Town Of Willington
Economic Development Commission Meeting
Meeting Minutes of
March 26, 2012
Attendees: Kim Kowalyshyn, Chairman
Jackie Silverstein Tom Treiber, Sec
Opened Meeting at 6:10 PM
Approval of Minutes:
Kim moved to approve the meeting minutes from February 27, 2012. Tom seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Old Business:
- Business Directory – Kim has been unable to connect with Hayden Wilbur, the CEO of Atlantic Communications, regarding printing of the business directory. A Willington vendor, Anything Printed or Copied, has offered their services. Kim will invite the owners (Pam and Joe) to our April meeting. If they cannot attend, she will arrange another date in the near term for ECD members to meet with them to discuss the business directory.
- Business Networking Meeting – The meeting is set for Wednesday, April 11 (6:30 to 8:00 PM) in the Library Community Room (reserved from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm). The two speakers, Roberta Dwyer from the Northeast CT Economic Alliance and Linda Riquier of CT Works, do not require any AV equipment from the library. Kim advertised the event in the Journal Inquirer and will send two additional e-blasts to businesses on 3/27/12 and on 4/9/12. Additionally, Kim created a flyer that EDC members have handed out to businesses. This has led to several commitments to attend the event. Tom and Kim agreed to post more flyers at selected locations. It was also agreed that we would also divide up the list of businesses and call each business a week before the event to maximize turnout. It was
decided that refreshments would include crackers, cheese, grapes and cookies. Kim agreed to purchase these items. Jackie agreed to bring a Keurig K cup brewer to the event. She will also purchase K cups (coffee, tea and creamers) from her employer as the pricing is favorable. Tom agreed to obtain water for the event from Village Springs. We will start setting up the Community Room for the event at 5:30 PM. Tom will have to get the key before the Library closes at 5:00. We will register attendees, provide them with nametags and have them fill out a Fact Sheet on their business. Jackie created this form to ensure that we captured the necessary information for the Business Directory. The Fact Sheet also asks if the business would be willing to purchase an ad in the business directory (Ads will be employed to defray the cost of printing). Kim will bring 50 Fact Sheets for registration. We discussed the meeting agenda and timing. Jackie agreed to put together the
agenda for the meeting.
- Love’s Travel Center – Kim and Tom attended the IWWC’s Public Hearing on March 13. The Public Hearing will be continued on April 3, 2012 with a site walk followed by a meeting in the Town Hall Common Room at about 7:00 PM. Again, we will all try to attend this meeting.
- 2012 EDC Budget – Kim attended the BOF meeting on March 1, 2012. Kim reported that we have $558 left in our current budget.
- EDC Webpage – Kim partnered with the Town Treasurer, Tish Ignatowicz, to update the EDC webpage to include the following: our mission statement, upcoming events/projects (e.g. like the business networking meeting, and the opportunity to be included in the business directory by contacting the EDC). Tom completed a section to promote Willington as a place to start, relocate or expand a business. Kim will work with Tish to add this section to our webpage, make some cosmetic changes and add links to a brochure about Willington and other relevant information. Kim will also find out whether she can be authorized to update the EDC webpage on her own.
- Joint Meeting with BOS & P&Z – It was agreed that the best date for the meeting would be April 23, 2012.
New Business:
- New Business Activity and Contacts – None
- EDC Welcome Letter – Jackie agreed to draft a separate message from the Assessor to new businesses that will be included in the Welcome Packet.
- Town Hall Maps Website (www.townhallmaps.com) – Kim identified this as a useful tool for EDC members. Users can click on a map of Willington and identify business located in that area of Town.
Public Comment:
- No public present
Ongoing Activities:
- We have a full seat and two alternate seats open. We spoke with Eric Beebe (Willington Pest Control), and he will consider joining the EDC. Kim also spoke with Joann from Curves who declined. It should be noted that Jackie’s Fact Sheet for the Business Networking Meeting on April 11, 2012 included a question for business owners and other attendees about interest in joining the EDC.
Meeting adjourned at 7:37 PM. Next meeting to be held on April 23, 2012 at 6:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Tom Treiber
Board of Selectmen
860-487-3100
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