one more member to come in, but I'm going to go ahead and begin our meeting. Today is Wednesday, December 17th, and I'd like to call to order the Economic Development Commission of Southwick.
Um, and I am Greg Dy, chair. We'll go around who's here. >> Stephen Roach, >> Alvin Allen, town planner. And [clears throat] I expect a couple more members to come in, but we'll see as
they as they arrive. And um Nicole, you're welcome to join the table if you'd like. Up to you. And we're we're going to begin with
our guest for mass development, Ben Murphy. And we also have uh Oh, let's see if I've got anybody else here. Can they hear us? Okay. >> Can you hear us? Okay. >> Yeah, I can hear you. This is Karen
Carzwell from Mass Development. >> Okay. wasn't able to change my name on the thing, but >> okay. >> I don't know if I need to say. >> All right. And we've got another member arriving. >> I should be upstairs sitting with that
tax meeting. I'm so frustrated with this town. I don't know what to do. All right. Okay. Address that separately. Okay. So, we will start out with our special guests from
Mass Development, Ben Murphy and Karen Carwell. Uh Ben, I saw you a week ago at the economic development partners and you spoke there and topic of guess you're doing a lot of things up in
Montigue and particularly in Turner's Falls, the area along the canal. you work in a lot of projects throughout Western Mass. So, or have worked in on projects. So, yeah. So, should I introduce myself?
>> Yes, let's Yeah. What I'm I'm interested in in knowing, you know, you know, the general introduction. I'm sure you have it prepared. the broadly the types of things you do, how we can best
promote your services within our town, we can take advantage of them if possible, better understand them, and you know, with Alvin here, he can coach us on on things as well. But I'll turn it over to you, Ben.
>> Great. Yeah, thanks for having us. Um, Ben Murphy, VP Real Estate with Mass Development. I'm based in our West Regional office in Springfield and I work with Karen. Um, so I'm with our real estate division and specifically
our real estate planning department which focuses on we spend most of our time on two programs. one the one that I manage is a real estate services technical assistance
program which is to help public entities so municipalities redevelopment authorities etc with real estate um issues one of the focuses on surplus public property so thinking about the disposition
redevelopment of public property so we're not really we don't really assist with like public property that's going to be reused for public purposes. We're we're interested in kind of helping with redevelopment um opportunities.
The the program can also help with um district plans for industrial, commercial, mixed use, multifamily housing districts. So typically kind of downtown centers, commercial
centers um and and generally the district should have you know underutilized properties or surplus public properties thinking about how we can come in and and do some planning around getting redevelopment started and kind of create vibrancy. The other
program that my department runs is the site readiness program that's meant to get larger commercial industrial sites ready for redevelopment and make them available for redevelopment. Um the program also now can assist with
large residential projects um getting sites ready for residential reuse also which wasn't the case in rec until recently because of the housing need. Um and I'll mention that Southwick did has taken advantage
of that program with the Sam what is it? I have it open here. Sam West Road extension is what we assisted with. So that was um we helped fund Fuss and O'Neal to to do some
design work and I I actually didn't manage that project from the agency. That was my colleague Amanda. Um so I'm not as familiar with that but just an example of the type of work the program can do. Um, in that case, I think that
was primarily to to look at making sites accessible so that they would be ready for redevelopment by designing the roadway to get there. Um, can also help with the utility design and planning.
Um, it also can help with demolition. It's one of the few programs that can do that. Um, so that's mostly what I spend my time on. I also um attend the monthly uh Western Mass Economic Development Partnership W- which is a great chance
to to kind of get a sense of what other communities are working on. Um and I yeah I work with primarily Western Mass communities on these programs. So I working in Turner Falls, working in Irving, which is up there too. I've
worked in Greenfields um for for some reason a lot of work in Franklin County. We tend to work with communities in need whether that's because of their capacity isn't you know they don't have enough capacity
or you know the demographics and kind of think gateway cities um that type of thing. Done a lot of work in Pittsfield uh North Adams. So it's type of work and I can hand it off to you Karen if you want to kind of discuss things the
agency. >> Yeah. So um Karen Carwell here I work and business development at Mass Development. So pretty much we're the listening ears with on the private and public side um looking for we have the
agency has three goals to stimulate business to drive economic growth and to help communities thrive across Massachusetts. So I work with Ben in the west region which is Hampshire, Hampton, Franklin, Bergkshire County. And with Ben's team, we're really starting early,
you know, in this process to unlock areas where you're starting. Maybe it's a municipally owned building. there's a one-stop application such as uh the underutilized property program. Um that as long as that property is in need of
um some kind of shoring up within the building envelope in order for it to get ready for an RFP or to go to the private se sector for housing and and you know redevelopment. Um that would drive you know taxes back into your town. you
know, that's one area um that you could apply to as well as what parallels really well with real estate is the brown field as well. So, if you have some contaminated sites, um whether you're looking for assessment or actual,
you know, um you know, cleanup, then you can also apply through through the onetop for that as well. Um and then I also work with nonprofits and businesses, small and large. um on their financing to help um
support, you know, a bank loan or sometimes we do some direct loans um for a public benefit. Um and which means some um a project that's going to bring more, you know, foot traffic to town or
unlock a blighted region. um or even you know add more h housing or um uh employ you know employ more folks. So you know those are all the public benefits with our organization. So we have you know loans, tax exempt bonds,
grants um and so we've been doing this work since I guess 1988 when we were formed um as a merger of the Massachusetts Government Land Bank and the Massachusetts Industrial Finance Agency. So, we're here to be your main
contacts in this region um and discuss, you know, municipally owned u projects as well as if a if somebody on the private side is coming to you and um is looking for some financing support or grants to help unlock a project and and
um kind of fill the gap of some of their capital stack. I was just going to mention which I forgot to the both programs I discussed and and the up and brown fields are all in the onetop for growth which the process [clears throat] is going to be
starting soon in the new year and those applications will be due early June I expect like similar to previous years and and that's part of why we we like to meet with communities to talk about possible projects that they might be interested in submitting to the onetop
Um, question for you, Alvin. Would [clears throat] when I think cleanup, I think I like Pioneer Dairy. I know it's private, but uh is that something applicable in any way? >> Yeah, that's a great that's a great question. So, because it's privately
owned, um if the owner, um you know, didn't contaminate it themselves, um you know, and they're looking to clean it up, um we do have loans, um you know, that are favorable terms. So, they're not a grant on the private side.
