2007/11/19Town of Berlin
Department of Development Services
TOWN OF BERLIN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2007
BERLIN TOWN HALL
7:00 P.M. -ROOM 8
MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:
David Cyr, Chairman Michael Bragulla
Peter Campanelli Christine Fairwood
Peter Russo Ron Stack
James Mahoney, Economic Development Director
ABSENT:
Thomas Veronesi
GUESTS:
Kate Fuechsel, Ex. Dir. Berlin Chamber of Commerce
Ed Egazarian, Town of Berlin Council Member
Chairman Cyr called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
AUDIENCE OF CITIZENS:
Berlin Chamber of Commerce -Kate Fuechsel, Exec. Director of the Berlin
Chamber of Commerce handed out invitations to the annual Holiday Gathering. It will
be held Wednesday, December 5, 2007 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at the Hawthorne Inn,
2421 Berlin Turnpike, Berlin. Dir. Mahoney mentioned those that are typically
included on the guest list, and that there have usually been 80 - 100 guests in the
past.
Commissioner Bragulla made a motion for the Economic Development Commission to
co-sponsor the Holiday Gathering with The Berlin Chamber of Commerce, budgeting
$800 for expenses. The Motion was seconded by Commissioner Stack and
unanimously approved.
Ms. Fuechsel also passed along a newsletter from the Chamber of Commerce
that had some tips on drawing visitors downtown. She thanked everyone for
supporting the auction. The Barns of Berlin winner will be announced tonight.
MINUTES OF OCTOBER MEETING:
The minutes of the October 15, 2007 meeting were previously mailed to the
Commissioners in their packets. Commissioner Stack made a motion to approve the
Minutes of Monday, October 15, 2007. The Motion was seconded by Commissioner
Bragulla and unanimously approved.
Budtret Proposal for Fiscal Year 2008-2009:
Dir. Mahoney gave each of the commissioners a copy of the budget worksheet,
and gave his recommendations for the up-coming year. The Wages-Salaries and
Fringe Benefits line items will include a cost of living increase. The
Professional/Technical line items will remain the same as last year. Capital Outlays
Town of Berlin, Connecticut James T. Mahoney, Economic Development Director
240 Kensington Road Berlin, CT 06037 (860) 828-7005 Fax (860) 828-7180 Email jmahoney@town.berlin.ct.us
will be the biggest request. The commission will request $321,000 for the Train
Station Improvements and $15,000 for Plantings and Signage.
Chairman Cyr asked for clarification on the Train Station request. If the project
is two million dollars (for round figures), there is a 20% match, so our total match is
$400,000, and it's in two stages. The first stage is the design stage. We hire an
architect for X200,000 and they design the improvements to the parking lot and train
station. That's the stage we're in now. We've already appropriated the matching funds
for the design phase. Then we go to the construction phase. We've got to kick in the
match for the construction phase. Chairman Cyr said the Town is going to have to
appropriate roughly $400K to make this project fly. Dir. Mahoney said yes, but there
could be another way to fund it. A STEAP Grant could be requested from the State for
the project. DOT owns the parking lot and AMTRAK owns the station but we have to
match the funding due to the federal program. We have a draft contract with the
state, we have a project number, and DOT has approved our selection of a consultant,
but the Town hasn't finalized the consultant selection yet. We're having a meeting
with DOT in two weeks to scope out the project. Our contract with the State will
designate how much matching money the Town has to commit. The appropriation of
matching funds will go to the Town Manager and Council for approval. It was asked if
there was a rendition of the Train Station and J. Mahoney said there is a rendering.
Also there was a difference of opinion with the DOT about the parking lot, we wanted
more plantings and beautification and they wanted more parking spaces, so we agreed
to maintain the plantings to continue the project. Amtrak had to agree to maintain
the station when we have finished the project.
Commissioner Russo made a motion to approve the budget requests for
Economic Development for fiscal year 2008/2009 as suggested by Dir. Mahoney. The
Motion was seconded by Commissioner Campanelli, and unanimously approved.
PROMOTION:
Dir. Mahoney mentioned the Holiday Gathering as previously discussed.
As far as marketing, the International Council of Shopping Centers has an event in
New York City in December but it's the same time as the Holiday Gathering so he
doesn't think he will attend. The ICSC Convention is in Las Vegas in May that he may
attend.
INCENTIVE PROGRAMS: (Tax Abatement & Fagade Enhancement &
Infrastructure Loan Program)
Dir. Mahoney reported that Budney and Tri-Star were approved. Also, the Town
closed on the Infrastructure loan to Colossale Concrete.
