Town of East Hampton
Economic Development Commission
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
East Hampton Town Hall Meeting Room
6:30 PM
MINUTES
Present: Chairman Richard Leone, Alan Pawlak (arrived at 7:50pm), Cindy Rooth, Kimberley Fontaine and Jack Solomon
Not Present: Dave Shulman and Todd Schrager
Also Present: Chris Edge, Connected to CT; Kerry Nielson, Director of Community and Environmental Planning; and Cathy Sirois, Recording Secretary
1. Call to order: Chair Leone called this regular meeting to order at 6:33 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes: A motion was made by Jack Solomon, seconded by Cindy Rooth, to approve the July 28, 2009 Special Meeting minutes. Motion passed. Vote: Yes 4 – No 0 – Abstentions 0.
3. Announcements:
Xchange for Change held its Grand Opening. They are located at 95 Main Street but are moving soon to the Old Bank Antiques building. The current building is not conducive to their business. There were articles on the Grand Opening in the Hartford Courant and Rivereast.
4. Town Manager/Town Council Liaison/Community & Environmental Planning Director: Kerry Nielson, Director of Community and Environmental Planning, provided information on the Middlesex County Revitalization Commission Revolving Loan Fund. Paul Hughes, their director, has held meetings with the Bevin owners. There was discussion about having Paul Hughes come in to meet with business owners in town. Ms. Nielson also provided information on the Assessment Deferral Program.
Chris Goff, Town Council Liaison, reported on the wayfinding signage program and the September 9th Town Meeting to vote on the property purchase and easements for the water source for a future water system.
A motion was made by Ms. Fontaine, seconded by Ms. Rooth, to draft a letter to the public and the Town Council in support of the purchase of property and easements as a water source for a future water system as it relates to the Economic Development Commission. Motion passed. Vote: Yes 4 – No 0 – Abstentions 0.
5. Public Comments: None
6. Presentations:
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 August 2009.
Mr. Edge provided a sample “Business of the Month” sign. The commission discussed the sign and the emails sent providing feedback on the sign. Mr. Edge will get in touch with Sue Weintraub of the Town Council regarding getting a sample of the new wayfinding signage logo to test on another sample sign.
Ms. Ruth provided an update on Jeff Palmer’s eye care office at the intersection of Route 16 and 66. There is a tentative opening date of September 18th. They are working with the State on signage.
The Commission discussed establishing criteria for the business of the month. Mr. Leone will contact Portland to see what they use for criteria for choosing their business of the month. Ms. Rooth will contact Colchester and Mr. Edge will contact Marlborough. Commission members will also bring other ideas to the September meeting.
7. EDC Liaison Reports:
- Summary discussion of other Board & Comm. Activity: Mr. Leone was unable to attend the Planning & Zoning meeting but reviewed the minutes of the meeting. Tunji Somma’s medical building was approved with conditions.
8. Old Business:
- Blight ordinance action plan update: Ms. Fontaine provided information to Ms. Nielson on the draft Blight Ordinance.
- Home Based Business Initiative: No new information was provided on this topic. The meeting with Planning & Zoning will be held in the fall.
- Village Center Events (Halloween etc): Mr. Edge reported that Diane of Xchange for Change mentioned having a social dance in the village.
- Connected to Connecticut Contract Renewal Discussion: This item will be discussed later in the meeting.
- Business of the Month Concept: This topic was discussed earlier.
- Farmers Market Grant Opportunity: There is no new information on the Farmers Market Grant opportunity.
9. New Business
a/b. Information packet for prospective businesses/Update of EDC Website Information: Information needs to be updated on the town website and the upcoming information packet should be included on the website. Mr. Edge has begun to gather information for the information packet for businesses. The Visitor Guide is from 2007 and needs to be updated. The commission members should look at the current EDC webpage and email their comments to the group.
c. Holiday Village Center Event: Mr. Leone and Mr. Edge will put together a listing of businesses and civic groups to be involved. For the next meeting a strong outline and plan of action will be put together. Ms. Rooth discussed having a place for home based businesses to display their goods and services for the holiday event.
Mr. Pawlak arrived at the meeting (7:50 p.m.)
A motion was made by Mr. Solomon, seconded by Ms. Rooth, to set Saturday, December 5, 2009 as the date for the holiday village center event. Motion passed. Vote: Yes 5 – No 0 – Abstentions 0.
Mr. Solomon discussed building on the Boat Parade to make it a more town wide event.
Ms. Rooth discussed a booklet she received in East Haddam called the East Haddam Events, a quarterly booklet. It was paid for by advertisements, it cost the town nothing. She will contact the publisher of the booklet for more information.
Ms. Fontaine discussed “dirty power”. She will provide a scanned document to the commission on a company that allegedly “cleans” the power.
Ms. Fontaine discussed funding available to businesses from the Community Economic Development Fund in West Hartford.
Ms. Fontaine asked if the town has a resident list that is available to businesses.
Ms. Fontaine provided a copy of “Business Starts” from the Hartford Business Journal. EDC should reach out to these businesses. She will provide this listing to the Assessor’s Office.
Ms. Fontaine discussed a business that recently moved out of town. Westchester Woodworking moved to Colchester. They needed more space. She asked what the EDC can do to keep businesses in town. It is felt that there is more that EDC can be doing to assist existing and new businesses. Ms. Rooth discussed an East Hampton Business Association. The commission discussed what EDC can do and has done for businesses and ways to get the word out about EDC.
Connected to Connecticut Contract Renewal Discussion:
Mr. Edge recused himself from the meeting.
The scope of the contract was reviewed. The group feels the scope should provide more detail. Mr. Leone reviewed what the Portland Economic Development Consultant does for the town. The group needs to provide specific goals and deliverables for Connected to Connecticut. The request has been made that Craig Stevenson attend EDC meetings. Each member of the commission will come up with a listing of 6 to 10 items to focus on for deliverables. This item will be included on the agenda of the September meeting.
A motion was made by Ms. Rooth, seconded by Mr. Pawlak, to make a recommendation to Town Council to renew the contract for Connected to Connecticut through June, 2010.
10. Public Comments: None
11. Adjournment: A motion was made by Ms. Fontaine, seconded by Ms. Rooth, to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cathy Sirois
Recording Secretary
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