They are a loan. They're structured as a loan. Um but it's usually part, you know, it has to plug into the larger public benefit. So that's we would definitely want to talk to somebody who's struggling um you know in finding funds to to do some cleanup.
>> This is actually property for sale now. >> Oh great. And >> yeah so the the own you know whoever's buying it you know if they do a phase one and two or um you know that that would be something we would we would we would want to see how we can help.
Yeah. You do have a lot of farmland right in South. That's how it was established. Um, so yeah. >> Could you just hit the Okay right there so then they can see everyone the whole the the ribbon at the top. Then they'll be able to see everybody at the table.
>> Oh, yeah. Great. >> There you go. >> Oh, okay. All right. Thank you. >> Um, >> but that's kind of why I'm here. A little segue, right? I was hoping Amanda Warfield would be here from uh the Westfield Chamber, which we are a part of. So, um,
>> yeah. and she couldn't be here tonight, but as I'm driving around town and I see these either vacant or commercial properties for sale, you know, um or even the church on the street from Gallagher or um you know, the Pioneer Dairy, uh the one across the street from Chavevelis, you know, there's just
different parcels in town that I feel like we could make priority development sites, you know, just that site readiness that they were talking about. Maybe that's where they could help us, you know, and we can market, not we don't market it, but we could put on our website or just, you know,
>> come to this year site or planning site to look for these priority development sites, site readiness where it's more attractive for a buyer to come in and then they have all these other programs that they could provide. Um, you know, I don't know necessarily that we have parcels that we want to develop. Um,
okay. >> Maybe in the future. I know our DPW kind of needs to be realigned somewhere else some or some I don't know they saying the building isn't worth anything. I don't know. Looks fine to me but what do I know? Um but you know so uh that's you
know and I really wanted to bring them in and so we could become part of this. Yeah. I was at the um the I don't know if it was an appreciation lunchon or something up at Tucker and there were zero South businesses there. So, uh, you know, I want to kind of introduce us all
the economic development with the chamber, um, you know, and and then obviously the the mass development would come in um for assistance with getting these sites ready to sell. That's I think that's where our we facilitate. We don't become the realtors, but we just
help the the owners get their sites ready for a sale to a good either developer or somebody who wants to redevelop the land for different uses. >> So, what does that look like then practically speaking for something like Pioneer Dairy? What does that mean? Site radiance, what what do they do? So if
mass development could talk about what would you do to how how would you assess a a parcel that is you know not ready for development that has dilapitated uh buildings on it or you know it's just it's >> chemicals in it.
>> Well a super fund site is going to be a whole different situation. So if it's that then that's a different conversation is the whole thing. If it's just, you know, I'm just driving by and I see five acres of just some buildings falling down in a great
>> business zone, I hope area. It's >> mixed. >> And it's privately owned right now, right? >> Yes. >> But for sale. So if there's somebody that's trying to sell something, you would be a resource to maybe ready it
for sale or to >> I'm just trying to >> So I'll just So our our site readiness program is only for public entities and nonprofits. So it's not eligible for forprofit um and yeah, we don't usually
get in involved in private sales. something this the town was interested in um working on you know purchasing for redevelop does actually I I have a question for you what is the economic development commission what kind of what
what how does it exist within the town and what authority does it have >> well we are only an advisory authority okay >> we help uh promote businesses like we've created
a directory of all of our businesses to help promote them toformationally and and just do a lot of projects that help in a general way and give advice to other commissions that do
have authority. >> Is does the town have a redevelopment authority or an economic development industrial corporation? >> No. >> No. >> Okay. No, but we have like, you know, I think the town is, um, has the chapter 43D,
the expedited local permitting, um, you know, other means to help these private owners try to get their sites ready, um, with speed, you know, expedited local permitting, um, priority development. So, maybe
Matt's development doesn't help with that, but I'm kind of like a completely separate conversation from you guys. I was second on the guest list here. Um, but you know, that's kind of what I wanted to come in and say is that as I see these vacant parcels in towns that um, you know, we are we are also in the
process of completely redoing the zoning, right? Redoing the the town zoning. So, um, you know, that's going to be an important factor going forward. Um, but I just wanted to, you know, hopefully next month Amanda will be able to be here and we'll be able to talk about how we can help the businesses and
help even the even the businesses for sale to not sit there dilapitated like that but you know get something thriving and sometimes >> too where like um like I'll work with Paul CPR I don't know if you know him from Mass Office of Business Development
you know and they've launched the business front door uh for the private side so you can register your business and kind of see what incentives and tax credits might be available for your project in the future. Not focused on housing that's only focused on business. Um, but you know, we're happy to sit at
a chamber, you know, have hold office hours in person and promote something that says, you know, mass development is going to be here with Mass Office of Business Development to kind of talk about um, you know, the the tools that we might have to help either, you know,
somebody on the private side to if they're looking at purchasing a property, we're we're happy to do that. That's part of my role. I'll also mention one of the the grant programs that does exist although it's very competitive is the underly underutilized properties program which
is also through the onetop that is eligible for profofit um organizations are eligible for that. uh it is specifically for building. So it's not for vacant property. It's it's for underutiliz it
says underutilized properties but properties really means building um in this case. So I if there if there are um buildings that need you know usually it's it's typically you know to get the
building up to code so it can be used again. So, handicapped accessibility, getting systems in back up and running, um elevators if it's multi multi story, that kind of thing. But like I said, very very [clears throat]
competitive. So, it's not one we'd like to like say absolutely go for it. It's if if there if there's something you think would be a good fit, absolutely apply or encourage applicants. But um
it's one of the few grants that exists that for profits can that's that's why it's so competitive >> of the underly underutilized business grants in the past. What have been um people that have received them? What have they done to their buildings? And
what can you further define without going through the whole application what an underutilized building is? Is it more for accessibility and code updates like you said or is there more to it? Do you want to take that Karen? >> Sure. Um, so a lot of it has to do with
within the building envelope. So it could be for shoring up um you know um I beams and roofs. Uh it can you can put new new roof on. Uh we've seen windows
insulation um floors. We've seen um ADA accessibility. Um, I think one project in um, Chesterfields, I think it was um, as long as it's within the building, it was a um, I think they used it for an
elevator. So, you know, it it's usually tied to a housing project or um, like a commercial property that's going to, you know, bring more revenue to the town. Um, yeah.
>> Yeah, it's usually like Yeah. Go a lot of housing recently. >> Yeah, it's been used for a lot of housing, too. Yeah. But, um, never new construction. You can't put on like a new floor, right? Um, >> and it's not for it's it it doesn't a
building doesn't need to be vacant, abandoned, but it needs to absolutely be underutilized. So it's not for you know an existing company that's on you know that's already functioning in the space just to you know do some you know
capital improvements. It it really is to expand if if it is a occupied building that it's can only be partially occupied because these other things need to happen for it to be fully occupied. I think a lot of times it is vacant property that that gets funded, but
>> yeah, they're abandoned uh properties um vacant for over a year. Um and the the grants range from like 50 uh,000 to a million. I think the average though is
probably five 500 $550,000. Um but you can ask for up to a million. Yeah. What was that? >> Um, actton, but this is 2023 under in mass.gov. Community one forgrowth. You can see all the awards. You can see all
the awards. >> Yes. >> Mass.gov >> under community one stop for growth. I mean, what is it? Community one? Yeah. Community one. >> Yeah. >> So, you can search on realized property and see who got awarded this year. Um
sometimes like a a nonprofit theater might be awarded um in the past housing projects. Um, yeah. >> Another popular program that we don't administer, but just if you're not aware
of it, is the Mass Works program, which is it it's to help improve um public facilities, roads, utilities to encourage or to assist private development, private investment. So it's
so that's something that a municipality would apply for you know say I think like the the Sam West road could be a mass works if it if it's going to lead to you know construction of a new business because the road can be built and
therefore the business. So, as an example, >> in in 2025, Southwick got one 150,000 massworks program to um grant to replace an existing concrete culvert at Pearlbrook Vining Hill Road.
I just saw that. I looked that up. Yeah. >> So, that's good thing to keep in mind when you're thinking about if there's ways to assist business and attract business. And a lot a lot of cities have asked us like, "Oh, if I'm applying for up and mass works and does it dilute my
chances to getting any one or the other?" And the answer is no. They're all separate um applications. >> Yeah. You just don't want to apply for the same program with separate projects and then you're competing with yourself. But generally the Yeah, you're not each
program kind of looks at separate for the most part. Yeah, it's great overview. Anything else, Alvin, that you think of cover? >> I don't think it's Did you have a
question earlier? >> I was just saying about when you were talking about the um underutilized grant. Um would change of use come underneath this? I mean, if let's say I don't know
if let's say a factory building had a certain commodity was producing and all of a sudden that wasn't used anymore for whatever reason um and they decided to change it into offices or u >> living spaces or something like that.
>> If the building's Yeah. no longer used. It needs needs needs some improve it needs improvements to >> unlock housing would be great. Yeah. >> Um and mass housing also has, you know, I think for a bit they had, you know,
they were converting office space into housing. Um, and I'm not familiar, you know, mass housing isn't in my scope, but you know, that would be something we would refer you to to to look at to see what um they have available for grant funding and um
resources to convert into into housing if it is office space. Yeah. >> Yeah, that's a good example. >> Quick question. Are a lot of these grants are they prioritizing housing? I mean, does that make your application more
>> competitive? Yeah. >> Yeah, >> I would say yes. Ben, what do you think? >> Yeah, I if you know like job creation still important. So that's >> child care. Yeah, job creation, child care, housing, um all the things if you
look at where all the tax incentives are in Massachusetts, that's where the priority is right now. Sorry, what was Thank you very much. That's a great summary and >> Okay, >> we're glad you came here in person to
present this and and just that'll cement it in our minds as a resource. >> Great. >> Yeah, please reach out to us. We we're here to to unlock, you know, projects and and if we can't solve it or have the resource, we're we are very easily
connected to other, you know, agencies and and nonprofits in the region that are doing doing this work as well. >> Okay. Well, thanks Ben and Karen. >> Appreciate it. >> Have a good night. >> You too. >> Bye.
