone Beach and Tall Tree Acres have recently joined BSRA as member associations;  that only one subdivision with a formal association is not a BSRA member; and that there is still some missionary work to do with respect to the small number of subdivisions that have no formal association.

                        With respect to our communications program, Jim outlined our intent to produce a directory of shoreline subdivisions and residents for distribution to members sometime in 2005. 

            3.4        Doug Banks commented briefly on the BSRA Newsletter, and its important role in providing both internal and external communication on behalf of the Association.

            3.5        Doug Banks outlined the changes to the BSRA Constitution recommended by the Executive Committee.  The principle change is the creation of an expanded “Affiliated Membership” category which would allow duly-formed bona fide Associations of residents in Huron County shoreline communities west of Highway 21, but not within the Municipality of Bluewater, to become non-voting affiliated members of BSRA.  Similarly, it would allow individual ratepayers resident with Huron County shoreline communities west of Highway 21, but not resident within a subdivision represented by an Association holding Regular or Affiliated Membership, to become non-voting affiliated members.  Other changes are housekeeping in nature.

                        The following motions by Doug Banks, seconded by Tom Browne, were approved:

“That the amendments to the BSRA Constitution be approved as presented.”

§      “That the fees for Affiliated Associations be the same as for Constituent Associations, and that the fees for Affiliated Individual Ratepayers remain the same as for the former membership category termed Associate Members.”

§         “That the Bylaws of the Corporation be amended to comply with the BSRA Constitution, and that the Executive Committee be authorized to approve the amended Bylaws if acceptable to the Executive Committee, and to make application for amending these Bylaws to the Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Business Services or its successor Ministry.”

(Secretary’s Note:  The revised Constitution is attached to these minutes.)

4.          Reports

            4.1        Glen May relayed information from the OPP that ATV operation on the beach is legal, provided the ATV is licenced, insured, and not being driven in a reckless manner; the operator is at least 12 years of age and is wearing a helmet; and no drinking of alcoholic beverages is involved.

            4.2        Glen May provided an outline of the presentation that BSRA will make at the public meeting to receive input on the draft Bluewater Official Plan.

 In summary, BSRA is strongly recommending that no distinction be made between year-round and seasonal in the proposed shoreline designation of “Lakeshore Residential “.

4.3        Don Brazier indicated that BSRA has negotiated with Southwest Dust Control (Jason  Regier) to provide snow removal services this winter for shoreline subdivisions. 

Written details were distributed and are posted on the BSRA website, www.bsra.ca. 

Interested member associations were strongly encouraged to contact Jason Regier at the earliest possible date to ensure the availability of this service.

4.4        Bob Campbell reviewed the effect of reassessment on lakefront property taxes. 

The two shoreline wards now contribute 46.5% of all Bluewater residential tax revenues. 

In summary, there has been a shift in the property tax burden from the balance of Bluewater to the lakefront properties as a result of the most recent reassessment of property values.  Details from the printed report appear on the BSRA website.  Simply put, lakefront property owners in the Wards of Hay West and Stanley West are paying a disproportionate share of the total tax burden.

 Waterfront property owners all across Ontario (including Bayfield) are experiencing a similar effect.  The present assessment-based system for allocating taxes is inequitable and is causing waterfront residents to absorb an ever-increasing share of the municipal tax burden. 

Taxes are distributed on a basis that bears no relationship to services provided or to ability to pay – two fundamental principles of any taxation system.

BSRA will be documenting this issue for Bluewater Council later this fall prior to the commencement of its planning for the 2005 budget.  We will identify some measures that the Municipality could adopt to minimize the impact of such assessment fluctuations in future. However, it is recognized that the inherent problem lies with the provincial property assessment system itself.  Accordingly, the ultimate solution must be found at the provincial level. 

This past year saw the formation of a coalition of waterfront associations to fight for property tax reform – “Waterfront Ratepayers After Fair Taxation”.

                        The following motion by Bob Campbell, seconded by Harlie Johnston, was approved: