Economic Development Council

Minutes

Meeting: June 14, 2006, 9:30 am

Judge Welsh Room           

 

Present:

Members: Chairman Stephen Melamed, Alix Ritchie, Hunter O’Hanian, Henry Tuttle, Thanassi Kuliopulos, William Dougal

Staff:  Acting Assistant Town Manager/Grant Administrator Michelle Jarusiewicz, Building Commissioner Douglas Taylor

 

The Chairman Steve Melamed called the meeting to order at 9:30.

 

Michelle gives quick updates on the following:

 

Streetscape - Interviews will be set up for next week.

Cultural Coordinator - Interviews took place yesterday.  Lisa Bowden was recommended for the position.  Molly Hamilton is being considered for other projects.

 

Hunter made motion to recommend Lisa Bowden for the position of Cultural Coordinator

Alix 2nd

5-0 in favor

 

Adams Grant - $2 million is available.  $2.7 million for MCC.

 

Bill Dougal briefly discusses the two BOS meetings and says that they will place the issue of split tax rates on the agenda for October.

 

Bill introduces the Chief Assessor who discusses the three items that the BOS get to vote on.

 

1.      Split tax rate - residential or commercial takes on the burden.  Traditionally, it goes on commercial.  (Handout given to show examples.  See attached.)  Hunter, Thanassi and Bill will form a sub-committee to keep up to date with the Chief Assessor.

2.      Residential Exemption - whatever tax write off is.  Whatever exemption is recommended by residents is going to burden second-home owners.

3.      Small Community Exemption - small businesses will receive 10% off their assessment.  MUST HAVE NO MORE THAN 10 PERSONS EMPLOYED ANNUALLY. See handouts.

 

A presentation was given by Donna and Joan of Ptown.com.  They discussed the website redesign and said that the contents of the site are updated at least once a day.  Listings on the site are free to all businesses and hits to the website are up since the redesign.

 

Discussion ensued and handouts were given regarding the public hearing and proposed department goals, objectives, and economic development permits.  

           

Hunter recommended that step #5 be taken out.  Alix discusses concerns with conflicts.

 

Hunter made motion that prior to acting or enacting any practice or process for growth management zoning by-law Cat 5, the EDC requests the town establish economic development goals and policies to be uniformly applied to independent applications.  In addition, the EDC continues to have concerns about its prospective review of independent applications.

Discussion…

Alix 2nd

6-0 in favor

 

Handout given regarding correspondence with respect to Family week.

 

Bill Dougal announced that the CPC volunteered to deal with community housing development. 

 

Brief discussion regarding web packaging for Adams Grant - to be continued at the next Task Force Meeting.

 

Minutes for May 17 were approved.

 

Meeting adjourned at 12:00.