>> Bye. Okay. >> Well, I I'm glad you got a clear picture. I I really didn't. I mean, there's I I couldn't sit here and tell you their full scope of what they do, >> right? They do have website that explains more of it and and to look
at actual examples. I mean the picture that I get in general is they really focus on more urban environments where there are a lot of disuse maybe mills I think Turner's Falls where there's a bundle
>> of buildings along the canal that they're redeveloping into housing and >> and things like that. So it's not maybe quite as applicable to us, but you know this Sam West Road extension evidently
for design purposes is applicable and but there is one thing. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I I think they're a program that they call them uh mass works or whatever it was. >> Yeah. >> Um I think something like that. We're
trying to get business in. If there's a way that we could shoehorn in one of those grants, you know, for >> every year DPW gets a Mass Works grant. >> Yeah, they do. >> So, >> so, you know, if if we want to get a different grant, we just say not this year DPW something like, you know, it's
one of the town uh departments would go for it, but it since it's competitive, you wouldn't want a bunch going for it. But >> yes, absolutely. Back in the day, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission did a lot of this. >> They still do.
>> My driveway. I have a business in South Lake. I'm Serena Fuller. I don't I haven't met. >> Hi, I'm Nicole Parker, the town administrator. >> I know who you are. I haven't >> College Highway Insurance in the building there. Okay. >> I've had that for 50 years and uh originally when I I I went to PVMC and
they helped me with my sign. They helped me with my parking lot. Um, so it was great >> and it really wasn't that hard to do. >> Yeah, >> they were hands-on. They came out, you know, great we have internet and all that, but they you have to see it, you know. You have to me I'm a visual
person. I don't know. Some so many things are on the internet. I've lived in this town. I know about Pioneer Dairy that's been there forever. And the and the family I know I know the family. I know what the logistics are. They own a lot of surrounding properties. Um, it comes down to money, but I know it's
contaminated. I'm in the insurance business. It's very hard to You can't insure contaminated property. Yes. >> And people that >> have to remove contaminated property, they're few and far between and those expenses are through the roof. >> Right.
>> So, but getting back to what Craig is saying, I know there's a lot of grants, there's a lot of, you know, there's a lot of people and I think it gets confusing. um there might be too much confusion. I'm not a person that likes to go on the internet and surf and do stuff myself.
So if I'm an old farmer and I want to get written or I'm an heir to a farm, I have some plans here tonight. My late sister and brother-in-law wanted to develop 200 acres on property that they owned and politics got in the way. I
have the plans here. >> Is it in South Quebec? Yes. >> 200 acres in South. >> Yes. I have it right here. >> Do you want to join us closer or do you want to >> He came in late because I was at a Christmas party. So, it was five minutes late. >> Please join. So, we're
>> My league guy is leaving on a plane tonight to go visit his parents before you're on the microphone. >> My late sister and brother-in-law owned a lot of property in South and their my [clears throat] It's hard for me to talk
about it's very emotional. My late brother-in-law's mother left them land that was in her family, Generals. So my my brother-in-law who was very entrepreneur, she had a they all his brother MIT graduate. He's the only
tobacco Connecticut shade tobacco farmer left in the northeast. They did a big article in Harper Current. You might know Dwight Arnold. He was on the farm tour. Dwight Arnold and and >> I I've not met him, but I've certainly seen his property. I know.
>> Well, his father his father was my brother-in-law's I mean my brother-in-law and him were brothers. Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, Chick Arnold. Um there's Gibb Arnold. There was Rob Arnold, Bob Arnold, and there's Bob Arnold died
young. And then there was Arnold. But they were like they came over on the Mayflower. They were written up in Yankee magazine. Tobacco was this is a tobacco Connecticut tobacco valley. Well, when Kelvin's mother died in 2005 and I have the appraisal of all the Arnold property because I'm the
executive of my sister and brother-in-law's estate with their children. I'm still the trustee. They employed Rob Lec a lot. They built a a north on Northwest Street. They had a tobacco farm there. Um they put eight
barns up in one year. my nephew and my and my brother-in-law. Um, but politics got in the way there. This development that they wanted to put was on Kelvin's mother's land and they and I have it here. You can look at it. The 196 acres
on South L Street and because and the first person I showed this to is the late developer Ralph Depal. And he was not interested. He said, "I'm not building houses anymore. And the last and then a retired judge in
Westfield wanted to put a solar farm on this property and ended up I I basically had to basically give the because there's so much politics involved. I sold one of their parcels to Dennis Clark 11 acres on John Mason Road. That was latigious. I paid a lot of legal
bills to the town attorney, same attorney as Ela and Calvin had. They owned a property on 25 White Street and deliberately and egregiously the attorney did not take out title insurance and it cost them over threequarters of a million dollars. Now
Elaine and Kelvin are not alive today. They died four months apart. So what I want to say is you want to develop the town whether it's depot over by where Bill Malones is. I don't know what's going on there. And the founding fathers can't develop the town.
>> Then who can develop it? >> If you want housing old, >> are they old? >> They're not that old. You can look at them. >> Well, I mean, I don't know that the chair wants to really entertain this. It wasn't on the agenda or anything. I don't know how long it'll take, but um >> well I it doesn't I could put it on
another it's >> but I you know I don't think that this could be addressed tonight and and develop >> well I could go to the board of select board too but they they obviously didn't live long enough to have this done they were in their 40s when they were
>> no let's >> so anyway so this has to do with singer and to me you want to come in during the day and some time to do that. Well, we will >> I'm retired and I have property all over Connecticut and Massachusetts. I've been on this economic development commission
for quite a while. When they went to renew me, they didn't want me on the commission. >> Well, I just I I don't want to speak for their chair. I just don't know if this is the exact >> right. And and I I >> We're talking about development. Okay. I could do this at another time. I can
speak and I was sitting there because I could I could have a public comment. I don't vote in Southwick, but I own a property. I own three houses in Southwick. My sister and brother-in-law still hold my parents' home that I am the trustee of. When they died, the town of
Southwick didn't want me to take my niece and nephew to my house in Westfield because they said, "We can't." I said, "I'll transport them. They don't have licenses. They pay a lot of taxes in this town." Well, they they decided to let me do that.
