02/14/1995 ECONOMIC DEV AND INDUSTRIAL COMMITTEE Minutes

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 14, 1995 Page 3 He continued his report by stating that the nursing home (Pilgrim's Pride) deal had not yet closed due to problems with the septic system. He has met with the potential purchasers and expressed to them the Town's willingness to do anything within the law to assist them. Chairperson Stern stated that he would follow up with a phone call next week to reiterate the Town's enthusiasm. COORDINATOR'S REPORT Wayne Duchemin distributed a written copy of his report (Exhibit "A") to all members of the EDC. After Mr. Duchemin's verbal review of this report, Chairperson Stern voiced his concern over the procedures presently in place for inquiries regarding business space availability. His concern was the EDC's liability in the possible inadvertent omission of information provided to the inquirer. After a brief discussion, it was determined that any liability would be minimal due to the continual effort to update and maintain the business property owner database. Also, Mr. Duchemin noted that Mr. Reynolds had put together the program to record any inquiries as they were received. Ms. Koblinsky stressed the importance of keeping the database current. It was agreed that the EDC would become an information source for prospective business owners and a marketing tool for business property owners. Ms. Koblinsky suggested sending a promotional letter along with the questionnaire, and doing a follow up phone call to the business property owners with the most activity. Chairperson Stern instructed Mr. Duchemin to prepare a press release to all local publications to advertise the upcoming EDC questionnaire as an information source and to prepare a press release on the appointment of Ms. Koblinsky as a new EDC member. Mr. Reynolds stated that he and Mr. Duchemin would be meeting the following day at 3-3:30 p.m. and invited her to attend. ADDITION TO CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT AND TOWN PLANNER RE: L.C.P. Chairperson Stern stated that he and Mr. Duchemin attended the L.C.P. public hearing on February 1, 1995. He stated that the Planning Board did not like some of the verbiage in the Economic Development Element of Goals, Objectives, and Policies that the E.D.C. and Tom Fudala, Town Planner, had put forward. Mr. Fudala had left for vacation shortly after that meeting so that the issues had not been able to be addressed until the present meeting. Mr. Fudala then addressed the EDC and reviewed what happened at the public hearing. He relayed that extensive discussion was held and objections were made by Tony Ferregamo, Chairperson of the Planning Board, regarding the way in which two areas of the plan were written: • Policy #26 - Mr. Ferregamo wanted this omitted altogether. He did not like its strong discouragement of"strip" commercial development. • Objective "N" - Mr. Ferregamo did not like the specification of certain shopping center locations and the omission of others.