Wednesday, April 17, 2013
6pm
at the Mayfair Community Center
Mayfair Business Association General Meeting
Minutes from 03/07/13
Third Federal Bank
Proceedings
Meeting
called to order at 9:15am by MBA President, Mike Scotese
Attendance
Lou
DePaul--3rd Federal, Pat Betz—Beneficial Savings Bank, Antoniette
Montgomery—Torresdale Flowers, Seth Kaplan—Rep. Kevin Boyle's, Mike
Scotese—Grey Lodge, Lisa Greco—BellaLisa Hair Studios, Jason Vizarov—First Class
Pharmacy, Tom Waring—Northeast Times, Joe DeFelice—Mayfair Civic Association,
Dave Schweizer--Manicini Tax Services, Carolyn Palmer—Viriva CCU, Suzann St.
Marie-Mayfair CDC.
Treasurer's
Report
Current
Balance: $ 5800
MBA
Membership Drive 2013
Membership
letters are out to past MBA members via email. Contact Lisa Greco at BellaLisa
Hair Studios at 3530 Cottman Ave. or at 215-624-6667 if your business is interested
in membership.
There
was also discussion of regular NE Times
ads to promote joining the MBA as well as a list of current MBA members.
Current
incentives for 2013 membership:
o
Bi-weekly Northeast
Times ads
o
Membership fees will
automatically include membership and voting rights to the Mayfair Civic
Association.
o
Membership includes
a guaranteed Mayfair Farmers Market space.
Educational Improvement Tax Credit
(EITC)
Joe
DeFelice, president of the Mayfair Civic Association met with directors of development
for St. Matt, St. Tim's, St. Hubert's and Father Judge regarding the EITC
program. With the EITC, businesses can defer their state taxes to the private
school of choice, including CORA, preschools, daycares, and general private
schools. The director of development for St. Matt's was interested in coming to
the next meeting to present to the MBA. It was suggested that one large meeting
be held with the MBA members and the local eligible schools next month to meet
and present the information. Antoniette Montgomery reports that she had filled
out the paperwork, which was pretty extensive, approximately 4 years ago and
was turned down. Seth Kaplan reports that the program has been expanded
recently and that the paperwork has changed. The paperwork can be accessed via newpa.com.
There were concerns regarding whether or not businesses considered subchapter S
corporations may not qualify but according to Dave Schwiezer this is no longer
the case. Businesses are allowed to split up their contributions if they wish
as well and the money does not have to go to just one school. Some of the
schools even have special staff that will fill out the paperwork for the
businesses if they are interested in contributing to that school. A date and
time for the meeting will be set up by Joe DeFelice at the Mayfair Community
center during the evening hours.
Mayfair
Fallen Heroes Run and Mayfair May Fair
The
Mayfair Fallen Heroes Run honoring Officer Chuck Cassidy and the Mayfair May
Fair (MFMF) will be held on May 18, 2013 starting at 8:30am.
There
was discussion about improvements for this year's Mayfair May Fair. MBA members
discussed wanting to do a central hub of activity during the day possibly with
a street closure and continue last year's Mayfair After Dark. There was
discussion about bringing the car show up to Frankford Avenue and thoughts
about how to get more businesses along Frankford Ave. to participate.
Sponsorships
for the Fallen Heroes Run
Members
can obtain sponsorship levels off of Lisa Greco. MBA members paying for
A-frames will have their business name and information lining the course of the
run and then they are taken up to Frankford and Cottman for the whole day.
Mayfair
May Fair
·
Lisa Greco is waiting
for a street closure permission from Bleigh St. to Cottman Ave. The 15th police
district will most likely have something scheduled for that day to participate
in the MFMF.
·
Other suggestions
include some military vehicles, fire engine and a police car.
·
Mia Hylan will send
out an email to the crafters/artisans who participated in the December Mayfair
Christmas Tree Lighting to see if they might be interested in participating in
a craft fair on the day of the MFMF.
·
A meeting to discuss
specific plans and goals for the 2013 Mayfair May Fair will be scheduled for once
the street closure is set.
New Business
·
Lisa Greco stated
that members may want to apply for a site improvement grant (up to $10,000) to
upgrade their businesses.