>> Okay. Well, I would I'm definitely interested in this as I agree with Nicole that we don't have this set on the agend. >> I didn't want to talk in front of 10 or 12 people about this. >> Our biggest opportunity for expanding
the tax base is with housing >> right here. And you know, we we unless we can expand our tax base, our taxes are going to all keep going up. >> So, I'm an economics. I I have a degree in that. >> So, I'm just saying that not ju to let
you know I'm that's why I'm >> Well, there's someone that owns a lot of property in town and it used to be the Arnold and now it's another individual and I still think they have a lot of property, but anyway. >> Okay. Well, let's >> we can pursue this. I I need more
information before we can bring it back to the agenda. >> Well, here you can take this. >> Yeah, I'd be glad to take a look at that. >> I gave Mike McMahon, who was our chairperson, I gave him the Dwight Arnold and I and I told him in confidence the appraisal when Mrs. Arnold passed away, he had to get all of
their properties appraised, all their farmland. And I have that and I gave it to Michael McMahon and he looked at it and he appreciated it because he was the chairperson for a lot of years. Now, tonight I saw Amber. I just ran into Amber and her husband and I said,
"We're now I said I said maybe we'll want you back because we need I know Julie's away, but or maybe she just couldn't make it, but now we went from five to nine. Now we're back to five. Do we vote on that?" >> Well, we Yeah, we did. >> Yeah, I thought so. >> We did.
>> Yeah. and and >> we needed to do it in order to >> I asked Russ Fox to come here tonight but he had another meeting >> because we went through through three meetings where we didn't have a quorum. >> I understand that. >> So we needed to get back to where we had an achievable >> and I told you why I couldn't be here.
>> Yeah. No, I understood but we >> farm day. >> We we just didn't get enough participation. You know, at some point in the future if we get more we have enough to do that I would love to have more. But >> well the thing is what can we do? We need money. Remember the last time we
were talking we need money to do anything. We don't have a big budget. >> So Nicole you sat there and so heard them ask the question what good are we basically? >> Yeah. >> That was the first thing >> Serena and I have been on this >> we've been in town years 45 years.
>> Yeah. You know >> well I've seen the past year and a half and what I've seen is that you are you you you get a focus and you are doing a great job. You did you did shop Southwick, you do the in bloom, you know, you are trying things don't happen
overnight in in a community and I think that you are doing a great job doing your best every month to try to move forward and I don't think you should stop and you're not invaluable. You're very valuable. You all of our commissions are. Even if they're appointed and they're just advisory,
just because you're not elected, it doesn't mean that you don't have uh that your your weight is not very valuable. It is. >> Yeah. The way I like to think of it is we have the power of persuasion. >> That's primary, you know, the elected boards or the
select board can't do it all on their own. You know, you need the support of all the boards in the town. So, >> I think it's very important. >> We can do factual research and then make a presentation right that that can >> this is one of the things and even Enga did this this Mike got these bags
through American Express and I supported small business on that Saturday. and Mike got these bags for us and we did a lot of we did a lot of good. I think we got a lot of publicity. Matter of fact, I have a card in here of the lady that was at the fair that we had at the ranch. A lot of home businesses you
don't know about in Southwick that pay a business certificate. When I first started here, I was a DVA. I got a business certificate. Then I became a corporation. So this is what we need. But the businesses need publicity. >> Yeah. in some, you know, so we were
talking about the fair and I think that's what we need to do. Matter of fact, this is a Dwight Arnold, this is in confidence. I won't leave this with anybody here, but um they owned a lot of property in town. >> Okay. Well, we have an agenda item coming for the
>> the goals and that's what I've been >> saying with every agenda the last several months and I asked Russ to come here tonight. was a classic >> bring in those things that we think we should adopt his goals to achieve and we'll we'll get to that in a minute but
I want to finish up with >> okay >> you know the issues on relative to the Westfield Chamber what what else did did you want to say Nicole >> well I think that's I think I said what I wanted to say but I just want to see Amanda come here kind of um >> I met Amanda
>> get get a feel for what the Westfield Chamber does and how they promote the businesses is in town and as the town of Southwick is a member um that it's very important to utilize all of the tools that we have in our toolbox. So, she couldn't be here tonight, unfortunately.
Um, but again, I I started and I don't know that I am the appropriate person to do it, but to look for I don't know. I guess anybody can do it to the vacant parcels in town that are for sale, you know, commercially owned or, you know, we're not going to go and promote
somebody's house that's being sold on Granado, but you know, something along College Highway places that have the commercial capability, uh, that we could, you know, help get this site readiness or get them through the 43D where it's the
priorities priority development sites or, you know, expedited permitting where you wait for six months for the planning board that you know you it's already ready. it goes through it before it's before it has an actual um buyer. You
know that it's got a site readiness we bring up. >> Well, we're working on the zoning zoning number one. That's what happened to Carvana. >> What they did wasn't against the law. It's the way the things were zoned. >> Yes. >> Yeah. And focus on vacant properties. We
had that as a goal last year and we developed a a place on the site where we we uh connect to uh loopnet into corre and and things that are available. We we're aware of what's out there. We kind
of watch that. Uh we we know the we've talked about the pioneer uh dairy property. We've talked about others that are have been for sale that I don't know where South Flores stands now. They were listed
>> today. No one. They're kicking tires. >> As Bob says, people are kicking >> and Tuckers, you know, all the we Tuckers has got off. >> Realtors will will look on on town planner websites. They absolutely will. Of course, I was at an economic development conference when you went to probably 10 years ago. And I know that
we in the town I was in, we got a buyer for one of our properties by >> us putting that those sites on our town planning the planning and economic development website. >> Yeah. We've not put we've not named the
sites on our site. We've just given the the connection where the sites are afraid of >> people know where they are. a little afraid to put information. >> Put it out there. You say you're interested contact, >> you know, in the community. You want to help the entire community, the
businesses, the residents, the entire community. >> Some of these, >> so there's nothing wrong with >> and some of these properties are hard to like the Anson uh nursery property. I don't >> because they don't have to sell it. They don't have to sell it. >> It's the Filio family. They don't have
to sell it >> on it that that says >> they have enough money. They don't need to sell it. >> Bottom line, I know them cuz I when we did South and Bloom, I had to call the Phillios to ask them if we could put the sign up there. Do you remember the sign we had there?
