MINUTES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
JANUARY 12, 2006
I. CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Economic Development Commission was called to order at 7:30 A.M. in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices. Present were Chairman Lou George, Commission Members Dave Balboni, Scott Barnett, John Barney, Mark Deming, Nancy Haase, and Alan Levesque, as well as other interested parties.
II. APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 8, 2005 MINUTES
Nancy Haase made a motion, seconded by Alan Levesque, and passed unanimously to approve the Minutes of December 8, 2005.
III. SHARE PRESENTATION
Lou George stated that the SHARE homeowners group had contacted him and wanted to address the EDC to share concerns and provide some information.
Alan Needham, resident at 2 Basswood Lane, Simsbury introduced speaker Dr. Fred Carstensen. He stated Dr. Carstensen has a PHD in economics from Yale University, is an author of numerous books and articles, teaches at UCONN, is the Executive Director of the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis, and had done many studies on the issues he would be speaking on.
Dr. Carstensen provided the EDC members with a summary outline of the topics he was speaking on (Addendum I). This included the Goals of Economic Development, Net Fiscal Impact, Erosion of Property Tax Base, and more.
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He stated the weakest form of economic development to a Town is retail and specifically the “Big Box.” This generates the least amount of tax revenue.
Dr. Carstensen reported that Connecticut is 15% over-retailed per square foot, and this is why we see so many empty storefronts. Connecticut has also had slow growth over the past 15 years, and has the oldest population in New England. Connecticut is also the most property dependent state in the country.
He stated the best strategy for the Town of Simsbury would be to have “mixed use” land, demand more age-restricted housing, and said smaller retail spaces are more usable. Also he said a building such as a Medical Arts building would generate more revenue than a “Big Box.”
Dr. Carstensen used the Town of Ridgefield, CT as a good example of best use of land.
In his opinion he said Simsbury is not under pressure to bring in businesses to unused land, and it would be better to wait. He stated there is not a lot of demand for new space and not a lot of money either.
He said it is important to think of long-term consequences when doing analysis.
A Traffic Study (Addendum II) was also distributed to the EDC members.
IV. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Dave Balboni made a motion, seconded by Nancy Haase, and approved unanimously to elect Lou George as the Chairman of the Economic Development Commission.
Lou George made a motion, seconded by Dave Balboni, and approved unanimously to elect Nancy Haase as Vice-Chairman of the Economic Development Commission.
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V. 2006 BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
Lou George had sent the EDC Commission Members the 2005 EDC Budget
for review and stated nothing would change for the 2006 Budget except a 4% increase.
John Barney made a motion, seconded by Dave Balboni, and approved unanimously to request from the Board of Selectmen a 2006 EDC Budget of $50,395 with an increase of 4%.
A budget narrative would accompany the budget to give the Selectmen more detail.
VI. PROJECT REVIEW
Charter Revision – Mark Deming reported the Charter Revision Commission had met the night before with the BOS. One recommendation made by the CRC was that the BOS can vote on budget items up to 2% and anything over that goes to referendum.
Another CRC recommendation is that any major capital expenditures be put in the budget a year in advance.
A meeting will take place again next week to review these topics and more.
Plan of Development - John Loomis in attendance, stated a meeting will be held Tuesday at 6:30 in Town Hall and Rich Sawitzke will review capital projects and the meeting will continue with the work on the Land Use & Policy map. The next regular meeting will take place a week later at 7:00 in the Main Meeting Room of Town Hall with a public hearing on a West Street property, and again more work on the Land Use & Policy Map. The objective is to have a draft by the end of March.
Application Process Checklist – This item has stalled but still in progress.
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EDC Goals, Website Update – Nancy Haase distributed a website layout (Addendum III) to the EDC members and after review, suggestions should be sent via e-mail to her.
Recruitment is still an EDC Goal that needs to be more closely examined. It was stated when people are looking for information on a Town the first place they go to is the Town website.
VII. EDC INFORMATIONAL WORKSHOP PLANNING
Nancy Haase has been working with Sara Floroski to plan the Workshop. The Simsbury Inn will be the site for a reception and panel discussion on March 8th. Capacity of the room is approximately 50 people.
Costs associated for the speakers are being determined. When all is finalized, invitations will be sent to a targeted list of landowners/property owners.
VIII. REPORTS
Main Street – Sara Floroski reported Main Street is in their planning stages with their Board, and a report will be given next month.
Selectmen Update - Lou George asked if Dave Ryan could let him know when the budget workshop for the EDC line items was up so someone from EDC could attend.
IX. CONCERT SERIES UPDATE
Lou George reported he had not received a reply to his letter to Tom Vincent regarding the completion status of the bike trail and the reconciliation of the Concert Series.
Mark Deming reported he spoke with Tom Vincent yesterday and had been told the bike trail would be completed between May 15th and June 1st.
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Regarding the 2005 Concert Series, it was explained Simsbury received $1.00 per ticket sold. This worked out to be $20,995 received from the HSO. This was 4 HSO concerts and one concert was the Four Tops.
The First Selectmen has asked the HSO to get back to him by February 1st with the arrangements for this year. At this time, 5 concerts will again be performed by the HSO and perhaps two other concerts will be held.
Jim Koplik would like to do 4-6 concerts, depending on the HSO schedule.
Different concerts require different equipment, set-up, up-grades, etc. Koplik paid $5,250 to the Town for the Beach Boys Concert, and approximately 4,000 tickets were sold. Jim Koplik enjoyed working with the Town on this and gave Simsbury an additional $1,000 for this event.
The Jim Koplik concerts start at 8:00 pm.
It was agreed another letter on the above issue will be sent to the First Selectmen, all other Selectmen, and the Board of Finance.
X. NEW BUSINESS
Lou George received from Tourism a poll done at the Septemberfest asking residents their opinions on the Town.
There is finally a sign on Ironhorse Blvd. for the Visitor’s Center.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
The Economic Development Commission unanimously adjourned the meeting at 10:05 am.
Respectfully submitted,
Laurie Lungarini
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