HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-02-06 Economic Development Committee Minutesf_CE i V H
MINUTES I C 4 ( E R
Economic Development Committee (EDR 1 1111 ra S S.
February 6, 2008
in 0 on}gle, Larol Ko Isk~and Abigail met
Russell Graham, Sheila Clarke, Meghan Young-Tafoya, Jack Russell, Leslie MC
at the Berger Room, Town Hall, Reading, Massachusetts beginning at 3:00 P.M.
Guests
• None
Agenda Review
• Work plan Review
o The committee came prepared with their top four project priorities:
■ Leslie McGonagle
1. Attract Olive Garden to 80-100 Main Street
2. Expand Farmers Market
3. Make Fabric Town property into a parking garage
4. Limit further properties from becoming banks vs. retail or restaurants
■ Jack Russell
1. Status of professional parking/garage study
2. Website
3. Business Ombudsman
4. Alleyway project
■ Russell Graham
1. How do we reach property and business owners
2. Zoning Issues
■ Michelle Ferullo
1. Recruiting business to town
2. How to make businesses happy to be in Reading.and work together
3. More opportunities for signs for community organizations and public
announcements, e.g. Farmers market; more flexibility on temporary signs
■ Michele Williams
1. Meet with property and business owners and assign a section of the town to EDC
each member
2. PR mode - highlighting local businesses
3. Sales and Marketing packages to recruit new businesses
■ Meghan Young-Tafoya
1. Working with the Town to improve communication between Town employees and
business owners/commercial property owners
2. Sales package to help bring downtown restaurants as well as fagade
"do's/don'ts"
3. Welcome wagon for new businesses; each EDC member would be a "section
leader" for different part of Reading business community
4. CPDC partnership
• Sheila Clarke
1. PR mode - meet with local newspapers about committee and highlight local
businesses; profile a different business each week
2. Farmers Market
3. Business Ombudsman
4. Sales and Marketing package for new business
The Town planner will review the existing list and break it down into the top four projects by the next
scheduled meeting
• Reports
The Alleyway sub-committee met and will have an update for the EDC at the next scheduled meeting
• Other Business
o Business page of Town website - Sheila Clarke met with Mike Schloth, Permits & Licensing Coordinator,
and discussed content and timeline to complete Business page
o Sheila Clarke to create a "Town Manager Update" page reflecting all vacant/new business locations
within Reading. Town Planner will discuss with the Town Manager the possibility of a bi-weekly update to
EDC which would become a standing agenda item
Meeting Schedule
o Next scheduled meeting will be on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at the Berger Room, Town Hall, Reading,
Massachusetts beginning at 7:30 P.M.
On a motion by McGonagle, seconded by Russell, the committee voted to adjourn at 4:30 P.M. on a unanimous
vote.
Sheila Clarke