Town Of Willington
Economic Development Commission Meeting
Special Meeting Minutes of
July 27, 2015
*Minutes are not official until approved at the next regular meeting.
Attendees: Tom Buccino Tom Treiber, Vice Chair/Secretary Jason Bracich
Opened Meeting at 6:35 PM
Public Present: Peter Fairweather, Fairweather Consulting.
Approval of Minutes
On a motion by Jason seconded by Tom T., the minutes of the June 29, 2015 Special Meeting were approved.
New Business
Correspondence/Email – None
Old Business:
Economic Development
- Dunkin Donuts – No change.
FEDEX – Parking lot expansion plans are still in PZC public hearing, which is continued to September 1, 2015.
Love’s Travel Center – No change.
New Business Activity and Contacts – None
- Proposed State Police Firearms Training Facility – Letters to state officials finalized, mailed and posted to Town website.
Open EDC Activities
Business Directory –We are ready to go. Ad pricing will be $10 blurb, $45 (change from $50) 1/4 page, $75 1/2 page and $110 full page).
Business Profile – At businesses request to Town, Tom T. completed profile on Reflectionz Hair Salon. It will be submitted after review by business owner Kathryn Haggan.
Facebook – Jason said that link to Willington Business Zones Market Study Website (willingtonstrategy.us) was operational.
Market Study – Peter provided an update on his project. He went over data showing Willington in a Regional/State context and the Benchmark Analysis showing Willington vs. Bolton, Mansfield, Putnam, Stafford and Tolland. He answered questions on the data. Peter indicated that the stakeholder interviews were going slowly. Tom T. offered to liaison with certain stakeholders in an effort to expedite the process.
Peter said that the next steps would include:
- Continuing interviews,
- Industry target analysis, and
- An assessment of the Zoning/Development process.
He also wanted us to set a date for a town/community meeting on the market study. We selected Wednesday September 16, 2016 or Wednesday September 23, 2015 from 7:00 – 9:00 at the library. Jason agreed to contact the library re availability of the community room. Tom T. will contact EDC members and town officials re their availability and to rule out conflicts that would limit attendance. Peter requested that EDC members be at the meeting at about 6:00 PM to strategize, etc. It was agreed that we would serve coffee, water and cookies. Peter will prepare a press release, posters and a blurb for invitations to publicize the event.
Willington Word – We may want to consider revising the blurb on market study to include information on town/community meeting.
Budget & Housekeeping
Budget/EDC Finances – Duplicate Hilltop bill ($350) re networking meeting obtained and submitted to Treasurer for payment.
Commission Vacancies – one alternate position is open.
Meeting adjourned at 7:57 PM
Our next meeting will be on Monday September 28, 2015 at 6:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Tom Treiber
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