2008-09-10
CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION:
Economic and Community Development
Council
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE:
LOCATION:
MEMBERS PRESENT:
MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
RECORDER:
September 10, 2008
Barnet Gallery, Beverly Public Library
Chairman Pat Grimes, Tina Cassidy, Don
Fournier, Ed Cahill, Bill Howard, Bill O'Hare
Vice-Chairman Neil Douglas
Tina Cassidy
Grimes calls the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m.
First on the agenda is approval of minutes of the June 11, 2008 meeting. Grimes asks if
there are any changes or issues with the draft. There are none.
Fournier:
motion to approve the draft minutes of the June 11,2008 meeting, seconded
by Howard. All members in favor, motion carries.
Next on the agenda is discussion of the concept of a draft Business and Marketing Plan for
the City. Fournier states that the first meeting held between the ECDC, Main Streets, and
Chamber of Commerce on the subject was a good one, as was the subsequent meeting with
the City's engineering consultants for the Rantoul Street reconstruction project. Participants
expressed a willingness to learn about on-going and envisioned projects being undertaken by
the City or by one of the other groups.
Cahill says that the first meeting did go well but a second meeting is planned to continue
discussion on the issue. Main Streets has concerns about the proposal and asked for
additional information. The first meeting ended with a plan to meet with the City's Rantoul
Street and waterfront consultants and then hold a joint, follow-up meeting on the business
plan idea.
Howard states that his impression of the conversation was that it was unlikely the City would
have the funds to create a new position and that the Chamber and Main Streets were asking
the question "What pieces can Main Streets and the Chamber pick up, in lieu of having an
economic development director?"
Cassidy informs the members that she has secured two possible dates for the meeting with
the waterfront consultants - either September 29th or October 2nd. The date for the
discussion with Main Streets, Chamber, and ECDC has not yet been finalized. She will work
with Main Streets and the Chamber to secure a specific date.
Grimes states that she met with the Salem Director of Planning to discuss Salem's economic
development initiatives. They do have an economic development planner on staff, but it is
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September 10, 2008 meeting
funded by a CDBG grant, and Salem is a so-called "entitlement community" for those funds
where Beverly is not.
Grimes asks if there is any other comment on this matter this evening and there being none,
tables discussion on the matter to the next ECDC meeting.
Next, Cassidy hands out an updated "Development Scorecard", developed on request earlier
this year. She distributes updated copies that reflects the permitting/construction status of
different projects and explains them in detail.
Next, Grimes tells members that a Massachusetts Municipal Association publication on
municipal web sites was interesting and points in particular to the web site run by the city of
Tampa Florida. She will provide a copy of the MMA document to Cassidy so she in turn
can provide members with a copy of the article.
Grimes then tells members that she also discussed Salem's "Doing Business in Salem" guide
with the Salem City Planner when they met. The guide is a succinct summary of permitting
and building guidelines and could be a valuable tool for Beverly to have. She promises to
send the web link for Salem's guide to members before the next meeting.
Next, Grimes informs the members that she has been asked by Council President Tim
Flaherty to update the City Council on the work of the ECDC. She says she will be making
that presentation on Monday, September 15, 2008 and will email a draft of the presentation
to members for comment beforehand.
Cassidy says she will make copies of the updated Development Scorecard for Grimes' use
Monday evening.
Grimes asks if there is any other business for the Council to discuss. There is none.
Fournier:
motion to adjourn, seconded by Howard. All members in favor, motion
carnes.
The meeting is adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
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September 10, 2008 meeting