>> Right. But they did have a for sale sign on >> Well, yes. Everyone likes to put something every the world's for sale. >> I only need more minutes. So, I don't I mean, I don't want to just get up and walk out, but if you uh All right. All right. So, just >> there there was a couple other quick
things while you're here. I know that that the budget time is coming up and and uh you know that's requested and you asked for us to contact you before we establish the budget. Do you have something that that you could say to the group as as a
>> No, I just I want to um have an initial meeting with all the boards, commissions, departments, anybody who has a budget before it goes to the finance committee and the select board so that I may be that conduit instead of every single board and commission. I just want I just want to, you know, meet
with everybody and see if I can't be that um liaison. So >> that'd be nice. Um so you know usually it's the chair or the staff person so probably Alvin that would you know come and see me about it. We've already actually
>> spoken about his planning budget so we haven't done the economic development. You have very small budget so tiny >> um so you know if you haven't worked discussion we haven't yet discussed our next year's budget. We're just getting started into the current year but we
will begin discussions of that. What's the deadline for for >> finan everything is about communication >> and and that was hard because I went with Mike a few times and it was very intimidating to go in front of the finance committee and he had everything
down like he's a very uh accomplished individual but it was very intimidating to sit there and basically say can we have 10 more dollars I mean I'm you know what I mean I mean it's very intimidating to a lot of people and >> I was kind of taken back like why does
it have to be that >> okay? So we will start our discussion >> here tonight since it kind of came up after I set the agenda the the budget. One other thing that I >> I'd like to hear from Nicole. I mean in order for us to do that. Yeah. Me too.
>> What's expected of us from this board? >> Yeah. We never have known this through this town. >> You know I mean >> like Craig and I have been on these SAB everything for 45 years. So what what what would the town like to see economic
>> accomplish I mean that's that's a mountain right we can't I I I don't think that during budget season I can sit here and say this is what I want you to accomplish this year I think that you take your goals you have you have these 10 go shortterm goals um and you either
accomplish them or realize that it's going to go into a next fiscal year and be realistic about what you think you might need for funding There's a line for your request. There's a level funded line and then there's a 5% reduction line. So there is if you want more than you had this year and you
maybe spent more than you had this year or you have other ideas, please put them in that uh in that request line. >> I think the initiatives on our part, we have to take the initiative if we want to. >> Oh, we went big and then we went small because we had the website and all that
to do. Then one other quick thing I want to ask while while you're here is we've got a statement that I wanted to vote on because we were looking at, you know, speaking to grants and we're looking at the complete street Yeah. >> grant. We wanted to make a recommendation on it because it's now up
to a million dollars and it has fewer hurdles than ever before. You don't even have to hit all of the hurdles that they have. >> And well, I'll just read quickly the statement. Okay, you read it. So you're you're >> but you I mean not you know whenever you if you want to go through the agenda. I
have no time to go through the agenda. I just can't say >> no I I won't go through the whole thing but I just want to say is it appropriate for us to make that kind of recommendation to the select board. >> So I don't I don't ever really like to
make a recommendation on what a board should put in front of the select board because I I just if I thought it was a good idea or a bad idea that's not up to me. I'm up I facilitate. I'm not asking you about to endorse the idea, but whether that would be the proper
>> procedure for us to to do this. >> If you feel like you want the select board to adopt the complete streets and go through the process to become a complete street community, then it's entirely in your purview to do so. >> Okay. All right. >> Everybody is always welcome to contact the select. They are always welcome.
>> Right. So we will vote on the statement here tonight and then I will schedule time with the subboard to present our recommendation to them. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Sure. You just have to speak with Margaret who speaks with the chair to make sure it's appropriate. Put on an
agenda and that's how we go. >> I will do that. >> Great. >> Quick question for you. When they had the master plan discussion at the board of selectment meeting, it was kind of over Norm Shaver. Is it Shaver? Shaver. Yeah. because it was on the front page of the paper and I kind of felt the same
way. It's you know the agenda you're looking at all these little micro I mean I can't spend three hours on a on a on a night to talk about all these little points and I shouldn't say they're little these people work I remember when we did the master plan back 50 years ago
it wasn't as complicated as this but it just seems like we should dummy it down a little bit that's what they were kind of saying at the meeting >> what it is it's too it's overdone I mean multiple years. >> Yeah, I know that. >> What we're voting on tonight is which two or three pieces,
>> right? And we talked about that and you have been good with that. >> We're trying to take it in in >> digestible bites, right? >> So, >> I think we're we're good on that process for that. >> These are the property taxes I pay here.
