Economic Development Council Meeting Minutes

Minutes: November 29, 2006, 10:00 am

Judge Welsh Room

 

Present:

Members:  Chairman Stephen Melamed, Alix Ritchie, W. Todd Dever, Hunter O’Hanian, Astrid Berg, Thanassi Kuliopulos, Henry Tuttle,

 

Public:  Meeting called to order at 10:07 am by Chairman Steven Melamed.

 

Waive approval of 10/25/06 & 11/08/06 minutes until officially available

 

Public comments solicited:  None

 

Business Summit meeting of December 6, 2006 will not be held.  Business Summit meeting should be held closer to April Town Meeting (4/4, 4/5, 4/9 ???).  Business Summit to be held 3/29/07 – tentatively, pending approval of other interested parties. Results can be distributed at Town Meeting.

 

Planning & Development continuation (Henry)

Review/Discussion on Waterfront Plan

            Prioritize into long- and short-term goals.

Harbor Committee formed dealing with harbor planning – (contact Rex)

Current Harbor Plan in effect as approved by State.  Rewritten Harbor Plan not approved and Harbor Committee must provide new plan to be approved to keep local decision structure rather than leaving it to State takeover.

 

EDC Members to Create a Time/Money graph/matrix for Waterfront Plans.  Henry to email revised plans for members to complete prior to next meeting when individual scoring will be collated to determine next steps.

 

Alix recommends that the EDC needs to address infrastructure planning to be matrixed in the same manner.  Infrastructure to include communications, intermodal transportation, waste management, DPW, utilities, water, conduit/paving, parking, signage, etc. 

 

BOS and county government need to address these important infrastructure needs to deal with town’s economic development.

 

Identifying Private/Public partnerships. 

Resource Development Capacity – Grant writer needed to access available funding sources.  Possible need for a lobbyist at Federal & State level.

ICON

Identifying growth opportunities.

 

Review 1st draft – licensing overhaul re fees (Todd)

New licensing agent to review present rules & regulations.  Holes in regulations need to be filled & tiered fee structure fleshed out.  EDC to write guidelines, principles & to communicate rationale for such principles.  Licensing board to write the actual regulations.  Outline for principles from EDC to be presented to BOS & BOS to give to Licensing.  New regulations need to be advertised and public meeting held.  The goal is for the new regulations to be effective January 1, 2008 -- with new regulations in place by the previous fall as new licensing process begins for 2008.  Todd to work with Nick.  Town Meeting vote not required.  Zoning component (allowable use) will be involved and that will involve Town Meeting. 

 

Final plan/discussion re business summit/outline

 

Updates – Michelle J. re Mt. Auburn & Adams

Michelle not present due to illness.

For Mt. Auburn -- Alix still to be interviewed via phone.  Not sure about Gabby. All other members have been interviewed. 

December 27, 2006, 9:00 am possible meeting with Peter for a preliminary report and to review data (can be done via phone if necessary).  Should include Dan & Leslie & David.  Materials to be provided in advance if possible.

 

Discussion on Streetscape/Virtual Tour.  Report of the 4 focus groups.  Scoring of ideas.  Public/private coalition has not been formed at this point.  Some entity will need to take a lead position to move the process forward regarding resources and money.

Discussion whether EDC is best suited to do this or the EDC/Adams Grant Taskforce should spearhead the Streetscape/Virtual Cultural Center/Cellphone Wayfinding/Storytelling and be the responsible parties.

PBG, Chamber of Commerce and VSB should also be parties of interest to generate community buy-in.  BOS needs to be informed of the 11/28/06 meeting results to continue momentum of moving the project forward.

 

Other subcommittee reports -- None

 

Next meeting December 6, 2006, 9:30 am, available:  Hunter, Todd, Thanassi, Alix, Henry,

            Adams Grant meeting to follow, time to be determined by Michelle J.

            No EDC other meetings for the balance of 2006

 

2007 Proposed Schedule of EDC Meetings (All Wednesday meetings scheduled for 9:30 am)

February 7                   February 21

March 7                       March 21

April 4                          April 18                   

May 2                          May16

June 6                          June 20

July 11                         July 25

August 1                       August 15

September 5                 September 19

October 3                    October 17                  October 31 possible to prepare for town meeting

November 7                 November 28

December 5

 

Motion made by Henry to adjourn meeting.

Seconded by Astrid

 

All vote to approve motion:  4 in favor, 0 against, 3 absent

 

Meeting adjourned at 11:58 am