·
Mr. Jericho from the
Commerce Department was supposed to present today but was unable to attend. Mr.
Jericho assured president Mike Scotese that they will work on visiting each
business. He will also work on getting Linda Lawrence to present regarding this
program.
·
Discussion regarding
the real estate tax assessments. Several MBA members noted inconsistencies of
assessment as the businesses next to each other are being assessed at different
rates even though the square footages
are the same. Businesses are encouraged to appeal for exemption. The appeal
process for the BRT is online and you have send in the tax paperwork.
·
Discussion regarding
how the new "sick leave bill" will impact MBA members. Several of the members present state it will
not have an impact on them as they do not have a minimum of 6 full-time
employees. Some of the other businesses with more employees will have to adjust
their rules and regulations for employee sick time.
·
Rumor of the
methadone clinic moving to Rhawn and Frankford next to Wells Fargo. Seth Kaplan
spoke with the owner of the building and he reassured them that the rumor is
not true.
Mayfair
Farmers Market 2013
The
Mayfair Farmers Market is being sponsored by the Mayfair CDC and Republic Bank.
Currently, another sponsor is being solicited for the 2013 season. Please
contact Joe DeFelice (josephjdefelice@yahoo.com) or Suzann St. Marie (sstmarie1@aol.com) if you or your business is interested in sponsoring.
All
current MBA members are eligible to have a table at any of the Mayfair Farmer's
Market dates to either sell goods or hand out business information. Please
contact Mia Hylan (mhylan@gmail.com)
to schedule dates you wish to attend.
Dates:
All of the following days are Sunday's. Hours: 9am – 1pm
April
21
May 5
May 5
May 19
June 2
June 2
June 23
July 14
July 14
July 28
Aug 11
Aug 11
Aug 25
Sept 8
Sept 8
Sept 22
Oct 6
Oct 6
Oct 20
Open Discussion
·
Mayfair Civic
Association Meeting next week scheduled for Monday, 3/18/2013 at 7pm at the
Mayfair Community Center.
·
Tom Waring of the
Northeast Times brought up the National Small Business Weekend and he is interested
in doing a feature on several small businesses and members of the MBA.
·
Headquarters will be
holding the Mayfair Art Initiative's Third Thursday, 03/21/13 at 7pm. Come out
to see local artists and artisans.
·
New MBA member Jason
Vizirov from First Class Pharmacy introduced himself and gave a small
presentation about his business. First Class Pharmacy is located at 7316
Frankford Ave. They offer free delivery, transfer of prescriptions and are
offering MBA members $5 to use in the store. They pride themselves on being an
"old-fashioned pharmacy" that gives customers personal care. Their hours
are 9am-7pm on weekdays and 10am-3pm on Saturday. They are closed on Sundays.
Contact them at 215-331-3361.
Shamrock Shuttle
The Shamrock Shuttle was held on
Saturday, March 2, 2013 with no reported major incidents. Representatives from
the Mayfair Business Association, Mayfair Town Watch, Rep. Kevin Boyle's
office, Councilman Bobby Henon's office and the MCA met with the new 15th
police district Captain McCloskey and the participating bar owners as they did
last year to discuss a plan of action and areas of improvement to combat public
urination, sanitation issues and quality of life issues throughout the
neighborhood. An additional 45 port a potties were set up along the route and
members of the Mayfair Town Watch patrolled the residential neighborhoods and
Frankford Avenue the day of the event.
Thanks were extended to the participating bars for their cooperation and
working with the different groups to address the concerns of the community.
Hammerheads Bar also made a $200 contribution towards the Mayfair Memorial
Playground (at Lincoln High School). The Northeast Erin Express is scheduled
for Saturday, March 9, 2013.
An agreement was reached
between the bars and the Mayfair Civic Association which can be seen on the MCA
website at: http://www.mayfaircivicassociation.com/2013/02/2013-shamrock-shuttle-plan-and-agreement.html .
The next MBA general
membership meeting will be held on Wednesday night April 17, 2013 at 6pm at the Mayfair Community Center.
A presentation about the EITC will be held.
Meeting adjourned at
10:18am.
Meeting minutes submitted
by Mia Hylan, MBA media contact, on 3/28/13.