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EAST HARTFORD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
(UNOFFICIAL MINUTES)
October 6, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
A quorum was not met, making this an informal meeting of the East Hartford Economic Development Commission on Wednesday, October 6, 2010.
ROLL CALL
EAST HARTFORD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
Present:
Marilyn Pet, Chair
Debra Arrieta, Vice-Chair
Devorah Johnson
Barbara-Ann Rossi
Absent:
Miguel Franco
John Ryan
Susan Skowronek
Travis Simpson
Others in Attendance:
John Choquette, Development Director
Aya Beckles, Economic Development Specialist
Alta Lash, CEDF
Katelyn Nickerson, CEDF Intern
- September 1, 2010 (to be approved at the November 2010 meeting)
- $100.00 – Clerk (to be approved at the November 2010 meeting)
- Online Business Directory
- The directory is up and running with new businesses being added each day
- Business Visitation – Sofrito Puerto Rico
- Attendance was low for this visitation. The owner spoke about her hardships in dealing with the Town’s Building and Inspections department and suggestions were made on how to streamline the process in the future.
- Another successful lunch club was held in September at the East Hartford Golf Course. The next lunch will be held at Mr. Franco’s restaurant, Piolyn, Jr. Ms. Beckles will be in touch with Commissioners as the last Friday of October is not available.
- Main Street Initiative – Windshield Survey & Next Steps
- Ms. Lash introduced Katelyn Nickerson, intern at CEDF and student at UCONN School of Social Work. Ms. Lash reviewed the Work Plan for September 2010 as well as the plan for October through December. She had a potential donor who was going to take the tax credits, only to find that the company is an S-Corp and not a C-Corp. The director of CEDF will be speaking with Senator Gary LeBeau, chairman of the Commerce Committee regarding tax credits and the hope that they will be offered to S-Corps as well.
- Ms. Arietta spoke regarding the windshield survey she and Ms. Pet conducted. She was upset about the way in which their findings were handled. She was under the impression that the EDC would be assisting some of these residents with their issues as opposed to the Town’s Inspections Department sending out letters regarding blight. Ms. Lash suggested a follow-up letter to residents who may be identified as being able to be helped by the EDC & CEDF.
- MetroHartford Alliance & HYPE
- A representative from both groups attended September’s Lunch Club. Ms. Pet requested a business visitation and it was decided that someone from MetroHartford Alliance would be asked to attend a future meeting to discuss their role in the region and how it may relate to the EDC.
- Ms. Rossi reported that East Hartford’s Podunk Blue Grass Festival took “Best Blue Grass Festival of the Year” at the annual awards ceremony in Nashville. An amateur video was taken of Roger Moss’ acceptance speech, and Ms. Beckles will look in to how that may be posted on the EHWorks website.
- Partnership for Inclusive, Cost Effective Public Participation, MCC
- Matthew Robinson from MCC sent a letter asking if members were interested in participating in a discussion facilitated by an MCC student regarding transportation issues in our community. Commissioners decided they would not be able to take part.
The meeting concluded at 7:40 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jeffrey A. Currey
Clerk
cc: Town Clerk
Mayor
Development Department
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