Economic Development Council Meeting

Minutes:  November 29, 2007; 9:30 am

Judge Welsh Room

 

Present:

Members:  Chairman Steve Melamed, Thanassi Kuliopulos, Bonnie Adams-Campbell, Alix Ritchie,

Staff:  Assistant Town Manager David Gardner, Grant Administrator Michelle Jarusiewicz, Tourism Director Lisa Bowden

Absent: Astrid Berg, excused; William Dougal, excused; Todd Dever unexcused; Marty Huey, unexcused; Michael Carroll unexcused

 

Meeting called to order by Chairman Steve Melamed at 9:40 am

 

Martin Huey unexcused absence 2, Chair to confirm correct contact information.

 

December 5th meeting (Definitely no Bill, no Steve)

No meeting on December 19th

 

Update on CCEDC from Michelle

Copies of agreements with Barnstable County have been received for signature and are being reviewed by Michelle.  Is new RFP to be included as part of this agreement or do we continue with the previous RFP as a carry forward?  Request Beth to be available for public presentations; scope of project to be confirmed and/or developed.  BOS approval is needed for the agreement. 

 

The next phase of the CCEDC project will be to develop a strategic economic plan based on data gathered from prior phase.  Defining immediate problems and solutions as well as a strategic plan -- Mt. Auburn piece represents the long-range strategic plan, the Business Summit process is developing a short-term, more current tactical plan.  Both tracks should be supported by the EDC.  Missing component is to bring in the rest of the community to this process.  This may be the nexus between the long term strategic plan and the short term tactical plan.  Town Meeting vote should be solicited for the strategic plan in order to bring full community support for these goals.  Pulling entire town community into process should be part of the Mt. Auburn piece as they have resources to engage full community involvement. 

 

Develop 9 to 12 immediate tasks/issues for the town to deal with.    Some issues identified at the Business Summit II are already moving forward such as H2B visa issues and collaboration between PBG & Chamber of Commerce in marketing efforts. 

 

Town needs to be brainstorming solutions if the H2B visas are not moved forward.  With even a preliminary entry of 33,000 workers, they would not arrive until May.  Are we going to be recruiting and bussing in workers?  Town should be spearheading alternatives to prepare.  BOS does have this issue on their radar.  BOS should appoint a point person to run with this issue.  EDC needs to bring this directly to the BOS.

 

Need to identify and quantify how many businesses need how many people to staff for summer, shoulder and off seasons.  Can Licensing Department send out letters to all license holders requesting this demographic information?  Or is it best that the PBG/Chamber weekly email system of communication be used?

 

It is not inherently part of town government to address these types of economic/business issues.  But EDC can request that the BOS take an active role and include this in their mandate.  Public/private partnership to be established.

 

Quick Action Plan needs to be provided by the EDC to the BOS so that this public/private endeavor can begin. 

·        Ask businesses about worst case scenario worker needs will be.  ( # of H2B & J1 workers)

·        Ask businesses about best case scenario worker needs will be.  ( # of H2B & J1 workers)

·        Ask businesses about the types of workers needed.  (Dishwashers, cooks, etc.)

o       H2B issue develops/changes on a frequent basis

o       J1 issue – European work destinations are providing greater earnings due to weakness of US dollar

·        What will it mean to the town if the hospitality industry tanks due to lack of workers?  How do we respond as a community?

·        Businesses will not know until March whether or not, or how many workers they may get.  Last year Immigration Department was so far behind, the March decision point was not met.

·         

 

Because this is a Cape-wide issue, we may find that there is no available labor pool to reach down to Provincetown.  Other communities are larger and closer to New Bedford (for example) and they will be looking for the same solutions as Provincetown is looking for.  Response speed may be critical in competition for other solutions/workers.

 

Many of the H2B workers have been with businesses for many years and the collective knowledge of their experience is at risk as well.  These are not minimum wage employees.  Many businesses are “sharing” employees.    As businesses will not employ workers for more than 40 hrs/wk, workers will take more than 1 job at different establishments.

 

Need to meet on 12/5 to draft of questions to be asked in letter to be sent as part of the Action Plan.  BOS is trying to only have one meeting in December on 12/10.  Alix can chair meeting, need to determine if a quorum can be mustered.

 

Motion made by Alix, 2nd by Bonnie to have Alix draft a letter to be circulated among EDC members to get on BOS 12/10 agenda regarding approval of contract with County and the H2B/J1 workforce issue.

All vote to approve, 4-0-0.

 

Thursday, December 27th meeting to be posted for final EDC meeting of 2007; January 9th to be scheduled as the 1st meeting of 2008.

 

Michelle will draft a sample request letter on H2B/J1 information request.

  • Need to know # of full-time and part-time employees for each business [one person can fill multiple worker slots]
  • Ask if the business has already developed an alternative plan to deal with loss of H2B/J1 workers.

 

 

Steve will contact MaryJo to get onto the 12/10 BOS agenda.

 

Thanassi moves to adjourn

Accepted by Chairman Steve

 

Meeting adjourned at 11: 32 am.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Amy Germain

Amy Germain

Recording Secretary