ECDC meeting minutes from 01-21-2021-final-approved�M
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CITY of BEVERLY
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Beverly, Massachusetts 01915
Phone (978) 921 -6000
Fax (978) 921 -6187
Mayor
Michael P. Cahill
Members
Neiland Douglas
City Council President Paul Guanci
William Howard
Darlene Wynne
Richard Marino
Michael Collins
Michael O'Brien
Denise Deschamps
Richard Vincent
M EEn NG OF THE ECONOM IC AN D COM M UNITY DEVaAPM ENT COUNCI L (ECDQ
M EETI NG NOTES FROM AN UARY 21, 2021 M EETI N G
City Council President Paul Guand, as Chairperson of the ECDC, begins the meeting by reading a
statement regarding revisionsto Open Meeting Law allowing for remote meetings due to the COMD -19
pandemic. City Council President Paul Guand callsthe ECDC meeting to order with a roll call. ECDC
members attending are: Neiland Douglas; William Howard Richard Marino; Michael O'Brien; Richard
Vincent; Michael Collins; Darlene Wynne; Denise Deschamps, and Council Resident Paul Guand.
Rchard Vincent movesto accept the minutesfrom the December 10, 2020 meeting of the ECDC
and Nei land Douglas seconds the motion. All are in favor. The minutes are accepted.
DRAFT OUTU NE OF ECDC STRATEGY
Council President Guand introduces the first agenda item, the review of draft ECDCstrategy as
proposed by Nei land Douglas. Guand asks if the EMCmembers would like to offer their
commentson thedraft document. Douglas suggests that hetakeafew momentsto summarize
the document before mem bers com ment. Douglas not esthe breadth of the new
comprehensive plan, which offers sixty -six separate policies and actions. He wanted to
embrace the findings of the master plan and incorporate them into the (EMC) strategy. He
believesthat the Strategy needs to begin by addressing four overriding issues that influence the
economic strategy: climate change; 0OVID -19; police violence; misrepresentation of these
issues by national leadership resulting in deep divisions among Americans. Douglas calls
attention to the newly proposed Green Development arategy (included in the draft ECDC
strategy) which has 12 goals. He moves on to highlight the implementation of programs critical
to economic and community development including new housing programs; new
transportation infrastructure, sustainability and remediation; incentive programs such asthe
Opportunity Zone program and other incentive programs; critical importance of the quality of
education. Quality education makes possible workforce development.
Douglas states that given the importance of education and well as the healthcare sector to
Beverly's economy he would like the ECDC to include representatives from the fields of
education and health care as part of a reconsideration of ECDC's membership. Douglas states
that the ECDCstrategy, in its current form, needs to have a concluding paragraph inserted. He
believes it should be positive and hope - filled view of Beverly's future. Beverly is a welcoming
community that embracesthe centrality and quality of education and that is entitled to a green
development strategy. Douglas concludes his summary.
Following the review Guanci asks if it is possible to condense the content of the draft Strategy
and make it more digestible for members of the general public. Douglas does not believe it can
be further condensed. He notes that the Green Development Strategy, as proposed, is
condensation the strategies proposed in the master plan.
Wynne notesthat the City isworking to create an implementation matrix, asthe next phase of
the master planning process. The matrix will lay out the strategies proposed, related action
steps. It will identify partnersand priorities. Associate Planner Chelsea Zakas has been
assigned to this project. There will be action itemswhich the ECDCwill play a role in
effectuating. Wynne continues, noting that the priorities presented in the Strategy have been
priorities of the City for several years. The housing developments identified in the Strategy
have been in the pipeline for several years and were proposed by area non - profits. TIF's have
already been applied successfully. The City can certainly add information about successes in
this area to marketing materials. It is clear that if the quality of education in Beverly were
compromised iswould have a significant impact on Beverly's attractiveness. Wynnewould
welcome the ECDC's support of the new comprehensive plan. There will be opportunities for
the ECDCto support actions that take place in furtherance of the comprehensive plans goals
and objectives. She notesthat there is overlap between the comprehensive plan and the
proposed strategy. Wynne will share the draft implementation matrix with the ECDCmembers.
