12/22/2005 BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE Minutes

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4 Mr. Miller replied his understanding was that nobody picked up the bah. The Town no longer had the economic development person at the time. By the time this passed, it was six months later. hnrnediately prior to this there was an article in the town meeting warrant or at least presented to the selectmen seeping$30,000 funding for the Town's Econonuc Development office, He thought this step was the end-of-the-line for what the Town could do on its' own. Meanwhile, he said, when the process started to get this legislation passed,the prognosis for the Town for economic development seemed to be at a high pitch, and a couple of years later, that wasn't the case. Ms. ux-ney said she was looking for what would be the most logical step regarding the economic development office and the Town. One of the steps in the process is creating a board, said Mr. Miller,which are seven members appointed by the municipality. One with expetti se in irndustri al development;one in financial matters- one in real estate}one in low come; one in municipal government, and two at large members. The Vice hainnan said that the answer to his question right be that the Board of Selectman more than likely would be appointing the members,initially. Ms. Gurney asked Mr. Miller: "'So they appoint this board, do they also have to go to Town Meeting to get start-up money?" Mr. lei l l er replied the prerequisite for the l egi sl ature to adopt an economic development or industrial corporation, enabling legislation for the Town was conumssioned by an economic plan,which it does have. It may be out-of-date}he added, but it meets diose criteria, he said. There's no condition on money, I'm sure if we get some expertise from ERIC and they will be able to tell you with authority that it was not dependent upon the Town anteing up $50,000 dollars to prime thepurup before things staffed nning on their own. I'mnot saying that might not have to happen, either, lam•. Miller said. One of the beauties of a public project or corporation like that is you can fund outside the normal ta.x contribution, said Ted Theis. The Chainnan said that basically those who utilize those funds would pay the fees back. Mr. Theis said that another thing a circumstance can do, once it's up and running, is tale a good bit of weight off a.number of Town departments by answering ir'tial questions of businesses corning to town,much like the Chamber of Commerce. Nh-. Miller passed out two documents to member's of the con ittee, one explaining an ERIC and the other one stipulating and explaining Chapter 376 of the Acts of 2002. The Charman said that every one should take a look at the two documents and put the item on the agenda for Januar . F. Thomas Fudala., the Town Planner said that he had a couple of things to say about the Upper Cape RTDC. I don't believe that the Town needs to have an EMC to participate. They had their first mecting earlier in the month;they established an advisory committee that is in effect representatives from the four Upper Cape towns. The Town(of Mashpee) did not have a representative at the meeting and he expressed a need for one. The Town Planner said that one of the Town's issues were economic development. The types of businesses Masbpee had were landscaping businesses, a self-storage warehouse, and retail development and were not the type of spin-offs that would generate a lot of income,he said. Lee Gurney emphasized the need for quick action concerning joining the Upper Cape RTDC sooner,rather than later and brir ging the}}ratter up to the Board ofSelectman's Meeting some night. The Town Planner said he had a list of people on the advisory committee and that the Falmouth EMC was carrying the ball. He said that the Upper Cape RTCD was fairly open to representatives. The Chairman asked if there was any public input and what were the wishes of the Committee.