GRANTS:
EPA Revolving Loan Fund - $460,000 -Dir. Mahoney reported that he
doesn't feel the Town will be able to hold on to the grant.
The State is offering some grants and Dir. Mahoney will talk to Council to
see if the Town is interested in applying for some of those grants.
Commissioner Cyr asked what the EPA Revolving Loan really entails. Dir.
Mahoney answered that it is funding for clean-up of environmentally
contaminated properties. EPA gives us a grant to make loans. We have had
the grant approved for a few years. We've just never had the right situation
for a borrower to apply although we have accomplished a number of clean-
up projects. We haven't seen the final letter, but we expect that EPA won't
extend the grant period.
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• Streetscape -Dir. Mahoney reported that we have signed a contract with
the State for a STEAP Grant ($400,000) and sent it to them. They will send
it back to us in about a month. We still have the problem of not being
allowed to spend more than a half a million dollars in STEAP funds for the
fiscal year.
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION:
• Streetscape -Dir. Mahoney reported that when we develop plans for the
Town Center Park we should have public meetings for both the Park and
Streetscape at the same time.
Town Center Park -Dir. Mahoney sent the Commission a plan to review.
There have been several meetings of in-house staff, consultants, and Dave
Cyr to give input. The project can be broken down into different activity
areas: the main area near Stop 8v Shop, the area where the sand and salt
storage shed was, the ponds and the wetlands, some trails on the other side
of the ponds, and some off-site improvements including sidewalks that tie
into other areas. The skateboard park is being recommended by the Parks
and Recreation Commission. The Town Council will make a final decision
on the Park program. The EDC will make a recommendation to them. We
have $360,000, and we won't be able to do all the improvements at once, so
we have to prioritize. Commissioner Bragulla asked whether the adjacent
property owners have been approached and informed of the planning
process and asked for input. Dir. Mahoney will soon be scheduling a
meeting with adjacent property owners to get their ideas.
DESIGN STANDARDS:
The Planning and Zoning Commission's Consulting Attorney is reviewing the
standards. The Zoning Regulations have existing standards for the Golden
Triangle that were developed in 2003 that might be used as a model. Dir.
Mahoney will send those Standards to the Commission for review.
LEGISLATION:
A meeting was held with our Legislators and the Corporation for Independent
Living to discuss environmental remediation assistance that they might be
eligible to receive for the Sherwood Tool project. CIL got some help for
remediation for their Windsor project and they have asked the Town of Berlin
for similar help.
PUBLIC RELATIONS:
• Gateway Signs -Planning and Zoning gave a positive report, so it will go to
Town Council the first week of December, then well be ready to bid the
construction.
• A Periodic Column in the Berlin Citizen- Chairman Cyr said he will write
an article, but it will be a while longer.
SPONSORS FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS•
Depot Crossing was approved but DOT has not approved the road design, so
further meetings are required to work through these issues. Commissioner Cyr
wants to let the Developer know that the EDC is in full support of his project.
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DIRECTOR'S REPORT:
Dir. Mahoney reviewed items included in his current report. He shared the
Council Agenda Item regarding the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) Resolution encouraging extending `Green development' goals to private
developments of over 25,000 sq. feet, or a million dollars renovation on a voluntary
basis.
The Central Connecticut Economic Development Alliance is asking the EDC to
appoint a member to their organization. Meetings are held quarterly in Bristol on a
Monday at noon. Dir. Mahoney has been appointed by the Town Manager and is
looking for interested members to serve with him.
Dir. Mahoney reported on the Planning and Zoning Commission actions:
Precision Punch was approved for the heli-pad, the Baltic Restaurant on New Britain
Rd. was approved, Starbucks-no action, Coccomo Brothers was approved for their
retail project on the corner of Webster Square Rd. and Frontage Rd.. Otis D's and The
Chicken Joint are closed. Blue Lobster is relocating to Flynn Engineering on the
Berlin Turnpike. Corporation for Independent Living submitted an application for
Zoning text amendment changes related to the Sherwood Tool market rate condo
conversion project. Commissioner Cyr commented on the salt pile on the Turnpike.
Mr. Mahoney indicated that it is temporary for this year, while we are building a new
sand and salt facility. TIGHITCO relocated their office to Old Brickyard Lane, and
their manufacturing operations will be relocated in a couple of weeks. Pure Pizza
grand opening was great.
ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner Stack made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 P.M.
Seconded by Commissioner Bragulla, and unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Lecia J. Paonessa
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