MINUTES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
MADDEN ROOM WEDNESDAY, May 22, 2013
SOUTH WINDSOR TOWN HALL TIME: 7:30 P.M.
PRESENT: Chairperson Susan Burnham, Joseph Kennedy, Bill Jodice, James Murray, Edwina Futtner, Linda Jeski, Dwight Johnson, Alternate Gary Waterhouse, Wayne Kilburn and Paul Burnham (arr. 7:35pm)
ABSENT: Mark Lillis, Louise Neary and Alternate John Mitchell
ALSO PRESENT: ED Coordinator Shari Fiveash
1. Call Meeting to Order: Chairperson Burnham called the meeting to order at 7:30p.m.
2. Roll Call: The above mentioned members were introduced. Alternate Gary Waterhouse sat for Commissioner Neary.
3. Public Participation: None
4. Approval of Minutes:
Minutes from Regular Meeting on 4/24/2013: A motion was made by Commissioner Futtner and seconded by Commissioner Jodice to approve the minutes April 24, 2013 with the following corrections:
Item 4: ‘…hired by the town as the Town Fire Inspector…’ and ‘the Commission to helping in some capacity…’
The motion was unanimously approved. Motion passed.
5. Old Business: Chairperson Burnham polled the Commissioners on their availability for Saturday, September 21 the Fireman’s 75th Anniversary event. The EDC Commission has committed to volunteering to work at the soda sales table that morning. Commissioners indicated they would be available to help and coordination will occur at a later date.
Ms. Fiveash reported that a project she had talked about in April will no longer be viable because one land owner is not interested in selling at this time. The project hinged on all three landowners selling their parcel to combine the land into one parcel.
6. Committee Report
Report from Louise Neary and Sue Burnham - Discover South Windsor: Chairperson Burnham reported that the last meeting was held on Thursday, May 16th at Design Professionals. The site has created interesting statistics. The number of site visitations that result in multiple page views is 17,545 and Firefox is the leading web browser used by visitors. The committee is proposing a monthly coupon special for businesses and restaurants to drive traffic to the site. Coupons would be self-maintained by the businesses. The next meeting will be held at Design Professionals on Thursday, June 27 at 10:30am. It is the last Thursday in June. A large sponsor, Precision Mortgage, is working on their advertising and will be added to site soon.
7. Communications and Remarks
Report from Sue Burnham, Chairperson:
Chairperson Burnham announced that the Tyler Regional Animal Control Center on Sullivan Avenue is now open. The site is the former fire house location and the idea to use the building as an animal control facility was Gary Tyler’s. The building is 4,200 sq. ft. and will be a joint facility operated by the towns of East Hartford, Manchester and South Windsor. Its capacity is thirty five dogs and twelve cats. Each town’s animal control officer will be responsible for the care of the animals they house there. A ten day window will provide time to claim animals at the center and then they’ll be up for adoption. A $515,000 State grant helped pay for the shelter’s modifications.
Chairperson Burnham displayed the final draft of South Windsor’s Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) that will be the focus of a public hearing on Tuesday, July 16th. Chairperson Burnham read the preface of the document to commissioners. Additional books will be available by contacting the Town Planner’s office at 860-644-2511 x252 for a printed copy. A PDF of the document will also be available online on the Town’s website.
Ms. Fiveash informed commissioners that she obtained a grant to create a town center for South Windsor. A press release was released prematurely identifying South Windsor as a recipient of the State grant. The grant will help to develop a town center, install sidewalks from Evergreen Walk to Geissler’s and other improvements such as flags and lighting. Ms. Fiveash hasn’t received notification of the amount of money the town will be receiving.
Cheetah’s Tanning opened on May 30th in Sun Capsule’s former location.
Pauly’s Professional Barber Shop will be opening on June 6th. They are located near Webster Bank.
Kim Saxton’s financial planning business will be opening soon.
Report from Shari Fiveash, Economic Development Coordinator:
Ms. Fiveash reported that there have been discussions involving the Hi-G building. At a recent Town Council meeting ownership was transferred to Mr. Constantino who also owns the right of way. The building is now on the tax rolls. A 3-D imaging company was interested in expanding into the building.
The budget for fiscal year 2013-2014 passed recently. The budget includes $102.9 million with a 4.47% increase from a 29 to 35 mil rate. The increase won’t be a big deterrent because it is comparable to surrounding towns. Some businesses may see large increases in their tax bill and others may not.
Since January, Ms. Fiveash has visited 60 different businesses in town. Overall, businesses are happy but that may change after mil rate goes into effect.
Commissioner P. Burnham inquired about a company interested in building a technology proton research facility in conjunction with two other companies. A report was in the Courant and Commissioner P. Burnham asked if South Windsor sent anything to them about availability in town. Ms. Fiveash replied that there are no properties large enough to accommodate them unless the CT Studios project doesn’t come to fruition.
8. New Business: Chairperson Burnham reminded commissioners that the dedication of the WPCA building in Joe Carino’s honor will take place on Thursday, May 23, 2013. Plant tours will begin at 5 p.m., speeches are scheduled to commence at 6 p.m. and a buffet dinner will be available at 6:30p.m. The WPCA building is located on Vibert Road which leads to the Connecticut River.
9. General Discussion: The next regularly scheduled meeting will be Wednesday, June 26 at 7:30p.m.
10. Adjournment: A motion was made by Commissioner Futtner and seconded by Commissioner Jeski to adjourn at 8:04p.m. and was unanimously approved. Motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Catherine Potter
Clerk
Approved: July 24, 2013
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