MINUTES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING
SPRENKEL ROOM WEDNESDAY, April 6, 2011
SOUTH WINDSOR TOWN HALL TIME: 7:30 P.M.
PRESENT: Chairperson Louise Neary, William Jodice, James Murray, Dwight Johnson, Linda Jeski, Mark Lillis, Susan Burnham, Gary Waterhouse, Edwina Futtner and Joseph Kennedy
ABSENT: Joseph Carino, Marilyn Morrison and John Mitchell
ALSO PRESENT: EDC Consultant Craig Stevenson
1. Call Meeting to Order: Chairperson Neary called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m.
2. Roll Call: The above-mentioned members signed in.
3. Public Participation: None.
4. Old Business
- Fed Ex Tax Abatement: Mr. Stevenson passed out a corrected ‘Request for Assistance and Description of Business’. The value of the building with the equipment will be substantial. There is still no information from the STC on the status of the traffic light. Chairperson Neary asked if the abatement applies to just Fed Ex and Mr. Stevenson confirmed that it does. Commissioner Lillis asked how the commission decides whether it should be approved. Mr. Stevenson stated that the abatement amount is based on what is best for the town. Mr. Stevenson emphasized that the value of the personal
property of Fed Ex is much larger than other abatements that have been recently approved due to the type of equipment such as robots, etc… Mr. Stevenson stated that once a project exceeds $3 million there are restrictions on the amount a town can offer for abatement (70% for seven years). Mr. Stevenson stated that the approval of the abatement is critical for Fed Ex’s decision to choose South Windsor over the other sites they are looking at.
A motion was made by Commissioner Lillis and seconded by Commissioner Burnham to approve the resolution (stated previously): Whereas, FedEx Ground Packaging System Inc. has proposed an investment of $25 million to construct a 221,049 square foot to 304,249 square foot Shipping Distribution Center located at 500 Sullivan Avenue. The South Windsor EDC does hereby recommend to the Town Manager and Town Council that FedEx Ground Packaging System Inc. be offered a seven year 70% abatement of taxes on real property improvements and was unanimously approved. Motion passed.
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned by general consent at 7:43 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Catherine Potter
Clerk
Approved: April 27, 2011
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