Town of East Hampton
Economic Development Commission
Regular Meeting
October 20, 2009
Eaton E. Smith Meeting Room – Town Hall
6:30 p.m.
MINUTES
Present: Chair Richard Leone, Kimberly Fontaine, Alan Pawlak, Todd Schrager, David Schulman (6:42 p.m.).
Also Present: Jeffery O’Keefe, Town Manager, Kerry Nielson, Director of Community and Environmental Planning, Chris Edge, Connected to Connecticut
Absent: Cindy Rooth, Jack Solomon
1. Call to Order
Chair Leone called this regular meeting to order at 6:36 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
Mr. Schrager made a motion to approve the September 15, 2009 Regular Meeting Minutes; seconded by Mr. Pawlak.
Ms. Fontaine stated changes/corrections as follows: Page 2, Strike last sentence of first paragraph. Page 2, second paragraph, which is to now correctly read: Mr. Edge met with Elizabeth Namen of Epoch Arts, regarding later holiday events. Elizabeth indicated they are also very glad to be involved with the Halloween weekend. Chris also met with Sue Berescik of the Library concerning their Halloween gathering for young children and promotion of Halloween weekend.
Also, the fourth paragraph, Suby’s is spelled “Suvee”.
Ms. Fontaine made a motion to approve the Minutes of the 9-15-09 Regular Meeting as corrected; seconded by Mr. Pawlak. All previous motions retracted. Vote: Yes (3) No (0), motion passed.
Mr. Shulman arrived at 6:42 p.m.
Ms. Fontaine made a motion to approve the “Special Meeting” minutes of 9-21-09; seconded by Mr. Schrager. Vote: Yes(3) No (0) Abstain (1-Shulman), motion passed.
3. Announcements – None
4. Town Manager’s/Town Council Liaison/Community Dev. Director’s Report
Town Manager O’Keefe spoke briefly of the $750,000 Grant for improvements at the Senior Center; $250,000 STEEP, for Streetscapes Part 2 and the State of the Town address, attended by approximately 150. The complete address will be on the website in the Manager’s Department.
Community Development Director Nielson attended the Middlesex County Revitalization Commission (MCRC) meeting today with Chair Leone, and gave a brief overview for the Commission.
5. Public Comments
Diane Bohmiller, XChange For Change, stated that business owners in the Village Center area are worried about the economy. Ms. Bohmiller suggested that some of the businesses work together and stay open longer hours.
6. Presentations
- Connected to Connecticut Activities Report
Chris Edge was presented, reporting to the Commission (handout made part of the record) the contacts, visitations, and meetings during the last month. (See handout for details).
The cost for the Halloween and Halloween Eve Happenings ad will be $336 for each publication.
The Connecticut Film Office will be at the next EDC Meeting, for information only.
Mr. Edge provided information regarding the web site and possible content. Craig Stevenson will meet with Cathy Sirois to begin the process.
Town Manager O’Keefe suggested having an item “Why should you do business in East Hampton” with answers to commonly asked questions.
7. EDC Liaison Reports
Town Manager O’Keefe gave a brief overview of the Redevelopment/Brownfield Commission’s duties after a question from Mr. Schulman.
Planning and Zoning representative stated that on Saturday, October 24, there will be a walk, starting at the Municipal Parking Lot, regarding the Affirmative Housing. presentation that Planemetrics gave to P & Z.
8. Old Business
a. Business Community Events (Halloween, Holiday, etc.)
Discussions regarding the electrical power at the church ensued, Chair Leone spoke to the electrician for the church; Town Manager O’Keefe will check with Public Works Director Hayden as to what he found out.
Ms. Fontaine left the meeting 8:00 p.m.
Discussion regarding using the downstairs of the church for booths during the events.
Mr. Schrager has spoken to two property owners in Village Center who would be interested in renting space for longer periods of time only, not just for a one-day event.
Town Manager O’Keefe spoke of information he found regarding ice rinks, he has the bells for the Jingle Run and the Wayfinding Signs.
Chair Leone stated that we will have to have a special meeting before December 5 to finalize everything for the events. (Tentatively Thursday, November 5, 2009)
- Rivereast Advertisement to Support Halloween Event
Mr. Pawlak made a motion to run two ads (two weeks in a row) for the Halloween Events; seconded by Mr. Schrager, Vote: Yes (4) No (0), motion carried.
- Blight Ordinanace Plan Update
Mr. Nielson is working on this Plan and will have a draft ready for the Commission by the first meeting in December.
- EDC sponsored “After Hours Events” Speakers
After discussion, it was decided to schedule a calendar of speakers, for possible January or February 2010, ideally at the Goff House, upstairs.
- Business of the Month Criteria and Signage
After discussion it was decided that the Business of the Month should be selected by the members.
Mr. Pawlak made a motion to nominate XChange for Change for the Business of the Month; seconded by Mr. Shulman, Vote: Yes (4) No (0), motion carried.
- Farmers Market Grant Opportunity
Chris will follow up on this item, but Craig Stevenson stated previously that there would be little chance for the Town to get this since we were a start-up. This item will be removed from the agenda.
Craig Stevenson will be in touch with Cathy Sirois to put the changes into motion.
h. Home Based Business Expo and Regulation
Chris Edge will talk to a contact he has regarding incubator situation.
i. Ecomonic Engines
Town Manager O’Keefe (passed out a handout) discussed handout from ESRA, a GIS firm, analyzing marketing data, based on existing retail sales within the region. The report details the potential demand.
9. New Business
- Assessment Deferral Application for Building at 240 Middletown Avenue
Tabled.
Chair Leone discussed the almost year long vacancy of the position of Vice President on this commission.
Chair Leone made a motion to nominate Alan. Pawlak to be Vice President; seconded by Mr. Shulman, Vote: Yes (4) No (0), motion passed.
10. Public Comments
Diane Bohmiller commented that all the Village Center businesses haven’t gotten together in the past regarding advertising.
11. Adjournment
Mr. Pawlak made a motion to adjourn at 8:45 p.m., seconded by Mr. Shulman, vote unanimous in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Carducci
Recording Secretary
10-25-09
All handouts are made part of these minutes and are available at Town Hall.
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