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.