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EAST HARTFORD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the East Hartford Economic Development Commission was called to order at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 by EDC Commissioner Debbie Arrieta, Acting-Chair.
ROLL CALL
EAST HARTFORD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
Present:
Debra Arrieta, Vice-Chair
Frank Collins
Pat Harmon
Devorah Johnson
Barbara-Ann Rossi
John Ryan
Absent:
Miguel Franco
Jack Jacobs
Others in Attendance:
John Choquette, Development Director
Aya Beckles, Economic Development Specialist
- OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS COMMISSOIN ON AGENDA ITEMS
- APPROVAL OF EDC MINUTES
MOTION by Mr. Collins, seconded by Mr. Ryan to approve minutes
APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY
MOTION by Ms. Rossi, seconded by Ms. Harmon to approve
APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY
- Mr. Collins and Mr. Jacobs presented Joe Valenti of Valenti’s on Burnside Avenue with a certificate of appreciation for hosting the monthly lunch club.
- Mr. Collins requested that the Development Office look in to the regulations regarding outdoor seating.
- Mr. Collins suggested a future lunch club be held at a restaurant located in one of the area hotels
- Ms. Beckles announced that the March lunch club will be held at Roma’s on March 30, 2012.
- Main Street Initiative Update
- Mr. Choquette presented the master plan put together by the town’s Engineering Department for the proposed added amenities along Main Street. This will be put out to bid with a start date of late spring/early summer.
- Alta Lash, Executive Director, United CT Action for Neighborhoods, reported that CEDF will be funding a workshop on curb appeal for businesses, specifically targeting window displays, hosted by a merchandiser yet to be named.
- The next Main Street Initiative meeting will be held on March 28, 2012 at 5:30PM
- Coffee with the Mayor Event – 3/7/12
- Ms. Beckles reported that approximately 20 members of the business community attended from Main Street, Silver Lane and Burnside Avenue. A number of topics were discussed including the Small Business Express Program which will be supplying loans and grants to businesses who meet certain requirements. Also noted were the CEDF loan programs available for local businesses.
- Mr. Collins thanked Ms. Beckles for her hard work. He noted that she continues to make the personal contact with the business community so that all parties involved are kept informed and engaged.
- Ms. Arrieta asked about the traffic calming issue. The suggestion was made that an EDC Commissioner would ask about this at the next Main Street Initiative meeting.
MOTION by Mr. Ryan, seconded by Ms. Johnson
APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY AT 6:34PM
Respectfully Submitted,
Jeffrey A. Currey
Clerk
cc: Town Clerk
Mayor
Development Department
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