Loading...
2005-3-23 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION: Economic and Community Development Council SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: March 23, 2005 LOCATION: Third Floor Conference Room, City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Grimes, Neil Douglas, Carla Cox, Joyce McMahon, Frank Killilea, Bill O’Hare, Tina Cassidy MEMBERS ABSENT: Larry Smith, Don Stacey, Jason Silva RECORDER: Tina Cassidy Cassidy opens the meeting at 7:10 p.m. Members introduce themselves and summarize their professional backgrounds and interest in serving on the council. Killilea updates members on the City’s geographic information system (GIS) and personnel. He suggests that the ECDC may find the system very useful in its work. Douglas asks if the GIS system can produce a map of vacant industrial and commercial parcels in the City that are serviced by water and sewer. He says that such a map would be a valuable tool for the committee and others who may be interested in a particular economic development project. Killilea and Cassidy state that such a map can in fact be created, showing property lines, topography, and wetlands among other factors. Cassidy will request such a map for the next meeting. Douglas states that one of his priorities as an ECDC member is the proposed improvements to the Route 128/Brimbal Avenue interchange. Cox asks for clarification on the charge of the ECDC. McMahon responds that in the past, the charge has included helping businesses that are already located in Beverly, bringing new businesses into the City, and maximizing tax revenues from commercial and industrial development. O’Hare explains his position as Community Development Manager and the grant programs administered by the Community Development Office, including Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) from the Department of Housing and Community Development, and regional HOME funds. Funding for the Community Development Office is derived from administrative funds from these two grants and some money from grants given in prior years that require payback. Funds from these two grants have historically been used to rehabilitate housing and improve parks and infrastructure within the City’s target area. Grimes explains that she is the City Council’s representative to the Committee. She has served on several other boards in the City including the Conservation Commission for six years and the Planning Board. Rinus Oosthoek, director of Beverly Main Streets, is in attendance. He explains the goals of the Main Streets organization and summarizes some of the successes that group has had to date. He expresses his hope that Main Streets and the ECDC can work together collaboratively on issues of mutual concern. D T F A R Douglas states that there are a number of projects the City can be working on, and asks about the availability of grant funds to cover some of the costs associated with projects like the waterfront and reconstruction of Rantoul and Cabot Streets. Cassidy offers to get a digest of available grant programs from the DHCD web site for review at the next meeting. The Commission discusses the topic of a mission statement for the group. McMahon suggests that members should take a look at the current mission statement developed some years ago for reference. From memory, she recalls that the mission statement including marketing Beverly to new businesses, retaining existing businesses within the City, and recommending new projects and facilities for consideration by the legislative and executive branches. Cassidy will distribute copies of the earlier ECDC mission statement and the master plan to all members before the next meeting. Douglas expresses concern that the title of the Committee includes community development, not just economic development. McMahon answers that previous ECDC members have interpreted that title to mean “economic development in a community context”. Cassidy adds that the ECDC is the only body in the City focusing on economic development, unlike other subjects such as land use and the environment that involve multiple boards and commissions. Douglas states his early view that the ECDC should focus on job creation and generating economic development through the fruitful development of commercial and industrial land and facilities, and to the extent it evolves into community development issues, it does. Grimes says she agrees with Douglas on that point – the charge of the ECDC should be economic growth and how to make the City thrive economically and generate tax revenue through smart use of commercial and industrial parcels. Douglas says that an economic focus on the downtown opens the gates for more than just business; it raises other issues such as community development. Cox suggests that the mission statement, once drafted, should be sent to City officials like the Building Inspector and Engineering Director so that all City agencies understand the goals and mission of the ECDC. She suggests that the Building Inspector in particular should be invited to a subsequent meeting when the mission statement is finalized. Douglas briefly shares his experiences with the Town of Plymouth, where incredible effort is made to facilitate economic development. The Planning Department offers such services as scheduled tours of potential development sites, streamlining local permitting processes, and investigating possible financing mechanisms. Cassidy states that in the past the ECDC had both a chairman and a vice-chairman. She says she placed an item on the agenda for this evening’s meeting for the election of a chairman and vice-chairman, but since two members could not make the meeting this evening, she suggests postponing any vote until the committee meets again. Members decide to postpone taking a vote on electing officers until the next meeting. Members agree to meet next on Thursday, April 28, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. Douglas: motion to adjourn, seconded by Cox. All members in favor, motion carries. The meeting is adjourned at 9:00 p.m.