Economic Development Commission
Meeting Minutes
April 1, 2014 5:00pm
City Hall Auditorium
Attendance: Mayor Elinor Carbone, Dawn Gutowski, JoAnn Ryan, Ed Cannata, Bill Battle, Greg Mele, Nancy Sieller, Lisa Soliani, Erin Wilson
Meeting called to order at 5:00pm
A motion to open the meeting to the public was made by Bill Battle and seconded by Greg Mele.
Minutes of the March 4, 2014 meeting were approved on a motion by Dawn Gutowski and seconded by Greg Mele.
Erin Wilson updated the Commission on many items. Ms. Wilson discussed the Daniel Mahler Fish project that is moving forward and informed the commission that she was in need of some funding. It was explained that this will be a great placemaking effort that will draw people’s attention across the river as they drive into downtown.
Ms. Wilson also discussed with the Commission that she has been working with Evan Dobos of Picture this Web center on creating a newsletter that would be pushed through “It’s Happening Here” website as part of the relationship that will be maintained through the City and that website.
Ms. Wilson passed along the Planning & Zoning Application for 1 Newberry place for a zone change to allow for a resident to have his business at his home.
Ms. Wilson also gave the Commission an update on the 100 Franklin Street brownfield remediation project and informed the Commission that it would be going before Inland Wetlands and Planning & Zoning for approvals as a parking lot with green space. She also explained that there were unknowns on the site so therefore the City had to present a plan as the worst case scenario. Once the sampling results are back, the City will then finalize the plans. The parking lot must be completed by August 2, 2014 per the RLF guidelines. She explained that this project was important because it would save the City’s RLF fund and added that once the money is paid back, the funds would be earmarked for brownfields assessment, cleanup and other brownfield related expenses.
Ms. Wilson explained that she was working on an EPA grant for a Model RLF Toolkit proposal in conjunction with the State of Connecticut and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. She noted that the deadline for the application was April 18, 2014 and that she was hoping to get a letter of support from the Commission. Commissioner Battle offered to write the support letter.
Ms. Wilson informed the Commission about JoAnn Michael’s grand opening and the opening of Michaels later in the month.
The Commission discussed when the public Economic Development Workshop would be scheduled. The Commission picked June 5, 2014 and Ms. Wilson told the Commission she would let them know if they could secure that date. It was explained that this workshop would kick off one of many educational components that the Commission agreed was important to do.
The Commission went on to discuss their next steps and goals and opportunities. There was a discussion about housing and our aging population and how it related to economic development. There was a discussion about how neighborhood revitalization was important. Commissioners discussed education, marketing opportunities, grants and other resources. The Commission discussed ways to develop tasks. The Commission looked back at the Plan of Conservation and mentioned that the tasks were there and that they should expand upon them.
Commissioner Cannata discussed the Economic Development Self-Assessment Toolkit that was done by Northeastern University. He thought that this would be a great project for the Commission. It would cost $4,500 to work with the University.
Commissioner Battle discussed Spectra.
Commissioner Ryan announced three events coming up. She mentioned the Expo Fair that was coming this weekend, the Torrington House Tour and the “All aboard Litchfield County” trains that she mentioned at the previous meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:20pm on a motion by Greg Mele, seconded by Bill Battle.
Respectfully submitted,
Erin Wilson
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