HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-02-07 Economic Development Committee MinutesMINUTES
Economic Development Committee (EDC).
February 7, 2007 RECEIVED
>sell Graham, Peter Hechenbleikner, Ben TaFoya, Michele Williams, Jack Russell, Megh 'YA'd -~~a~ slie
;;Dona 1e, and Sheila Clarke met at Town Hall 16 Lowell Street Reading, Massachusetts `t~? ~1.
Review of January 7, 2007 meeting Minutes 1001 MAY 10 P 1' 2 2
• On motion by McGonagle, seconded by Young-Tafoya, the minutes of 01.0 are to include an
amendment correcting the misspelling of Michele Williams name. The amendment and Minutes were
approved on a unanimous vote.
Agenda Review
EDC met with Brad Latham regarding the new Article/Warrant known as Article 5. The Sanborn Street lot is
,actually (2) parcels of land - (1) is in a Business B District. A vote for Article 5 would move the Business B
District line to include both pieces of land. The Chamber of Commerce will take a positive stand on Article 5 via
a mailing to Town Meeting Members. The EDC understands from an Urban-planning standpoint that this is not
an ideal situation, however, a necessary one. The thought of the EDC is that when the town can find alternatives
for parking, the Reading Co-Op Bank could use the land for another use. Peter Hechenbleikner pointed out that
there is information on the town website that negates accusations of "Spot Zoning". .
o On motion by McGonagle, seconded by Young-Tafoya, the EDC recommends to the CPDC and
BOS that the subject matter of Article 5 is fully supported and is encouraged to be passed.
• Town Website update - Meghan Young-Tafoya and Jack Russell met with the Virtual Town Hall representative
to review the town Business tab. It was recommended that the EDC review the Massachusetts Municipal
Associations website. It lists all town websites within Massachusetts. A prototype of Reading's site should be
available by mid February for review. Meghan Young-Tafoya and Sheila Clarke will meet prior to March 1St to
refine. text, graphics, testimonials, and links. If Business profiles are to be included, we need to contact "Reading
at Large". EDC should look at the Town of Norwell's site for color examples.
• EDC was approved for the Peer-to-Peer program via the DHCD. Jack Russell and Peter Hechenbleikner will
meet on 02.08.07 with program contact to develop scope of project.
• Meghan Young-Tafoya will be responsible for presenting EDC with a Grant Boilerplate by April.
• Review of outstanding project list. Sheila Clarke will submit each month with Minutes for EDC to review at each
meeting.
• EDC will change its current monthly meeting schedule to two meeting per month. The ongoing schedule will be
the 2°d and 4" Wednesday of the month.
• Sheila Clarke to schedule Emmy Hann, DHCD, for 02.28.07 EDC meeting.
• Peter Hechenbleikner updated EDC that National Development has partnered with Weiner Associates regarding
Addison Wesley site. There are no outlined plans as of yet, National Development will be meeting with the BOS
on 02.27.07.
• A Tax Classification Advisory Committee has been formed and has requested that a member of the EDC
volunteer to participate. Leslie McGonagle volunteered and is recommended by the EDC.
• Downtown Idea Exchange - committee briefly discussed subscribing to the newsletter but did not come to a final
decision.
Meeting Schedule
• Next regularly scheduled meeting will be Wednesday, February 28, 2007, in the Arnold Berger Room, Town
Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts begimiing at 7:30 P.M.
On a motion by McGonagle, seconded by Young-Tafoya, the committee voted to adjourn at 9:30 P.M. on a
unanimous vote.
Respectfully submitted,
,
Sheila Clarke ~