Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 1, 1993 TAG: 9309010132
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
The decision followed a presentation by Pulaski Town Manager Thomas Combiths on ways the two programs might work together.
The alliance, which approved its bylaws Aug. 17, elected officers at its meeting Tuesday. Jeanette Stephens will be chairwoman; Paul Etzel, vice chairman; and Debbie Jonas, secretary.
It also discussed downtown parking problems. Anne Wallace said County Administrator Joseph Morgan has raised the possibility of eight to 21 parking spaces available for rent to downtown merchants in the county's Washington Avenue lot, and the alliance also is pinpointing other places where parking space could be rented close to the business section.
The problem has been that customers of the many new downtown businesses often have trouble finding places to park because employees of some of those businesses are taking the spaces. The alliance will provide information on alternate parking areas to all the merchants, once it is compiled.
"We've got places, so now the problem should be over," Wallace said. "And if we're on the street, it's a shame and disgrace."
The relationship between Main Street and the Business Alliance still must be officially worked out.
"If you look at the bylaws, certainly these two mirror one another," Combiths said. He said there seems to be a consensus among the Main Street board of directors that it would like to add more merchant members.
The nine-member board can be expanded to 12 members without changing the Main Street bylaws. Some of the nine slots could become vacant at Main Street's annual meeting in January.
Main Street Treasurer Alex Rygas said the town has handled the program's funding during its past five years, and that the Main Street board soon may be keeping its own books instead. But he said separate books for Main Street and the alliance would be difficult to maintain.
Jonas suggested a separate line item for the alliance in the Main Street budget. Town Councilman Nick Glenn said the alliance still could raise and spend its own money for promotions and other activities, much as town departments each have an amount to spend within the overall town budget.
The Main Street board still has to agree to all this. Its next meeting is Sept. 16.
If the Business Alliance becomes a part of the Main Street program, the alliance bylaws would become more of a mission statement. The alliance would have its own monthly meetings as a committee under Main Street, and set up its own finance, advertising, membership and promotions subcommittees.
by CNB