Economic Development Council Meeting

Minutes:  March 13, 2007; 9:30 am

Judge Welsh Room

 

Present:

Members:  Vice Chairman William Dougal, W. Todd Dever, Astrid Berg, Gabrielle Hanna

Staff:  Acting Assistant Town Manager/Grant Administrator Michelle Jarusiewicz

 

Absent:  Steve Melamed, Henry Tuttle (Resigned effective March 6, 2007), Thanassi Kuliopulos, Alix Ritchie

 

Meeting called to order at 9:40 by Vice Chair Bill Dougal.

 

Approval of revised 2/21/07 minutes tabled until other members present.  Taskforce minutes from 2/22/07 provided through that group.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

Donna Vaillancourt, co-owner Wired Puppy, looking for guidance from EDC regarding how to obtain additional gallonage for business.  Where does one go?  Frustrating experience to find correct information and process.   Does one go to Sewer Dept.?  Health Agent?

 

Bill gave a brief history of the EDC permit gallonage allocation process over the past two years.

 

Reference made to the 3/12/07 BOS meeting that granted various EDC gallon permits.  10 applications listed; 3 approved.  What are the criteria for approval?

 

Bill recommendation to Ms. Vaillancourt -- Need to talk to David Guertin – Is there collection capacity to service the establishment?  Talk to Chairman of the Board of Selectmen to move petition forward onto BOS agenda.

 

Are gallonage requirements defined/determined by state?

 

General dissatisfaction/frustration expressed with the process of EDC permitting.  Lack of business input in emphasis of town politics.  Need to marry economic development with the affordable housing push.

 

Table Review of licensing overhaul.

 

Lynn Davies, VSB, held a meeting a couple of weeks ago with FinCom, PBG, Chamber of Commerce trying to get a paradigm shift in the way the town leaders look at tourism as an economic engine that is critical to the future of the town.  VSB would like to host a forum at the end of April including BOS (current and prospective members), FinCom, PBG, EDC, and Chamber of Commerce.

Business friendly, incentive to bring business to town, parking, Streetscape Project, town infrastructure.  Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce can provide a facilitator. 

Forum to help develop a 5-year, 10-year plan with interim steps along 1-2 year increments.  To help build steps into future budgeting for VSB.

Extending an invitation to the EDC to attend forum.  Need for a vision, a comprehensive plan to keep the engines of economic development working to support the town.

Idea to hold a candidates forum for prospective BOS candidates.

Businesses, town leaders, general public will be solicited/invited to attend the forum.

 

Making/keeping town a viable place for businesses, residents, workers, tourists/visitors.

Town-wide initiative needed.

 

Molly Perdue.  Supports the idea of an EDC summit.  Outreach to entire community that will generate information that will grow into political force to address EDC issues for the town.  All facets of the community are experiencing the same issues.  It’s a great idea to integrate the problem-solving strategies of each aspect of the community to serve the overall benefit.  Similar to model used in the housing summit to generate support and action within the community.

 

Motion made by Gabby

For the EDC to support and to work with the VSB to sponsor the forum to develop a mission/vision for Project Provincetown.

Seconded by Todd

All vote in favor; 4 for, 0 against, 0 abstain

 

Next Tuesday’s, 3/20/07 at 10:00 am, VSB meeting to propose to get major stakeholders together to develop core issues to be dealt with at forum.

 

Next meeting EDC meeting, 3/21/07 at 9:30 am, should focus on integration with VSB project.  Table the 3/29 Mt. Auburn presentation with the business community pending further discussion re: VSB project.

 

Meeting adjourned at 11:05 by Bill Dougal.

 

 

ADDENDUM

 

On March 19, 2007 EDC Chairman Steve Melamed informed the BOS via email to Dr. Cheryl Andrews that the EDC has no recommendation regarding the present permits requested of the Board of Selectman.