South Berwick Economic Development Committee
Meeting Minutes
Conference Room #1
Town hall
November 7, 2007
1:00 pm
ROLL CALL:
Present: Chairman Dennis Fontaine (Sewer District), Douglas Letellier, David Burke, Mike Lassel, Joe Rousselle, Jeff Grossman (Town Manager), Sue Pullar, Kathy Wolfe , Steve Einstein and Karyn Morin.
Absent: Cliff Cleary, Jim Fisk, ex-officio and Paul Schumacher, ex-officio.
Public Attendees: Amy Miller, Jason Claffey (Foster’s newspaper) and Wendy Pirsig.
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman Fontaine called the meeting to order at 1:00 pm. Susie Scott was recording minutes.
MINUTES:
October 3, 2007 - Regular Meeting: Motion by Mr. Letellier, 2nd by Ms. Wolfe to accept minutes, passed unanimous.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- none.
MEMBER COMMENTS:
OLD BUSINESS:
1) Ribbon Cutting – The Little Hat Company. Chairman Fontaine confirmed the Ribbon Cutting for November 8th at 11:00 am, and requested EDC attendance from those available to attend.
2) Subcommittee Update:
- Comp. Plan Review (Economic Development Section): Ms. Wolfe discussed Committee members review current zoning to allow commercial on Route 4 to Berwick. Design standards would need to be reviewed. The Committee requested the Planner address the following items at the next meeting:
1. Current zoning on Route 4 to Berwick in reference to the Mick property.
2. Could the current zoning in this area be modified?
3. Should the EDC become involved in negotiating with the Town and Mr. Mick?
- Board of Trade: Post card response. Currently, there are 31 local business interested in a B.O.T. Committee members discussed the next step to contact respondents interested in the B.O.T. directly. The Committee agreed to hold a B.O.T. meeting January 10, 2008 at 5:00 pm at Lassel Architects in order to discuss membership costs, Board structure and other organizational aspects. Committee members will contact each business directly to invite them to this meeting. The B.O.T. subcommittee will coordinate information for review at the December meeting at which time the Committee can brainstorm objectives for B.O.T.
- Master Plan: Item not discussed.
- Brochure quote: The Committee once again expressed their concern about having an inventory of brochures that would become obsolete with a change of businesses. Changes to any brochure will need to be allowed as per a printing contract.
3) Dollar Alternative: Karyn Morin discussed her recent meeting where a number of different issues were brought up. The Committee considered a possible discount card for business promotion for which cards could be sold or given to residents. A discount card or dollar alternative would give residents a sense of supporting the local economy. This issue to be further discussed at a future B.O.T. meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
1) Southern York County Regional Development Authority – Jeff Grossman discussed how the Town was awarded a grant last October for $15,000, and how six local communities have been meeting since January, 2007. There is a meeting scheduled for December 12th at 6:30 pm for public officials and other interested individuals to learn more about the REG workgroup. The Regional Authority legislation is in depth and broken into 2 phases. The initial phase will include workforce and site location studies. The second phase will be the Implementation Phase which will be based on
individual projects or a series of smaller projects. Projects will be Industrial/Commercial. An Authority can be established for workforce housing. Once the Authority is created and the various town members join, there will be an assessment created for the use of bonds. Town’s based on valuation for each share. The legislative body of each community will make decisions which depend on the legislative makeup of each community. Assessment, debt and revenue will be shared with the host community (where the project site is located) is held harmless. There will be an allowance for other communities to join at a later point after member approval. Communities can opt out but will maintain their debt. The Authority could review private/public partnerships such as with the Patten property off of Route 236 in South Berwick. Currently, there are no specific projects or areas have been discussed in detail. Debt services will be based on valuation as will membership. An annual meeting with
elected president/treasurer, etc. will be held. There has been great cooperation between the 6 towns and everyone agrees that the project will be successful. Peter Bowman will sponsor the bill and there should be no issue with the Authority being passed. As proposals develop, each project would go before the appropriate town boards (Planning Boards, etc.) to be reviewed by those specific standards prior to development.
2) Community Matters ’07 Conference (October 23, 2007) – Mike Lassel provided an overview to the Committee where he discussed how communities discover their heart and souls in the creation of sustainable communities. He noted that the Comp. Plan is not only a powerful vehicle, it is a foundation that establishes community. Towns need an economic investment to create open space, parks and an overall place for communities to have a place that feels like a home for intergenerational communities. South Berwick has a diversity of age. Mr. Lassel noted that in reference to the
economics of bedroom communities, there is concern in remaining static if local services are not available. South Berwick has done a lot of good things including the creation of a walkable community with benches everywhere for an intergenerational community. There will be a new urban economics associated with energy/transportation costs for which shopping local will become even more important. Mr. Lassel discussed urban economics which will be more understood in the next 5-10 years. He noted that each community has its own branding and own icons.
OTHER:
MEMBER COMMENTS:
Dates & Times for Upcoming Meetings/Events:
December 5, 2007 – 1:00 pm Economic Development Committee Meeting
December 12, 2007 – 6:30 pm Public Officials Meeting: Regional Workgroup.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion by Mr. Einstein, 2nd by Mr. Lassel to adjourn at 2:05 pm, passed unanimous.
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