MINUTES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
SPRENKEL ROOM WEDNESDAY, November 20, 2013
SOUTH WINDSOR TOWN HALL TIME: 7:30 P.M.
PRESENT: Chairperson Susan Burnham, James Murray, Linda Jeski, Louise Neary, Wayne Kilburn, Mark Lillis, Joseph Kennedy, Dwight Johnson, John Mitchell sat for Edwina Futtner and Alternate Paul Burnham sat for William Jodice
ABSENT: Edwina Futtner, William Jodice, Gary Waterhouse
ALSO PRESENT: ED Coordinator Shari Fiveash
1. Call Meeting to Order: Chairperson Burnham called the meeting to order at 7:30p.m.
- Roll Call: The above mentioned members were introduced.
- Public Participation: Chairperson Burnham asked Town Manager Galligan to attend the meeting but he was unable to attend.
- Approval of Minutes:
Minutes from Regular Meeting on 10/16/2013:
A motion was made by Commissioner Neary and seconded by Commissioner P. Burnham to approve the minutes of October 16, 2013 with the following correction: Item 4. General Discussion page 2 should read ‘... the South Windsor site will be reworked…’ and was unanimously approved. Motion passed.
5. Old Business: None
6. Committee Report
Report from Louise Neary and Sue Burnham - Discover South Windsor: Chairperson Burnham reported that the next meeting will be held on Thursday, November 21st 9am at Design Professionals on Sullivan Avenue.
7. Communications and Remarks
Report from Sue Burnham, Chairperson:
Chairperson Burnham reported on the following grand openings and events:
- A grand opening was held at Inner Light & Soul Yoga on November 7th
- A grand opening was held at Select Comfort on November 15th
- A grand opening will be held at the Center for Medical Weight Loss on December 3rd
- A business after hours will be held at Massage Envy on December 12th
- Coupons were passed out for Holiday Lights Fantasia display in Hartford
- The Chamber holiday social will be held at Revolutions on January 16th
Chairperson Burnham informed commissioners about recent articles in the Journal Inquirer:
- Production of the local film ‘Tobacco Burn’ is finishing up. Read more here: http://tinyurl.com/loaa8hq
- Johnson Development Associates, building 200 high end apartments at Evergreen Walk, tax abatement application was tabled until paperwork has been completed. Read the article here: http://tinyurl.com/m48n8h2 Ms. Fiveash commented that abatement on residential housing is a unique proposal and she has received calls from two other communities for more information. The application did not come before EDC before being presented at a town council
meeting.
Chairperson Burnham received a mailing informing her that ECHN intends to sell to Tenet Healthcare Corporation & Yale New Haven Health System. This would change the healthcare provider to a for profit company.
Report from Shari Fiveash, Economic Development Coordinator:
Ms. Fiveash reported on the following activity:
- The town is preparing paperwork for a contract on the brewery business proposal.
- There is an inquiry by a large company that recently built in town into the land near Sullivan Avenue.
- Ms. Fiveash has completed 114 total business visits so far this year and is working to help those businesses that have issues.
Chairperson Burnham shared the minutes of the last EDC meeting with the Town Manager with the commission’s concerns. Ms. Fiveash has met with Drew Guild, South Windsor’s Webmaster, and the Town Manager. Mr. Guild recently upgraded the police department’s website and the Town Manager approved funds to allow Mr. Guild to help create a stand-alone EDC website that would link from the town’s website. Ms. Fiveash compiled town websites that are progressive and shared them with Mr. Guild. They then met with the company that does the town’s website to share the items on those sites. The new site will be built in-house for fewer funds than those outlined in the proposals viewed by the EDC. The Town Manager still needs to decide on how to get national leads. The new EDC site will also be linked via the Chamber site.
Commissioner Burnham asked about the approval for a medical building on 151 Buckland Road and what type of office space it is but Ms. Fiveash is not sure.
Commissioner Neary asked if the inventory of the available sites in town has been developed as she has someone interested in a building to house an indoor soccer field. Ms. Fiveash replied that she has reached out to all the realtors in town and they have chosen not to release that info. It is believed that cross sharing could lead to loss of commission on sales. Currently the town doesn’t retain information about town businesses and it is just sent on to the state. Ms. Fiveash discussed this with the town clerk who will now be retaining this information when new businesses register with the town and when new assessments are made.
Ms. Fiveash announced that BMW Motorcycle is coming to RTE 5 in the building formerly occupied by G&R Marina.
Commissioner Burnham reported that J&M Phillips is no longer located in town because their rent was too high. They want to build a 150,000 sq. ft. warehouse to accommodate all their locations.
Commissioner Lillis reported that Sudden Service is expanding by building a barn.
8. New Business
Election of Officers:
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeski and seconded by Commissioner Lillis to nominate Commissioner Neary for the position of Chair. After no other names were put forth, nominations were closed. Commissioner Mitchell cast one ballot for the secretary. Motion was approved unanimously. Motion passed.
A motion was made by Commissioner Mitchell and seconded by Commissioner Neary to nominate Commissioner S. Burnham for the position of Vice-Chair. After no other names were put forth, nominations were closed. Commissioner Neary cast one ballot for the secretary. Motion was approved unanimously. Motion passed.
A motion was made by Commissioner Neary and seconded by Commissioner Murray to nominate Commissioner Jeski for the position of Secretary. Commissioner Lillis cast one ballot for the secretary. Motion was approved unanimously. Motion passed.
Meetings Calendar 2014: The calendar for meetings in 2014 was included in the agenda packet.
9. General Discussion:
10. Adjournment: A motion was made by Commissioner Jeski and seconded by Commissioner Mitchell to adjourn at 8:18pm and was unanimously approved. Motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Catherine Potter
Clerk
Approved as amended: January 22, 2014
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