1998-09-23CITY OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD
SUBCOMMITTEE
DATE
PLACE
MEMBERS PRESENT
MEMBERS ABSENT
OTHERS PRESENT
RECORDER
: Economic and Community Development Council
:
: September 23, 1998
: Beverly Public Library
: Chairman Joyce McMahon, Vice-Chairman Bill Rodenbaugh,
DonaldStacey, Deborah Rosser, Dick Moohey.
: Brenda Spence
: City Planner Tina Cassidy, Campbell Stewart, KORTEC, Inc.,
Community Development Manager Dawn Goodwin.
: Tina Cassidy
McMahon opens the meeting at 6:30 p.m. and explains to those
present that the ECDC will be reviewing a certified project
application for consideration by the State's Economic Assistance
Coordinating Council. The application is being filed for KORTEC,
inc., which has opened a facility in the Cummings Center. She
introduces Mr. Campbell Stewart, treasurer for KORTEC, Inc., to
the committee.
Rodenbaugh asks Campbell for an explanation of the company's
operation. Stewart explains the process of plastic coinjection,
which is the pouring and molding of two plastics simultaneously.
Following a brief discussion of the company, discussion turns to
the specifics of the application. Rodenbaugh suggests that the
employment projections on page 3A should show a grand total of
the number of new positions that will be created. He also
reminds members that the ECDC had drafted revised wording of
background information on Cummings Center with a previous
application, and that the text of this application should be
revised to include that amended language.
Stewart explains that the company is a spin-off from a firm based
in Gloucester. Although there are currently five employees with
the company, that number will increase. Rodenbaugh cautions
Stewart that if his employment projections for next year are met,
the number of employees will necessitate both an equal employment
opportunity and sexual harassment policy.
Stacey questions the nature and limits of the ECDC'S review of
this application, and Cassidy explains that the ECDC will review
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September 23,
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1998 meeting
the application on behalf of the City and will acknowledge the
application for the information and benefit of the State's
Economic Assistance Coordinating Council. Cassidy explains that
the ECDC reviews the application and either informs the State
that the City has no issue with the request, or could inform the
state of the City's objection. The state had requested an
acknowledgment of all certified project applications earlier last
year; the state wants to insure that the local community is aware
of the application and has an opportunity to review it.
Mooney asks Stewart what the projected sales for KORTEC are this
fiscal year. Stewart states $1,000,000.
Roclenbaugh:
motion that Chairman McMahon author a letter to
the State's Economic Assistance Coordinating
Council indicating the City has no concerns with
the application being submitted by KORTEC. Motion
seconded by Stacey, all members in favor. Motion
carries.
Next on the agenda is the subject of conducting an economic
impact analysis of the Norwood Pond area at the request of the
Norwood Pond Commission. McMahon briefly summarizes the Norwood
Pond Commission's efforts to date. As part of that board's
discussions, the question of how much industrial land in the
vicinity of Norwood Pond is available for development in the
future and what that development might mean to the City
financially has been raised. The City will be retaining the
engineering firms of HTSD and Greenman/Pedersen to design the
roadway improvements, and these firms will be conducting a build
out study of the industrial land as part of their efforts. The
ECDC has been asked to conduct an economic impact analysis of
this area and provide the Norwood Pond Commission with input. It
will take several months for the consulting firm to compile its
buildout figures, and McMahon states that one question for the
ECDC to consider is whether it should wait for HTSD to complete
its information and use that as a basis for collaborative effort,
or whether the ECDC would prefer to generate its own information.
Rosser states that her preference would be to wait for HTSD's
information and work collaboratively with that firm.
General discussion takes place on the reasons for the request
from the Norwood Pond Commission, and on the criteria and
information that will be used to complete the economic analysis.
Following the discussion, McMahon confirms that there are two
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September 23,
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1998 meeting
questions that the Norwood Pond Commission must answer to provide
the ECDC with enough information to begin the analysis. First,
is there an objection to having the ECDC use the build out
figures generated by HTSD, and second, what does the Norwood Pond
Commission expect the analysis to accomplish?
McMahon states that the next Norwood Pond Commission meeting will
be on October 7th and that HTSD is expected to make a presenta-
tion on the overpass/interchange project that evening. Staff
will send copies of the agenda for that meeting to the ECDC
members, in the hope they will be able to attend the meeting to
hear the presentation. She will ask both questions outlined
earlier at that meeting.
Next, McMahon updates the members on the subject of appointments
and resignations. Peter Thomas has resigned his position on the
council, and must be replaced with a representative of the
Chamber of Commerce. The appointment of Mr. Mastin has yet to be
submitted to the City Council for confirmation.
Rodenbaugh briefly updates members on his involvement with the
public advisory committee working on a revision to the airport
master plan, which met for the first time last month.
McMahon suggests that the next meeting of the ECDC be held on
October 14, 1998; members concur with that date.
Rodenbaugh:
motion to adjourn, seconded by Stacey. All
members in favor, motion carries.
The meeting is adjourned at 8:14 p.m.