MINUTES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
MADDEN ROOM WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2009
SOUTH WINDSOR TOWN HALL TIME: 7:30 P.M.
PRESENT: Chairperson Jan Murtha, Susan Burnham, Joseph Carino, Dwight Johnson, Louise Neary and Alternates John J. Mitchell (arr. at 7:38 pm), William Jodice, Joseph Kennedy and Linda Jeski
ABSENT: Roseann Williams, Edwina Futtner, Mark Lillis and Marilyn Morrison
ALSO PRESENT: EDC Consultant Craig Stevenson (arr. 7:42 pm)
- Call Meeting to Order: Chairperson Murtha called the meeting to order at 7:33 p.m.
- Roll Call: The above-mentioned members were introduced. Linda Jeski sat for Marilyn Morrison, William Jodice sat for Roseann Williams and John Mitchell sat for Edwina Futtner.
- Public Participation: None.
- Approval of Minutes:
Minutes of 09-23-2009: A motion was made by Commissioner Burnham and seconded by Commissioner Jodice to approve the minutes of 09-23-2009 with the following corrections: 4. Old Business: CT Studios Update: '...$25 million worth of bonds...', remove the word that from '...to show that the project's...', add a period at the end of '...cost of the overall project.' and item 7. New Business: add ' Commissioner Neary encouraged members to add reviews of merchants to www.discoversouthwindsor.com ' and was unanimously approved. Motion passed.
CT Studios Update: Chairperson Murtha and Commissioner Burnham attended the televised ceremony for the official land transfer. The ceremony was also attended by Governor Rell. Chairperson Murtha attended a town council meeting at which a presentation was made by CERC. Chairperson Murtha passed out a copy of the Power Point presentation. The presentation is available on the town's website for download. Copies will be mailed to those commission members without Internet access.
Report from Joseph Carino, Liaison-Water Pollution Control Authority: Commissioner Carino reported that the last scheduled meeting was canceled for lack of applications.
Report from Louise Neary and Sue Burnham-Discover South Windsor: Commissioner Neary reported that hits have increased for the website and the committee is looking for sponsors and ways to market the site. The hits to the site are a result of both links from related sites and from Google searches. Visitors to the site are staying on the site longer once they have entered. Commissioner Burnham, a member of the website marketing committee, reported that there will be a display window at Evergreen Walk near the Cold Stone Creamery. The display will be installed Sunday, November 1st. Also, the committee will have a booth on Thursday, November 5th at the Products and Services EXPO. A photo contest of South Windsor will be launched January 1st, with more
details to follow. Chairperson Murtha commented that the committee will need to start selling sponsorships soon.
- Communications and Remarks:
Report from Jan Murtha, Chairperson: Chairperson Murtha has copies of the Chamber report and a report from MCC. Chairperson Murtha has also received a resignation letter from Commissioner Williams, asking that she be removed as a full-time member but remain an alternate. EDC will have to wait for a decision from the Democratic Town Committee before making any changes. Commissioner Jeski will fill in for now.
Report from Craig Stevenson, Economic Development Consultant: Mr. Stevenson reported that the referendum question that includes a question about the power line property won't be counted because it is under $25,000 and therefore could be voted at a public hearing. The land transfer was approved by the town council. P&Z held a discussion on the transfer of the public land and has approved it. On Monday, most of the remaining land will be officially transferred. CT Studios still needs to meet the requirements of the transfer in order to retain the title and obtain financing. Approximately, 75-100 people attended the televised land transfer ceremony. The construction office will soon be established on-site and a “Coming Soon” sign will be erected. The site plan has been finalized
and they now need to start working with the town staff and obtain approvals. An application should be filed by the end of the year and the P&Z process should be complete by mid-February with ground breaking in March. The developer needs to submit a letter of credit to back the bonds for financing. The bonds for the project would be considered 'junk bonds'. The project's principals will be investing no less than $3 million. The land must be developed within three years or the land will revert back to the town. CT Studios is working with both national and local financial institutions. The town has received a $300,000 grant and the site engineer has been hired to plan the roads and utilities in the I-291 corridor. Commissioner Jodice asked if any other commitments have been made and Mr. Stevenson replied that they are working with a hotel developing group and conversations have been started with two local restaurant groups. There will also be a retail element. There have also been
discussions with a post production company. The project has increased, there will now be five sound stages - up from four. Pacifica Ventures plans to purchase a post production building on site. The town has begun a marketability study. Mr. Stevenson reviewed the TIF program and stated that the town will not be on the hook and that the biggest risk is the opportunity cost. Currently, the town is not collecting taxes on part of the parcel, nor has it for the last ten years. The New Mexico site is successful and is projected to be twice as successful here in CT with it's proximity to NYC. Commissioner Mitchell commented that CT is not a cheap place to do business. Mr. Stevenson replied that the analysis will help evaluate the project's feasibility and that it is even more costly to do business in CA and NYC.
Mr. Stevenson reported that the solar farm, Zenith Energy, is still considering land on Sullivan Avenue. They have hired a CEO for the company. Commissioner Neary asked if they are interested in purchasing any sites and Mr. Stevenson replied that the company is not that far along yet and that they are still analyzing the current site. State Law prohibits the crossing of public roads, a concession to the utility companies.
Mr. Stevenson is working with the ANHC, an American Hellenic public housing company that is interested in developing senior rental housing. They are interested in building on Sullivan Avenue and have met with the town planner and the town manager. This housing company is sensitive to senior's needs and has social workings on site and offer programming and other amenities. Their first Connecticut project was built in Wethersfield. They require residents to be over the age of 62, the median age is 75. They have income guidelines and are affordable. More information can be found at www.AHEPAhousing.org . It's a non-profit company, but they would still pay taxes-they may be a 501c-7. Commissioner Mitchell asked if the Berry Patch is fully rented and Mr. Stevenson confirmed that it is and they have a waiting list.
Mr. Stevenson reported that at the next meeting, Nu-Way will be asking for a tax abatement to expand their family owned tobacco company. They make cigar wrappers and with the expansion their equipment and personal property will increase. They also plan to hire five more employees.
Commissioner Neary stated that the web video still shows a picture of a windmill and Mr. Stevenson stated that he will try to have it corrected.
- New Business: None.
- General Discussion: Due to the holiday, next month's meeting will be on Tuesday, November 17th in the Sprenkel Room and elections will be held.
- Adjournment: A motion was made by Commissioner Burnham and seconded by Commissioner Jodice to adjourn at 8:28 p.m. and was unanimously approved. Motion passed.
Respectfully Submitted,
Catherine Potter
Clerk
Approved 11/17/09, with correction: James Murray was present at 10/28/09 meeting
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