These are the properties I own in South. again. If you want to come and see me, my door's open or about. There's nothing I can do about it. I own the properties and I'm in charge of these two. So, >> all right. Well, Nicole, thanks for coming in. We appreciate your your input
and and you know, if Amanda wants to meet with >> I didn't mean to be so abrasive. I'm just frustrated because like Craig and I have been here for so many years and it's like one meeting after another and we still walk out saying, "What are we supposed to do?" >> Yeah. But I mean, if you look at your
history, you've done a lot. You really have. So, I don't think you do nothing. I think sometimes conversation leads to more conversation, but you've executed plenty of things. I can see. >> Well, you mentioned tonight that nobody showed up any business, >> right? I was thinking because that
happened to me all the time with >> I don't think that was the economic development commission's responsibility to do that. >> Yeah, but we had a chamber in town and they the same thing. I think it's the chamber and that's why I need to get the chamber and the businesses in town. >> But we had to dissolve our chamber that we had here. >> Well, I thought that was unfortunate
that there's no chamber here. But regardless, if we're part of a chamber, then then I have some expectations for that chamber, but we tried that. >> Westfield is a nine town chamber. >> Totally different. I live >> they had their annual appreciation dinner here in town. So, they they are
trying >> um maybe the outreach wasn't there. Maybe the businesses weren't, you know, Tuckers is is part of the chamber. So, um, you know, maybe the outreach again wasn't there. Maybe they didn't have any interest. Maybe they were busy that day. I don't I won't say I don't know.
>> We also were >> I I would like to see them the the town more involved in the chamber. It was very beneficial. >> We also were tied in with Grahamby, Connecticut. Mike had us there and we we we try to coales with them. Right. Right.
>> Okay. All right. Well, we'll let you go and and thanks for coming. >> No problem. Okay. Nice meeting you. Nice to meet everyone. Good night. Have a nice holiday. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh [clears throat] already number seven. So, I'd like to
um >> back up here to our >> Excuse me a minute. Was she supposed to be at two other meetings that she just came tonight and she has to leave at 8:00, >> right? She had a she she was late because she had a a meeting just before
this one. >> A meeting for a meeting. So do I. I just had five meetings today and I'm here, but I'll stay. She can't stay. I'm sorry. >> No, I mean, >> she's getting paid pretty well in this town. >> She was on the agenda for specific
purpose and >> not only tonight, but before she couldn't make it, right? >> I know there's a lot of meetings going on. >> It was last month was when she first was going to come and >> Well, you have to be at every meeting. You got that job and you're in charge of
the town. So, >> I'm sorry. >> Okay. Well, what we're going to do is I want to go through our our vote votes here pretty quickly. Um, >> go away for Craig. >> Yeah, let's let's jump ahead and to the ones that don't require voting. Uh,
Alvin, any relevant planning board items or business news since your last meeting? >> Um, still have Craig Sea House. Still trying to figure >> Yeah, and that's tough >> little situation. >> You're Lithuanian like me. You're tough. But uh I think we're almost there.
But let's continue once again to the January 6 meeting and uh we we'll see where it goes from there. Uh in regards to other uh let's say economic development um sort of items, the next one I have come up is a wilderness uh
center. I forget what it was called, but it was I think it's 526 College. It it was um wilderness across from my office across from the village experience. >> Yes. >> They have the pool there and all that. >> Yeah. So it see sound like it some sort of indoor adventure or training center.
>> Boulder Express. Yeah. >> Um I have a gentleman who was going to come in for January 6th meeting to um he wants to do auto repair. He wants to do auto part sales. He wants to do >> better
>> um storage of automotive uh I I don't truly understand it's almost like a a self storage of automotive >> parts or such. I never heard of anything like that but >> so he's not utilizing the pool or [clears throat]
>> I mean that pool was really a a great asset for the town >> and so many people brought their children there and they got lessons because he also owned a camp and he kayak. Did you know him Scott and his wife? >> I was into this store a few times >> and prior to that it was um Putinham
Farms. They used to sell grain and everything there. >> So this particular gentleman was coming in. He's only taken the far rear. >> So he's not buying yet? >> No, he's he's leasing. So I guess there's been a new buyer of the property. >> Yes.
I'm not sure what the transaction date is, but um he he is just leasing from this new buyer to take over the very um rear end >> section of the building >> cuz they have a climate wall there, too. >> It's almost like a warehouse looking building.
>> I got to walk the site myself just to kind of get a get on better understanding. >> All right. Well, yeah, >> let us know after you do that. >> That would be nice to fill that up because it's right in the center. >> Yeah, definitely. >> Okay. Anything else? >> Well, that's all I have for
>> What about Depot Street condominiums? >> I have not heard anything now. >> Still no movement on the >> That's a big question mark. >> That's That's >> And Bill Malone's been out of there for years. Looks like they're going to tear the this house down, but it's still sitting there. So, I heard it's been
sold two or three different times >> and Bill got a small amount of money. I'm school bill, >> but it's all approved and it's go as soon as they >> know about this. >> You know, they put they paid a lot of money for it. So, there's incentive on
their part to get their investment back. >> They keep investors keep going. >> Yeah. >> Um >> and they have they have approved our initiative for >> Yeah. >> putting the bike lane through there. So,
>> yeah, >> my friend's gonna be at the town hall talking about it. you. How would it affect? >> Well, you can ask him. I told him and he's very upset. He says everyone on that street is going to have the same problem >> because of what?