Although the matrix isstill being drafted Wynne believes it would be helpful to share it with the
ECDCmembers at this point in itsdevelopment so that they become familiar with the process.
Wynne notesthat Chelsea Zakasand Denise Deschampsare working on revising marketing
materials for the City that includes a fact sheet about Beverly. The City is very concerned
about recovery.
Douglas notesthat each of the five priorities described in the proposed strategy are
embellishments of what is in Plan Beverly.
Rchard Vincent notes the effort on the part of Douglasto develop the draft Strategy. He says
that there isa lot of overlap with the master plan. He agrees with its content. He asksabout
who talksto the Zoning Board about getting things rezoned -or some of the other actions steps
in the comprehensive plan.
Douglas states that the items in the Strategy are mostly initiated by the new comprehensive
plan. The comprehensive plan sets a broader strategy. Douglas is focusing on community and
economic development. It is important to underscore that the comprehensive plan has the
overriding set of strategies.
Vincent agrees that some of the City's zoning is antiquated. Industry has changed. Housing has
changed. Let's take advantage of those changes.
Guanci statesthat the master plan has identified zoning changesthat need to go before the City
Council. The ECDCcan certainly write a letter of support to the City Council.
Wynne agreesthat the City will look to itscommitteesforsupport of initiatives.
Guanci asksthat the ECDCmembers review the Ordinance that definesthe role of the ECDC
Wynne agreesthat isalwaysgood to revisit. Guanci asks Deschampsto share it with the ECDC
members in anticipation of the next ECDCmeeting.
Douglas notes that the comprehensive plan looks at every issue that could be addressed. He
would like to look at how to address these issues strategically. How can the ECDC become
effective advocates.
Michael O'Brien acknowledges Douglas's comprehensive view and his work on the document.
He asks if other Boards and Committees might be interested in reading the draft Strategy.
Deschamps offers that she considers the priorities in the draft strategy as being positioned
under the umbrella of the new comprehensive plan. Perhapsthe strategy could make the
relationship between the two documents more visible. Sle also stated that she considers the
last section of the draft strategy, relative to the role and composition of the ECDQ as separate
issue that the ECDCmay choose to discuss in more detail after they have had the opportunity
to revisit the City's Ordinance. Douglas restated his strong interest in adding a member to the
ECDCwho will represent education. He stated that there isa need for partnershipswith
stakeholders in the community and that it is of particular importance to have a relationship
with the medical/ health care community. He added, regarding education, that the school
curriculum needsto address the changing needs of business and industry.
William Howard thanked Douglas for his work on the draft strategy. He noted that the
comprehensive plan should be considered a long -term plan which includeswithin it action steps
that will be taken in the short term in order to bring the goals of the comprehensive plan to
fruition. He notesthat it is important to seethe implementation matrix first before the ECDC
adopts any priorities.
Vincent notes that he is excited about Douglas's work and believes that it has uncovered some
items that the master plan has not covered.
Douglasstated that he partly agreeswith Howard's statements. This is not an either /or
proposition. Several constituencies must come together and forma consensus on the
strategiesthat will be pursued.
Wynne reiterates that although the implementation matrix has not hey been finalized she will
share the current version with the ECDC Ebe does recall that the ECDCwiII be identified as
partner with an active role under various priorities and action steps.
Descham ps wi I I share the Ordinance defining the role and composition of the ECDCwith
members.
O'Brien asks if there will be a (ODMD -19) vaccination site located in Beverly. Wynne responds
that if that does happen the community will receive notice via the City's website, social media
accounts, and likely a robo call.
Guanci invites a motion to adjourn. O'Brien makes a motion. Howard seconds the motion. The
meeting is adjourned.