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EAST HARTFORD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
May 5, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the East Hartford Economic Development Commission was called to order at 6:03 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 by Commissioner Marilyn Pet, Chair.
ROLL CALL
EAST HARTFORD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
Present:
Marilyn Pet, Chair
Debra Arrieta, Vice-Chair
Patricia Harmon
John Ryan
Barbara-Ann Rossi
Susan Skowronek
Travis Simpson (arrived during item 5)
Absent:
Miguel Franco
Devorah Johnson
Others in Attendance:
Jeanne Webb, Development Director
Aya Beckles, Economic Development Specialist
MOTION by Ms. Skowronek, seconded by Mr. Ryan to approve minutes
APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY
MOTION by Ms. Arrieta, seconded by Ms. Skowronek
APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY
- Several meetings were held the month prior in order to roll out the economic housing component of the project. Business owners also met to discuss further particular issues including, but not limited to, housing marketing, and quality of life issues. Alta Lash from CEDF reported that they are working on obtaining funds to be used for purchasing high-tech garbage cans. Ms. Lash showed a marketing piece from another community as an example of what EH may want to do. Discussions were had about creating a smaller, more specific, brochure for the Podunk Music Festival this coming July/August. Ms. Webb will contact local print shops to see if they would be willing to donate graphic design services to get this accomplished. Ms. Rossi will speak with the Podunk board and Ms. Webb will speak with Roger Moss, director of Parks & Recreation, to be sure everyone is amenable to this idea.
- Housing for Economic Growth Meeting Feedback
- Ms. Webb asked Commissioners for guidance in suggesting a target area for the incentive housing zone and the consensus was to further investigate the Main Street corridor.
- May 15, 2010, 9:30 a.m. at Alumni Park (rain date May 22, 2010)
- Pratt & Whitney will be donating gloves and supplies, Coca Cola will be donating drinks, CEDF will be donating the food
- Online Business Directory
- Ms. Beckles discussed with Commissioners the idea suggested at the last meeting to go through an online service already in existence (e.g. SNET, yellowpages.com, etc). It was decided that this would not be cost effective and would not be user friendly or easily managed by the Development Department.
MOTION by Ms. Arrieta, seconded by Mr. Ryan, to accept the proposal from Jim Coon Studios for the creation of an online business directory, to be placed on the EHWorks website, at the cost of $1,125.00.
APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY
- Ms. Beckles will email Commissioners with suggestions for the next lunch to be held on May 28, 2010.
- Mr. Ryan suggested partnering with Northeast Utilities in hosting a town-wide workshop for all Commissions and Boards. Ms. Webb will speak with NU to see if they would be interested and available to do this.
- Mr. Simpson voiced his frustrations with the town’s building department and discussed ideas for streamlining the permit process that were suggested at the conference with NU.
MOTION by Ms. Arrieta, seconded by Ms. Rossi
APPROVED at 7:57 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jeffrey A. Currey
Clerk
cc: Town Clerk
Mayor
Development Department
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