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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-05-13 Economic Development Committee MinutesTown of Reading i, P, +1 Meeting Minutes �r Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Economic Development Committee Date: 2015 -05 -13 Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: General Business Attendees: Members - Present: Karl Weld George Rio Maria Higgins Meghan Young - Tafoya Members - Not Present: Sandra Popaja Jack Russell Others Present: Time: 7:00 PM Location: Berger Room Jessie Wilson - Community Development Director Kevin Sexton - Selectmen Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jessie Wilson Topics of Discussion: Call to Order: There being a quorum the Chair called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM. Update with the Town Manager -.YIN CLERK , INu, I 1r;SS. l UN 2u P 2: 02 Town Manager Bob LeLacheur said that the Board of Selectmen will be saving time on the May 19th to hear from Committees that are scheduled to sunset on June 30th of this year. He said the Selectmen want to listen that evening and will likely not make any decision until their last meeting in June. He welcomed the EDC to that meeting and /or to submit any comments in advance. Mr. Rio asked Mr. LeLacheur if he was asked by the BOS what his recommendation on the EDC sunsetting would be and Mr. LeLacheur replied, I'd tell them you're done. Mr. LeLacheur said that he believes the EDC could be repurposed and there are a number of different ways that could be done, including becoming an independent entity of the Town. Ms. Young - Tafoya mentioned that during the 5 -year EDC review /plan the Consultant commented that other Towns and Cities cite Reading's EDC as a benchmark for economic development and that we were well ahead of other communities that the EDC had asked to be benchmarked against. She mentioned that the EDC had always been directed by the Master Plan and that she believed they were on- target with the primary goal of bringing vitality to the Downtown. Page 1 1 Mr. Rio said that he feels the EDC has been effective given the limitations of being volunteers. He does agree that maybe they could be re- evaluated, but overall the EDC has done a lot with the resources they have had. Mr. LeLacheur asked Mr. Sexton what the BOS feelings were on the EDC. Before answering Mr. LeLacheur question, Ms. Young - Tafoya asked if there had been a public meeting about the EDC' sunset, Mr. Sexton said there had not and he had only spoken to Mr. Arena; however he had read Mr. Russell's letter and he seems it is spot on to what the Town could consider. He agrees that the Committee should promote, support and bring in businesses. Ms. Higgins asked if Mr. Russell's plan involved an additional Town staff member in this role, and Mr. Sexton said it did. She then inquired of Mr. LeLacheur whether this was likely to happen due to budget constraints, and he indicated it was not. Ms. Young - Tafoya let Mr. Sexton know that the EDC had brought 4 businesses to Town including Bunratty's, Orange Leaf, Grumpy Doyle's and Sam's and they have actively recruited based on market analysis. Mr. Sexton said he recalled a presentation to the Board of Selectmen with the idea that the EDC had two subgroups 1) focusing on retaining businesses and then 2) recruiting new businesses. He said that the skillsets for those two buckets are very different. He added that with the development of the Economic Development Action Plan, his hope is that it will give us the tools to really market Reading. Ms. Young - Tafoya expressed concern over setting up a non - profit, especially with the required costs and the prior experiences that the Downtown Steering group had. Mr. Sexton said he is not too familiar with how non - profit entities operate, but that some research would be needed. Mr. Sexton mentioned the previous Cultural Connection group. He said it failed because it fell onto one person. Something like a cultural organization that is connected with economic development may be a good option to evaluate. The Town needs to start thinking about unique ways to market Reading and to stand out from other communities. He added that the EDSAT report revealed some things that Reading can improve upon. Ms. Young - Tafoya expressed concern about Mr. Sexton's comment about bringing 1,000+ employees into the Downtown and where in the Downtown were there buildings that would have the potential to bring in more people, especially a business that could employ 1,000+ people. Mr. Weld said that the EDC needs to start thinking outside of downtown. Mr. Rio said that they should continue to look forward, not look at what they have done in the past because they all know how much they have done. He agreed that there is a certain level of skill set needed to fulfill the two buckets and if some