MINUTES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
MADDEN ROOM WEDNESDAY, April 23, 2014
SOUTH WINDSOR TOWN HALL TIME: 7:30 P.M.
PRESENT: Chairperson Louise Neary, Susan Burnham, Linda Jeski, Wayne Kilburn, William Jodice, Joseph Kennedy, Alternate John Mitchell (arr. 7:37p.m. and sat for Dwight Johnson), Edwina Futtner (arr. at 7:42p.m.)
ABSENT: Dwight Johnson, Mark Lillis and James Murray, Alternates Paul Burnham and Mohammad Quraishi
ALSO PRESENT: ED Coordinator Shari Fiveash
1. Call Meeting to Order: Chairperson Neary called the meeting to order at 7:30p.m.
- Roll Call: The above-mentioned members were introduced.
- Public Participation: None.
- Approval of Minutes
Minutes from Regular Meeting on 3/26/2014: A motion was made by Commissioner Jeski and seconded by Commissioner Kilburn to approve the minutes of March 26, 2014 and was approved by majority. Motion passed. Commissioner S. Burnham abstained.
5. Old Business: Chairman Neary shared a copy of the letter that went to the Town Council regarding support of changes to the zoning on the northern section of Route 5 bordering East Windsor.
6. Committee Report
Report from Louise Neary and Sue Burnham - Discover South Windsor: Commissioner S. Burnham attended the last meeting on Thursday, April 17. Unique visits to the site are up by fifty percent as compared to visits to site in 2013 at this time. There are 3,500-4,000 unique visitors to the site each month. DQ Chill & Grill, Maneeley’s and Freedom Mortgage are new sponsors of the site. There are a total of six or seven platinum sponsors at this time.
Prospects for sponsorship:
South Windsor Woods housing development (Groundbreaking to be held on April 30)
American Eagle Credit Union
First Niagara Bank
The next DSW meeting will be held on Thursday, May 15 @ 11am at Design Professionals.
7. Communications and Remarks
Report from Louise Neary, Chairperson:
- Chairperson Neary has not heard anything regarding the letter submitted to P&Z in support of zone changes on Route 5.
- Chairperson Neary heard again from PlastiTech regarding their interest in warehouse space in town and gave them Ms. Fiveash’s phone number. Ms. Fiveash has called and emailed the company but has not been able to speak with anyone yet.
- A recent article in the J.I. reported that CT Studios is moving ahead.
- The South Windsor Chamber of Commerce Business & Expansion awards dinner will be held on Tuesday, May 6. The following members expressed interest in attending the event at Maneeley’s: Chairperson Neary and Commissioners Jodice, Jeski, Futtner & Mitchell.
- Please respond via email to the invitation to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of South Windsor Woods.
Report from Shari Fiveash, Economic Development Coordinator:
Ms. Fiveash reported on the following:
- DCK, which has a controlling interest in CT Studios, has met with Town Manager Galligan and the group in New Mexico. The fuel cell and P.U.R.A. agreements are still intact. The extension of the revertor clause prevents DCK from claiming the property in court.
- The South Windsor Regional Economic Development Conference will be held on Thursday, May 1. Information about the conference is available on town’s website and offers links and bios of the speakers. http://www.southwindsor.org/Pages/SWindsorCT_CommCalendar/S04789D05-0478A422?formid=161
- To prepare for the conference a meeting with panel members will take place on Monday, April 28. Event press releases have been sent out and an ad in the newspaper will be in tomorrow’s paper. No plans for providing food have been made as of yet. Chairperson Neary will call the town manager to see about funds to obtain a fruit platter and water. If there is no money, Chairperson Neary will send an email out to members requesting donations. Members interested in attending the conference need to sign up on the Chamber’s site (http://www.southwindsorchamber.com/south-windsor-chamber-of-commerce.html) or by calling: 860-644-9442.
- A Business After Hours will be held at the Savings Institute on Tuesday, May 13th from 5-7pm.
- A Business Before Hours will be held at Ann Taylor on Tuesday, April 29th from 8-10am.
- Coldwater Creek is possibly closing and Lux, Bond & Green will be closing their doors.
- The price of a land agreement for one brewery location is still in development. Conditions for the sale of the second brewery location is in the process of due diligence. Locations for two additional breweries being scouted for either new construction or in existing buildings.
8. New Business: Commissioner Mitchell stated that now is the opportune time to be serious about economic growth. The town needs to be more aggressive to get economic development and in their promotion of South Windsor.
Commissioner Futtner would still like to see apartments developed in town to provide tax revenue.
Commissioner Mitchell asked if there is going to be a full time EDC coordinator as part of the budget for FY 2014-2015. Ms. Fiveash stated that the Town Council is going through the budget process now and that some members are in favor of the position, others are not.
9. General Discussion: None.
10. Adjournment: A motion was made by Commissioner Mitchell and seconded by Commissioner Jodice to adjourn at 8:14pm and was unanimously approved. Motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Catherine Potter
Clerk
Approved with corrections: May 28, 2014
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