Provincetown Economic Development Council

Meeting: September 26, 2007, 9:35 am

Judge Welsh Room, Town Hall

 

Present: Steve Melamed, Todd Dever, Bonnie Adams Campbell, Thanassi Kuliopulos, Bill Dougal, Alix Ritchie, Mike Caroll

Absent: Astrid Berg

Also attending: Acting Asst Town Manager/Grant Administrator Michelle Jarusiewicz

 

1. Vote to support letter of endorsement to be sent by Steve to chair of BOS supporting the appointment of Martin Huey to the PEDC. Alix moved; Bill seconded. Vote was unanimous.

 

2. Discussion of condition of roads/streets. Planning abhorrent. Need a fix now. Chap. 91 and roadway boundaries are an issue. We should just re-surface now.

            No action taken.

 

3. Bill: a major issue is how taxes have increased here. According to Globe, one of the worst in the state. Enemy is within: project by project, everything gets approved—we did it to ourselves. BOS needs a larger context, comparable data.

Suggestion: PEDC meet with FinCom to discuss economic development implications of this.

 

4. Adams Grant update from Michelle:

             Oct. 5 draft; Nov. 5 final.

             Intent to continue and move on, including trap shed/arts organizations’ involvement.

             Also continue streetscape, working on design component, maybe even paying for some arts elements.

            Will go to BOS end of Oct.

            Motion to approve proceeding with renewal application for Adams grant: Alix moved, Thanassi, seconded. Passed unanimously.

 

5. Discussion re upcoming Summit

            a          Kathryn probably can’t do it. She recommended fellow from Brewster. Motion: to set aside $1K for a facilitator: Thanassi moved, Bill second, passed unanimously.

            b.         CCEDC will be Summit co-sponsor. Dave Willard will attend.

            c.         Need to confirm theater.

            d.         Needs to be listed on PTV community message board. Steve will contact PTV.

            e.         General format has been agreed upon.

            g.         Mike will contact WOMR; Bonnie will contact Dunes 102.3.

            h.         Discussion re posters and flyers, but no resolution as to who could distribute them.

 

6. WiFi discussion.

             Unknown—who is alternate purveyor to Unwired Village.

             Also discussed design of access page as inclusive of all organizations with hotlinks.

            No action taken.

 

7. Discussion of intermodal transportation center.

             Report from Todd re meeting.

            General disagreement with concept of putting it downtown, adding congestion to congestion, but also needing connectivity to the pier. Discussion on Rte 6/gateway concept.

            Todd reported re idea of making the center a concert hall or mini convention center.

            No action taken.

 

8. Discussion re seasonal employment.

            a.         What happens if H2b extension does not pass (vote scheduled for 9/28), thus losing a major source of seasonal employment.

                        Discussion re town opening a recruiting office in New Bedford and arranging transportation, possibly in shifts.

            b.         Discussion of how to handle this at the Business Summit.

                         Suggestion: propose establishing a working group, ask for volunteers. Steve and Joy will be part of the group. Recognition of important issue: will some just go it alone vs. who needs help, i.e. accommodate a gradation of need.

            c.         Working group should also include the soon to be appointed town housing officer.

            d. Todd raised the issue of why are we limiting our solution to a focus on developing [another]  surrogate population” –why not seek to develop a solution that provides for resident workers. Current solution is a band-aid that could become another crisis.             Discussion re need for housing as part of the long-term solution.

 

9. Bill re future agenda items

            a.         Explore year-round economic planning: invite NE Deaconess in to talk about their plans, including for rehab services and worker housing.

            b.         Need to raise question of economic development issues re town acquisition of Fisherman’s pier vs. $$ cost.

            c.         Pursue discussion of whether town is competing with private sector in subsidizing rental of town Hall or Pier to for-profit enterprises at below-market rates.

                         BOS needs to set policy re both.

                        BOS needs Pier Corp. to lay out its business plan so other local businesses can see what it is thinking about, now it is just a steady encroachment of competition with local business. General discussion about whether that is ok or not if it is not subsidized. Also discussion about using town assets to provide “add-on” attractions.

 

Town Manager joined meeting to ask about asking for support of STM street paving item at the Business Summit. General discussion ensued about need to do a quick fix now and work out the engineering and legal issues over time.

 

Meeting adjourned around noon, but discussion continued thereafter.