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Economic Development Commission
Minutes of Meeting— February 15, 2011
The Hudson Economic Development Commission met at the Hudson Town Hall, 78 Main Street. At 7:30 p.m., Chairman Donald Garcia called the meeting to order.
Members Present: Donald Garcia, William Sullivan, Hugh Gardner, Tom Davis, Tony Loureiro,
Others Present: Kerin Shea – Community & Economic Development Assistant
Members Not Present: Christopher Tibbals, Sarah Cressy, Santino Parente
EDC Newsletter
Ms. Shea has finished a draft of the augmented EDC annual report. She is waiting for better weather to get better photos of 45 Main St., 83 Main St., & Highland Commons. The draft was approved by Mr. Garcia. He instructed her to put it up on the EDC website when it was complete & then notify members afterward for feedback.
Mr. Gardner asked if the Town Hall software could support visit counters. Ms. Shea said she would look into it.
Update on Various Town Projects
Ms. Shea updated the EDC on some of the projects going on Hudson:
- Washington St/Rte 85 Reconstruction Project – Route 85 is in the final stages of Right-Of-Way. The last key piece is the Bonazzoli parcel. Community Development (CD) has received a Site Remediation Grant from MassDevelopment, but was not able to secure the Economic Development Fund grant to provide funds for full site acquisition. The Town is in talks with the Bonazzolis & is pursuing the takings needed for the road widening. The takings will hopefully be signed in mid-March. As the Town will then own the building, an RFP was sent out for a DHCD certified relocation specialist to assist tenants finding suitable locations & with
actual moving. The bid opening was held on February 1st. MassDOT has since stated that it may act as the relocation agent, saving the Town from hiring a consultant.
- Houghton Street Bridge – Design plans are on their way to 100% and revised Right-Of-Way plans were submitted at the end of January. A warrant article will be submitted for the May Town Meeting. A public hearing will be held in late March or early April. Notifications will be published online & in the newspaper. The project is scheduled to be advertised this summer.
- Library Window Project – Installation for the windows is scheduled for the end of February or early March. The project will begin installing the windows in the historical front section & move to the large back section in late spring.
EDC Vacancy
Christine Miller has chosen not to continue as an EDC member, thus leaving an immediate vacancy. The EDC does have one board interest card on file. Mr. Garcia told Ms. Shea to invite the interested party to the next EDC meeting in May. He also asked that the vacancy be posted on the Town’s website.
New Business
- Economic Development Event – In years past, the Assabet Valley Chamber of Commerce would run an event, and the EDC would co-sponsor it. Ms. Cressy said she would research perhaps doing a Business Development Seminar.
- New England Real Estate Journal – Continuing an ongoing discussion on where to put the EDC’s advertising dollars, other trade journals such as Banker & Tradesman or the Boston Business Journal were brought up. Mr. Sullivan said he would bring copies to the next meeting & inquire on pricing. A discussion took place about reworking the EDC’s current ad with specific bullet points. Ms. Shea said that whatever the new ad read should also be put on the EDC’s website.
- Commercial Properties - Mr. Davis brought up creating a website of available properties in Hudson. This listing had been maintained by the EDC in the past, but had been discontinued. Lack of submissions from realtors made the listing incomplete, while a lack of updates made the listing grow stale & out of date. The possibility of EDC members soliciting and updating property listings was discussed.
Don Garcia, seconded by Bill Sullivan, made a motion to obtain a listing (if possible) of all commercial properties in Hudson.
Vote: 5-0-0, unanimous
Minutes
Don Garcia, seconded by Tony Loureiro, made a motion to approve the minutes of November 16, 2010 as written.
Vote: 5-0-0, unanimous
Adjournment
Don Garcia, seconded by Tom Davis, moved to adjourn at 8:40 PM.
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