South Berwick Economic Development Committee
Meeting Minutes
Council Chambers
Town hall
February 6, 2008
1:00 pm
ROLL CALL:
Present: Chairman Dennis Fontaine (Sewer District), Douglas Letellier, Mimi Demers, Joe Rousselle, Jeff Grossman (Town Manager), Kathy Wolfe, Steve Einstein, Cliff Cleary, Karyn Morin and Jim Fisk.
Absent: Mike Lassel, Sue Pullar and Paul Schumacher, ex-officio.
Public Attendees: Bill Rogers (Guest presenter) and Jason Claffey, Foster’s.
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman Fontaine called the meeting to order at 1:05 pm. Susie Scott was recording minutes.
MINUTES:
January 9, 2008 - Regular Meeting: Motion by Ms. Morin, 2nd by Ms. Wolfe to accept minutes, passed with Ms. Demers in abstention.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- none.
MEMBER COMMENTS:
- none.
OLD BUSINESS:
1) Ribbon Cuttings:
Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings – Tentatively scheduled for February 21, 2008.
2) Subcommittee Update:
· Board of Trade Subcommittee: Ms. Morin stated that there were 23 confirmed attendees to the upcoming BOT event on February 7, 2008 but that they are expecting between 30 to 40 individuals to attend. It will be an informal format that will provide businesses a chance to network and feel that they are part of a larger business community.
· Master Plan Subcommittee: Chairman Fontaine noted that the Orton Grant will require an associated entity like the Town itself. Since the Town Council has not officially approved a master plan, the subcommittee works needs to initially be exploratory in nature.
Steve Einstein discussed the subcommittee’s recent work, and stressed that they were in the initial process of receiving information to apply for the grant. Mr. Einstein voiced his frustration of being given a task from the Town Council only to be told at a later point to not pursue the same task.
Jim Fisk, Town Planner, stated that the subcommittee could continue with their work in asking for general information for the grant application. He stated that until the Town Council has voted for a master plan, the Town cannot have authorized representatives.
Steve Einstein discussed the subcommittee’s approach toward applying for the grant. An outline will be submitted by March 5th for the submission deadline. The grant is specifically designed for communities experiencing growth issues that are stressing the town while maintaining the town as a whole. The grant is for $100,000, and will have a downtown focus based on the Comprehensive Plan.
3) EDC PowerPoint to Sewer District/Water District/Town Council: Status Update: Chairman Fontaine noted that he is still in the process of coordinating the information with the Town Council Chairman. The current timeframe is March or April.
4) Southern York County Regional Development Authority (LD 2003): Status Update – Jeff Grossman, Town Manager stated that despite several attempts to kill this bill by a few individuals, the Steering Committee is moving forward while the legislation is tabled. There will be 2 upcoming meetings at Marshwood and Noble High Schools for public outreach and discussion. The Steering Committee is working on possible amendments to the legislation which will be presented on February 26th to the BRED Committee in Augusta. The opposition is centered in Eliot and South Berwick.
EDC members discussed misinformation presented in articles and the difficulty in understanding the reasons for the opposition.
Mr. Grossman discussed bonding issues and the actual agency or Authority as reasons for the opposition. A cooperative and regional approach to economic development is well thought out and helps neighboring communities to not only create significant economic development but to not cannibalize one another in the process. A regional approach assists local communities to compete with New Hampshire. In response to public concern, the Committee has removed reference to eminent domain from the legislation. At the upcoming public informational forums, there will be a question and answer period as well as a FAQ sheet for participants.
5) Purchase of St. Michael’s Church: Status Update – Jeff Grossman, Town Manager stated that there is a signed proposal for a structural engineering study and title work. There was a workshop with the Town Council and the Library Advisory Board to discuss the budgeting of the project and a new bond for $1 million. St. Michael’s location is key.
Steve Einstein discussed how a master plan relates to the proposed library, and how the Orton grant is looking for a broadening culture which could be addressed by the library having a community meeting room.
NEW BUSINESS:
1) Guest Speaker: Bill Rogers, Producer/Director – Coruway Film Institute. Concept: Mr. Rogers discussed 3 key areas that directly affect people including Commercial, Civic and Community. He hopes that through projects he works on these 3 sectors can be unified. Use notion of the village as a place. He has taught media at Portsmouth High School and UNH. Work is about empowerment. Impact of place of people living there. In creating a climate consistent with the town, there is a need to make the downtown village more vibrant for shop owners and shoppers. This could be done
through a website, one that could provide ways for local folks to talk about issues such as contract zoning or address what downtown shops need. A website such as villageofsouthberwick.com could provide an opening for public discussion. A website such as this could contain various subsections to address specific areas such as school sites with daily menus, etc. Mr. Rogers has approached local businesses who are interested in the video side of this project. Website development would cost roughly $10,000 but would need additional funds for site maintenance. Mr. Rogers noted the following two elements essential to a website creation:
Cost: Video rich site – service doesn’t cost but creation of videos can cost but could be supported by people in commercial sector who use the website. Creation funds could be through a grant or EDC funds. Possible funding sources could include partnering with a non-profit or a commercial entity.
Key in creating a website: Key to making it work is time specific to the servicing/maintaining the website for the long term. Key is to have an administrator of the website. However, over the long term it would become, business driven.
Steve Einstein discussed concerns specific to the start up costs and affording the position of a website administrator.
2) EDC Budget Review: Chairman Fontaine will discuss with the Council Chairman. Currently there is $5,000 of encumbered funds from previous year. The Committee must use allocated funds or else they will lose them. Chairman Fontaine proposed to use part of these funds to fund the economic development portion of LD 2003 specific to public outreach/public informational meetings.
Committee members discussed possible use of these funds for LD 2003.
- The remaining minutes were confirmed by Chairman Fontaine, as the recorder had to leave the meeting at this point in time:
Motion by Mr. Letellier, second by Mr. Einstein to allocate an amount not to exceed $2,000 with a challenge to the other six towns that are participating in the Regional Efficiency Grant Workgroup.
OTHER:
Dates & Times for Upcoming Meetings/Events:
February 7, 2008 @ 5:00 PM B.O.T. Introductory Meeting – Lassel Architects
March 5, 2008 EDC Monthly Meeting
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion to adjourn by Mr. Cleary, second by Mr. Letellier, passed unanimous
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