CLEARFIELD – Board members of Visit Clearfield County approved a balanced 2012-13 budget as well as the salaries of five staff members following a brief executive session at Wednesday’s regular meeting.
The budget calls for $508,950 in both revenues and expenses for the upcoming fiscal year, according to VCC Executive Director Holly Komonczi. When asked by board member Nancy Micks during the meeting, Komonczi said she didn’t anticipate “problem areas” with any of their line items.
In addition, the board approved salary increases for Komonczi and Susan Swales-Vitullo, travel development specialist, in the amount of $1,500 and $1,075, respectively. The board set the following salaries of $10.50/hourly for the administrative assistant; $10/hourly for the courier and $7.50/hourly for the courier’s assistant.
Komonczi said she and her staff are currently gearing up for the 2013 Clearfield County Travel Planner. She said their priority is photographs for the planner, which will focus on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.
According to her, the planner’s cover will portray the river. Board member Joan Robinson-McMillen suggested that she contact the Clearfield County Conservation District for photographs of the river.
Board member Lynda McCracken, also of McCracken Canoe Sales and Rentals, told Komonczi she’d provide some photographs for the planner. Komonczi noted she’d be searching for photographs on Facebook as well.
The board also approved for Komonczi to purchase two iPads for staff use. She said they spend as much time out of the office as they do in it and this technology would allow them to stay connected and work outside of the office.
Komonczi said the VCC office currently owns a laptop computer, but it hasn’t been updated and doesn’t function efficiently. Micks said there wasn’t any question that the staff needed the iPad technology.
Komonczi said the iPads were $629 each, and they would pay monthly service fees. These fees, according to her, would vary from $30 to $80 monthly depending on the service. Board member Hildred Rowles said the associated costs were within the board’s monetary range.
When asked by Robinson-McMillen, Komonczi said the iPads would fall into the amount already budgeted for small office costs. Board member Greg Sheehan encouraged Komonczi to purchase the best that the VCC could afford.
Komonczi said the iPad technology would allow the VCC to accept credit card payments for travel planner advertising. Earlier in the meeting, she said Swales-Vitullo has been attempting to collect outstanding advertising bills from 2010 to present.
Swales-Vitullo said that VCC has probably collected 95 percent or more and estimated they have a couple thousand that hasn’t been paid.
The VCC voted to cancel its August meeting; it will meet again for a board retreat in September.
