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1997-11-06 City of Beverly Economic and Commaairy Development Council Minutes November 6, 1997 meeting Members present: Chairman Joyce Golin, Vice-chairman Bill Rodenbaugh, Dick Mooney, Deb Rosser, Mayor Bill Seanlon. Also present: Community Development Manager Dawn Goodwin, City Planner Tins Cassidy, Peter Thomas, Engineering Director Frank Kil[ilea, and Community Development assistant Phil Hubbard. Chairman Golin calls the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. First on the agenda is a discussion with the Mayor and Gerry MeSweaney, General Manager of Chinratings Center on Elliott Street. Go[in explains that the Mayor and Mr. McSweeney were invited to attend this meeting of the ECDC to discuss future development plans for Cummings Center. Mr. McSweeney thanks members for the invitation, and states that the facility currently houses limited retail establishments. There are also several banks on the site, which are allowed by zoning and are not considered retail establishments. There is a card shop on the site and a dry cleaner, and those businesses are primarily designed to service the employees of the various businesses in the complex. The inclusion of establishments providing services to employees helps r~uce the number of employee vehicle trips into and out of the site daring the day, although Cummings Center employees provide an economic boost to downtown businesses as well. McSweeney states that the retail uses now on site are truly accessory uses; the exception to ,.his will be the new fitness canter and restaurant that will be constructed here soon. Those two uses required a special permit and variance from the Board of Appeals, which were obtained several months ago. Cummings Properties has no intention of having large retail estab[ishrnents in the complex ever. Retail is not compatible with the vision the company has in mind for the facility. He estimates that at present only one-fifth of one percent of the total floor area is used for retail. Rodenbaugh states that several ECDC members have expressed concern that the two retail establishments that are at Cummings Center have advertised in local newspapers and on local radio seeking customers from outside the complex. This seems to conWadict the statement that ECDC · Beverly City Hall · 191 Cabot Street- Beverly, Massachusetts 01915 · 508-921-6000 Minutes of the ECDC November 6, 1997 meeting page two retail businesses at Cummings Center are there to service the employees of other businesses located there. Next, Golin informs members that four separate applications for Certified Project designation from the Massachusetts Office of Business Development have been submitted to the ECDC for review. The first three are filed for related entities: Pike Communications, D. Pike and Company, and Telecommunications DeparUnent. Members discuss the projected increase in the number of employees over the coming five year period, and express concem that the applications do not reflect a corresponding increase in equipment purchases to meet the needs of the new employees. Members suggest several minor corrections to the applications, and Mr. John Spellman, a representative of the companies involved, will revise the applications to reflect the corrections and forward corrected applications to the Planning Depathnent. Reineeke: motion to inform the Massachusetts Office of Business Development that the City of Beverly's Economic and Community Development Council has reviewed the certified project applications of Pike Communications, D. Pike Company, and Telecommunications Department and recommends that the certified project applications be submitted to that agency for consideration. Motion seconded by Moohey, all members in favor. Motion passes. Next, members discuss a certified project application from the Danvers Savings Bank; Mr. Mark Panella is present to answer any questions ECDC members may have. Following a brief discussion, members suggest that the response to question #6 on the application be expanded in scope. Reinecke: motion to inform the Massachusetts Office of Business Development that the City of Beverly's Economic and Community Development Council has reviewed the certified project application of Danvers Savings Bank and recommends that this certified project application be submitted to that agency for consideration. Motion seconded by Redenbaugh, members in favor (Rosser abstains from voting on the motion because she is also employed by a local bank). Motion carries. Next, members discuss an article that appeared in the publication Municipal Advocate regarding tourism efforts on the North Shore and the efforts of the North Shore Task Force on promoting the region for ecotourism. Members discuss the nn-going idea of a Beverly brochure, updating information on the State's Department of Housing and Community Development website of community profiles, and the Beverly Chamber of Commerce's website. Rodenbaugh states that a brochure highlighting Beverly attractions should also target residents of the City, so that they understand and "buy into" the concept of what Beverly can and should be in terms of historical and cultural assets. Minutes of the ECDC November 6, 1997 meeting page three Rosser states that the City should market itself to new businesses and to people who would want to move here, and suggests that the City's Chamber of Commerce should focus on tourism. Members ask Community Development assistant Phil Hubbard to investigate the availability of grants to fund a marketing brochure and any funds that may be available from the Seaport Bond Bill. Next, Golin asks members if there are any corrections that should be made to the minutes of the last ECDC meeting on September 29, 1997. Reinecke suggests that the third paragraph be amended by adding the following phrase to the end of the last sentence: "...Cummings tenants, subject to review by the City Solicitor." Reinecke: motion to approve the draft minutes of the September 29, 1997 meeting with the correction noted in the preceding paragraph, seconded by Rodenbaugh. All members in favor, motion carries. Next, Golin informs the members that Nicholas Zavolas has resigned his position on the committee and that all ECDC appointments are coterminous with the Mayor's. Therefore, she suggests that all members send a letter to the Mayor indicating their desire to continue as members of the ECDC or their desire to resign. Those letters should be sent to the Mayor by the end of December. Phil Hubbard asks members about outreach efforts that may have been made in the past to businesses in the area of River, Park, and Rantout Streets. Reinecke mentions that a survey of downtown businesses had been completed several years ago. Rodenbaugh suggests that the ECDC consider resurrecting the response back to the businesses that answered the survey in 1995. Hubbard indicates he will look for the surveys and investigate the response letter that was sent to members of the business community. Members discuss the relationship between the City and the smaller businesses located in Beverly, and what improvements can and should be made to the relationship and communications between the two. The next meeting of the ECDC will be held on Thursday, December 4, 1997 at 6:30 p.m. Meeting is adjourned at 8:20 p.m.