adjustments are needed, let's move forward and make those adjustments. Ms. Higgins raised the issue of the sunset and the EDC currently being the only body with authority to expend the DIET funds. Ms. Young - Tafoya shared the same concerns. Mr. LeLacheur said that the only area that could make a fiscal impact to the Town is in the Walkers Brook area. Ms. Young - Tafoya said that if the Town wants economic development then there should be an Economic Development Committee in some form. There was a discussion on the proposed 40B in the downtown. Mr. LeLacheur said that the developer is seeking approval under 40B because they would not have to comply with zoning. He said that at this point the auto service station will not be included. Mr. Sexton said that there is a potential for that parcel to really lose value after the development is constructed. There was additional discussion regarding the other auto body uses in the downtown. Ms. Young - Tafoya provided a spreadsheet to Ms. Wilson before the meeting, and Ms. Wilson pulled up the spreadsheet summarizing all the work the EDC had accomplished in the past 9 years along with the total funding raised through the Fall Street Faire and Grants they have received. Page 1 2 Going back to the Economic Development Action Plan, Mr. Weld said he feels that MAPC is pushing the state's agenda on Reading. He suggested that the Town do an independent market - analysis to verify MAPCs work. Mr. LeLacheur said he recommended the plan identify the extremes including housing and without housing. Then the Town can make the decision. In general the Town Manager said that the question may be the form of the Committee, not the substance. Approval of Minutes from March 15, 2015 Mr. Rio moved the EDC to approve the minutes of March 15, 2015. The EDC reviewed the minutes and suggested edits. Ms. Young - Tafoya seconded the motion and it carried 4 -0 -0. Building Facade and Signage Improvement Program 145 -147 Washington Street The EDC reviewed the Application. Ms. Wilson explained she received a detailed quote for the proposed fagade improvements. The EDC asked if the building would be commercial or residential. Ms. Wilson replied it is mixed use. The EDC discussed whether this would fall under the BFSI Program. Ms. Higgins expressed concern that they do not have a tenant for the commercial space. Ms. Wilson said they have issued grants to property owners without tenants in the past. It may be worth considering a grant to allow the business owner to better attract business. The EDC continued to review the application and discuss the option on conditionally approving a grant upon securing a tenant. Ms. Higgins moved the EDC to grant $2,500 conditioned upon evidence of a signed lease for business use on the premises. Ms. Young - Tafoya seconded and the motion carried 4 -0 -0. Healthy Changes Pilates Ms. Wilson said the Applicant provided some additional information, but that it is still unclear what the actual cost is for the blade sign. Ms. Wilson said the Applicant indicated it is $1,700 but that quote was not from the vendor. It was agreed to request more information from the Applicant. Business Guide Development Ms. Wilson said that Staff is working with MAPC on efforts to streamline permitting including a Project Scoping Form. However, when it comes to the Business Guide, MAPC can provide the graphics and make it a professional document. Mr. Sexton said it would be worth having the new Administrative Services Director also take a look at that. Work Plan Updates Economic Development Plan Mr. Weld feels there is a push for residential and not sure that fits with Reading. He is also not sure why their intern did a rendering of the Burger King; however he said that they will have renderings of the downtown and New Crossing Road area. Page 1 3 Activity Updates Ms. Young - Tafoya had read in the CPDC report that Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza is coming to Walkers Brook and needed to be added to the activity spreadsheet along with Fierce Consignment and Little Chuck's Deli. The EDC asked about updates on Bunratty's Tavern and the Post Office. Ms. Wilson said that Bunratty continues to finish the build -out and the Post Office was closing another round of bids. In regards to the potential sunset for the EDC Ms. Young - Tafoya recommended per a recommendation from Ms. Wilson that the EDC request the BOS to extend the EDC until the end of the year so they can finish out their current projects. Mr. Rio and Ms. Higgins agreed that would be a good approach. Ms. Young - Tafoya moved the EDC request the BOS to continue to finish out their current projects to the end of calendar year 2015. Mr. Rio seconded and the motion carried 4 -0 -0. Ms. Young - Tafoya moved to adjourn at 8:30PM. Mr. Rio seconded and the motion carried 4 -0 -0. Respectfully Submitted by Jessie Wilson Page 1 4