Town of East Hampton
Economic Development Commission
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
East Hampton Town Hall Meeting Room
6:30 PM
MINUTES - Unapproved
Present: Chairman Richard Leone and Commissioners Kimberley Fontaine, Alan Pawlak, David Shulman
Absent: Commissioners Bryan Jackowitz and Cindy Rooth
Also, Present: Jeffery J. O'Keefe, Town Manager; Chris Goff, Town Council; Kyle and Mary Ann Dostaler, 56 William Drive; Charles Dutch; Ken and Ellen Nosal, 152 Main Street; Chris Edge, Connected to CT; George Coshow, Shipyard Road; Julie Ciucias, Viola Drive; and Lori Lanzi, Recording Secretary
1. Call to Order
Chair Leone called this regular meeting to order at 6:34 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
Approval of November 18, 2008 minutes was tabled for the next regular meeting on 2/17/09.
3. Announcements
Chair Leone announced long standing Vice Chair John Hesen did not renew his membership commission last month and we will miss him. We need to find a replacement for him.
4. Town Manager/Town Council Liaison Report
Director of Community & Environmental Planning interview process will start Thursday. This person will be assigned to EDC as a staff liaison.
The Functional Assessment of Boards and Commissions report will be posted on the town website Thursday.
Appointment of new Public Works Director will be announced at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting.
We are in budget process. Departments have been asked to put a budget together from 0% to 3% due to economic times. Budget info posted on website.
Commission study of our road infrastructure needs report has come back. We have 15 million in road problems.
New water regulation hearing coming up – EDC may be interested in attending.
Grant released to develop natural hazard mitigation plan. Town would be eligible for FEMA money from this.
STEAP grants should be awarded in the next couple of months.
Town will be soliciting ideas for community development block grant funds. We would like your ideas and projects.
Bridge being backed filled. Weather has been a problem. Do not have a definitive date when it will be opened.
Kimberley Fontaine asked if the contractor offered any monetary damages due to the bridge delay to local businesses that have lost business due to this delay. Town Manager O’Keefe said he was not aware of any. Ms. Fontaine would like to see some consideration to the businesses hurt by this.
Town Council member Chris Goff was present for this discussion and will discuss the bridge delay and monetary assistance with Mr. O’Keefe at Tuesday’s meeting.
5. Public Comments
George Coshow, 26 Shipyard Road, was present to discuss a few ideas: (1) reinvigorate agriculture and (2) energizing the village center. Mr. Coshow feels both projects would have positive benefits to the town (handout submitted). Mr. Coshow’s ideas were well received by the Commission.
6. Presentations
a. MAD Communications, home based businesses: Kyle and Mary Ann Dostaler, 56 William Drive, were present to discuss letters written to Jim Carey from Wayne Rand requesting Mr. Carey look into MAD Communications as it is located in an R2 zone area. Mr. Carey addressed Mr. Rand’s concerns in a letter dated 1/5/09 informing him he has found no external evidence of a use regulated by the Zoning Regulations and Mr. Rand may appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Mr. Dostaler asked the Commission to write a letter to the Zoning Board of Appeals supporting home based businesses.
Kimberly Fontaine made a motion that the EDC draft a letter in support of all home based business in town and the need for the town to address this issue. A clear policy needs to be put in place; seconded by Dave Shulman, vote was unanimous in favor. Motion passed. (Vote: Yes 4 – No 0 - Abstentions 0)
b. Charlie Dutch, commercial site plan modification to Brooks Plaza: Mr. Dutch presented and reviewed the commercial site plan with the Commission.
Dave Shulman made a motion that the Brooks Pharmacy project be moved to Planning and Zoning; seconded by Alan Pawlak, vote was unanimous in favor. Motion passed. (Vote: Yes 4 – No 0 - Abstentions 0)
c. Connected to Connecticut activities report: Chris Edge reported to the Commission (handout made part of the record) the contacts, visitations, and meetings he made during the last month.
7. EDC Liaison Reports
None at this time.
Dave Shulman asked Town Manager Jeff O’Keefe that minutes from all commissions be forwarded to him so he may scan them and report any pertinent information to the EDC members at their monthly meetings. Chair Leone feels that an EDC member should be assigned to attend P&Z meetings. Chair Leone will contact the Chair of P&Z to develop a line of communication.
