SOUTH BERWICK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
May 2, 2007
1:00 PM
ROLL CALL
Present: Dennis Fontaine (Chairman), Douglas Letellier, Karyn Morin, Jeff Grossman, Katherine Wolfe, Michael Lassel and Sue Pullar.
Absent: Steve Einstein, David Burke, Paul Schumacher, Terry Oliver and Jim Fisk.
Susie Scott (Administrative Assistant) was taking minutes.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Fontaine called the regular meeting to order at 1:03 PM.
MINUTES APPROVAL
February 7th, 2007 – Regular Meeting: Motion by Mr. Letellier to accept minutes as written, second by Mr. Cleary, passed unanimous.
April 4th, 2007 – Regular Meeting: Table minutes until comments received from Mr. Burke.
PUBLIC AUDIENCE
CORRESPONDENCE
The Catered Event brochure.
MEMBERS COMMENTS:
Mr. Cleary stated that he will be writing a letter to the editor regarding his support of Contract Zoning. He will write the letter as a private citizen and not as an EDC member. Mr. Cleary discussed the EDC, as a recommending Committee, review and possibly recommend specific land use zoning for the business transitional zone.
Mr. Lassel stated that when the business zones were eliminated 5 years ago, rational planning was also eliminated.
Mr. Grossman discussed imposing design review only on commercial buildings.
Committee members discussed addressing other zoning changes only after contract zoning has been addressed.
Committee members should receive a copy of Design Review for their reference.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Subcommittee Update:
· Comp. Plan Review (Economic Development Section):
Chairman Fontaine stated that the Committee will hold off on this item until State review and approval.
· Contract Zoning:
Mr. Grossman discussed possibly having another informational presentation for the public. This would need to be discussed with the Town Council. The Referendum vote is scheduled for June 12, 2007.
Ms. Pullar discussed sending a mailer to notify residents of the informational night.
· Business Trade:
Ms. Wolfe noted that the business letter has been completed since December and should be sent out shortly.
Ms. Wolfe discussed not having received any questions for the survey from any Committee members. She would like to include ideas surrounding: Parking, Board of Trade, promotional ideas from the Town and ideas about how the Committee can be positive and user friendly. Ms. Wolfe asked Ms. Pullar if she would be interested in starting the survey.
Ms. Pullar responded she would start the survey, and recommended adding a narrative section.
The Survey will be sent out before the June meeting.
Possible Survey Questions:
1. Are businesses being supported by local residents (strongly, somewhat, not at all)
2. What can the Town do to support their business?
3. Any interest in a local Board of Trade?
4. Would they be willing to support a Board of Trade financially and/or with their time?
5. Would they be willing to attend local workshops for the sharing of mutual goals? What topics would be important for business owner?
6. Narrative Section: Business needs, positives, negatives.
7. Survey Note: Monthly meeting times with an invite to the June meeting. (Agenda item – Open Forum for local Businesses)
The Committee discussed the role of the EDC as a possible liaison between local business owners and Planning Board or other aspects of Town government.
Ms. Morin stated she will contact Barbara Bennett regarding funds for mailing.
The Committee will reserve time at a later date to discuss Main Street, Rollinsford and the historical connection between South Berwick and Rollinsford.
Welcome packet for new businesses:
Committee members discussed the creation of a welcome packet for new businesses which could include an EDC brochure, tourist map, phone directory, annual report, listing of Town services, Town magnet with phone numbers (library, school, emergency numbers), etc. The Committee will start to work on it in the next few weeks.
A phone directory could be completed in-house at Town Hall.
· Master Plan:
Mr. Grossman stated that the Council met with the Library and Building Committee, and everyone agreed to take a step back to look at future municipal needs. Currently, the Town is receiving estimates from various companies to create a master plan which would include the Downtown, Municipal Buildings, Conservation lands as well as Business and Industrial uses. The proposals will review current functioning municipal facilities. Mr. Grossman noted the importance to prioritize the needs versus the costs, and noted the need for economic development to offset costs. This will then be discussed at the May 14th Town Council meeting. If approved, the Town would add the article as an addendum at a Special Town meeting. Mr. Grossman noted that the Council is behind this idea, and the various Committees agreed. He hopes the
process will move quickly as not to delay the project. A master plan should prove cost effective in the long run.
2. Discuss possible Business Survey:
The Planning Board will provide survey questions by the end of this week which will be consolidated into the EDC survey. Planning Board questions will address parking issues only.
NEW BUSINESS
- none.
MEMBER COMMENTS
Member Terms: There are three (3) seats up for expiration in June, 2007.
OTHER
1. Confirmed June 13, 2007 at 7:00 pm quarterly evening meeting.
Motion by Mr. Cleary, 2nd by Mr. Lassel to adjourn at 2:11 pm, passed unanimous.
| 