Dave Shulman made a motion to table final discussion of EDC liaisons at other commissions until the outcome of the Appointments Sub Committee Meeting report is posted; seconded by Alan Pawlak, vote was unanimous in favor. (Vote: Yes 4 – No 0 - Abstentions 0)
8. Old Business
a. EDC Letter of support for P/O/R Zone on Main Street: Ken and Ellen Nosal, 152 Main Street, discussed their concerns with EDC’s letter of support and submitted a letter, dated 1/20/09, listing the reasons they feel this zoning change is flawed.
Chris Edge suggested the language be re examined and looked at more clearly and he would like to discuss this with Jim Carey.
Kimberly Fontaine questioned whether it might be a variance an invidual homeowner would need to open a business in his/her home in lieu of a zone change.
b. East Hampton Bell Ringer - Holiday Edition: Received positive feedback on the first edition. Chris Edge will send Monica, Goff House, a letter of thanks for all her support and help. Another edition is being explored possibly around Mothers Day, Graduation, Old Home Day or Back to School.
c. Village Center Winter Festival: Nice job.
d. East Hampton “Business Association”/Middlesex Chamber of Commerce partnership: EDC members Dave Shulman and Rich Leone, along with Chris Edge, met with chamber members on 12/3/08 to discussed EDC working with the chamber to put events together in East Hampton. They learned there are about 70 businesses in town that are chamber members. EDC would like to sponsor a social event in the Spring. Chair Leone thanked Dave Shulman for spearheading this.
e. Blight ordinance action plan: Town Council members Melissa Engel and Chris Goff and Town Manager O’Keefe gave good feedback on the submitted draft. After discussion, it was decided EDC would need to rework their blight ordinance action plan and submit a new draft. Chair Leone asked Kimberly Fontaine to work on a new draft for the Town Council. Ms. Fontaine’s contact with town council member Chris Goff.
f. Home Based Business Initiative: dicussed earlier in meeting.
9. New Business
a. CERC/Site Finder Renewal: The renewal fee is due and the Commission discussed whether to renew. The consensus was they did not see any great benefit in 2008 and agreed not to renew. Chris Edge will discuss listing properties with Craig Stevenson on their website and get back to the EDC.
b. Business of the Month concept: Will discuss at next regularly scheduled meeting.
c. Village Center meeting w/Todd Schrager hosting: Chris Edge will get 2 to 3 meeting dates from Mr. Schrager and coordinate with the EDC members.
d. Town Governance Meeting: Waiting for recommendations to be posted on the town website.
e. Town/EDC Budget Process: Chair Leone met with Town Manager O’Keefe and revised the EDC budget. The budget will be presented to the Board of Finance. Chair Leone will email each EDC member a copy of the proposed EDC budget.
10. Public Comments:
Julie Ciucias, Viola Drive, expressed the following:
Blight ordinance: She participated in the original draft and suggested the EDC have meetings and public hearings to build a consensus on the ordinance proposal.
She had comprised a list of home based businesses when she was on the EDC.
Expressed her disappointment the DRB and EDC do not have a relationship. The two commissions should communicate.
Connected to CT: Ms. Ciucias was not sure what Chris Edge did. The meeting tonight enlightened her. She did suggest the Commission bullet a list of Chris’ accomplishments and add it to their proposed budget to justify Connected to CT line item.
Ms. Ciucias asked if Mr. Edge has done a needs assessment during business visitations re: business growth, stability, and legislation.
Feels P&Z and EDC needs to communicate. This will be a powerful issue.
Bell Ringer: Concept wonderful. She did not see extra business from it. She expressed disappointed that the EDC had no sponsorship in the flyer. Dave Shulman pointed out that the EDC did. It was a small ad and suggested maybe it be larger next time.
11. Other:
EDC member Bryan Jackowitz has not attended an EDC meeting since July 2008.
Dave Shulman made a motion that the EDC write a letter to Bryan Jackowitz asking for his resignation from the commission due to non-attendance. Seconded by Kimberly Fontaine, vote was unanimous in favor. Motion passed. (Vote: Yes 4 – No 0 - Abstentions 0)
12. Adjournment
Chair Leone moved to adjourn this regular meeting at 9:18 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lori Lanzi
Recording Clerk
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