>> Because he doesn't want any more traffic. He's he's he sits on the bike trail now anyway. He doesn't want another person going through the back. Like he go there's a lot Well, he says even not a lot of people use that bike trail anymore. He said there used to be a lot more, but now it's less. You know,
like anything, the novelty wears off. So, what you end up getting, and I grew up, you end up getting snowmobiles that going through there >> and people that the environmental police have to chase. Um, >> I mean, it's a nice thing, but again, I
don't know really how much traffic goes through any of that now. Well, they they're I know you want to draw them in a traffic study and they were >> Well, I did traffic studies at my office >> back in the spring that that on summer weekends it could be as much as
1,200,500 a day. >> Not that many. Not that many. >> Well, they >> No, I go to Mike I go to Mike's house. There's not that many people. And he lives he lives right next to Well, you know where he lives and he and the Feeding Hills Road is right there and Mark Krenniki and everything, friends of
ours, chief of police. He's not many people go down there anymore and he's there every single day. >> Well, we'll we'll see what the new traffic studies because they, >> you know, Christy Banish said they're doing new traffic study and and I
requested that when they get it done. >> And another thing that I I looked at, I reached out to the folks in the city of Springfield just to get a understanding of how they utilize their Facebook for economic development. So they do have it under some sort of uh government like
tag which um I guess you can't delete any comments so anybody can >> right >> you know free you know it's it's free speech >> right >> so um but it it sounds like it's pretty simple to do um and it's just a matter of just
putting postings on you know every so regularly >> is it necessary to accept comments is that an important part of I mean, >> it's Facebook. Yeah, you have to have comments. >> Then then does it have to be monitored if there's comments? >> I think >> Well, yes.
>> I mean, if it's like vulgar and and I think they fa you can have Facebook step in. >> Um, but if it's just because or let's say, you know, someone comes in, I don't like Nicole Parker because whatever, whatever. Right. >> We can't censor that. But if they say
something derogatory, >> Exactly. And that's why I have a social media company that does my agencies, Facebook, Instagram, and all that. And it's very inexpensive, and I don't have to spend the time doing it, >> right? And I'm interested in >> Yeah. Little Dog Social Media. And I've got And I was going to bring that. I
didn't get the stuff in my office. I was going to bring that and that sign that's in the foyer of my office. I was going to bring, but I'm sorry I ran out of time, but I'm trying to dig out every EDC thing that we have. [laughter] Remember we talked about that? Going through the archives. >> Yeah. No, that's that's good. Okay,
let's go back up. Let's I want to get through our quick initially and then then we can wrap up as we need to later. So, the first thing is to vote on to approve the minutes from our November meeting. I sent that out within a few days of the meeting and
>> I saw >> Okay. Well, make a motion to approve the November second. >> I'll make the motion. Second. Yeah, I make the motion second approve. Okay. All in favor say I. I. I. >> Okay. Unanimous. These minutes are approved. Uh now in a
vote on I sent this statement out to everyone. We had some discussion of the complete streets and everybody seemed favorable toward that. >> Uh [clears throat] I don't know if you had a chance to read >> the website to read the kind of policies
that people have. You can have a policy that has all kinds of qualifications. The vast majority of I don't have the exact statistics but according to the website is almost every town other than just a handful including South have not
taken advantage of the complete street street policy >> and it's it's not uh something that's oppressive. You can have all kinds of qualifications. It doesn't >> right >> require you to do something with every project that you do. uh gets basically
the idea the >> well it's the follow through. That's the problem with everything that gets dropped. You have to follow through with it. >> Yeah. But the the the point is that there's a million dollars out there for right >> the incentive and it was a half million
dollars and >> towns like Ranville Chester and they jump little towns jumped on it and took advantage of it. I think we should because we have projects >> like Chester's got that stuck um Bernie's car there. You hear about that?
>> That Bernie's car in Pickabe. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. That's going to be nice for them, >> right? That's not a town project. No, I know. I know. But I'm saying the museum. >> But no, those those small towns you my girlfriend is a grant writer lives in Huntington. >> Okay. She's retired now, but I went to school with Wendy Van Boris long and
that's what she did. She grant wrote for Huntington. But my thought was how do we get something moving forward? And I think the way we would move forward on a on getting a complete street grants is
we have to have an ad hoc committee with representatives from multiple other divisions because you have to get that cooperation. So I picture an ad hoc committee with someone from DPW, from planning board,
from select board, uh, from park and wreck. These are the big and from EDC. >> It's like another master plan group type of thing in a way, >> but a very focused, >> right? Right. I understand mission, >> you know, it's it's like the internet ad
hoc committee. a temporary committee to focus on a project >> and I'd like to make a recommendation to the select board to set up that committee to
number one determine what requirements there are for the complete street grants. Is it something that that Southwick should be comfortable getting into? And I think absolutely so.
>> Uh but we'll we'll get a group to study it and then to recommend what kind of project to use it for. And I've got an initial suggestion which is to to do the the bike path connector which will
greatly increase the value of the the bike path traffic. And in doing the connector, I also see it uh connecting to a safe pedestrian bike crossing of college highway >> by your church
>> by your church, right? >> It could be, you know, adjusted up or down wherever, ideally near the high point. >> And that's your church, isn't it? Christ. We're we're close to that, but I I see it being even closer to the summer
house >> than than >> that's very steep there. >> Well, it's the it's at the high point and therefore visible from both sides. And the important thing is the visibility. And if you have flashers, it would be a
>> Yeah, but what about people having accidents on it? It's very steep. for a crosswalk. What do you mean? >> Well, I don't I I'm I'm probably speaking out the topography. It's kind of >> Well, that's that makes
>> I mean, if you got older people or people with wheelchairs, they're not going to be going across that thing. >> It's, you know, people go across it now and it's very dangerous. So, it's not there to encourage, >> you know,
>> no like people that are uncomfortable doing it. It's there to make it safe. >> In Westfield where I live near the college, they just did all the sidewalks over and we have all those nice signs. We have the yellow, you know, that actually that actually gets what do you call it? It gets black eyes on it when I
walk in the morning. The slippery the yellow with the dots, but it looks beautiful and it has those, you know, the flashing, you know, um pedestrians are here and that's, >> you know, that took a long time. But Gome's construction did a phenomenal job. >> They're concrete. They're nice. Western
Avenue and stuff. >> Yeah. And that's where I've lived for the last 45 years off of that. I'm on Chaka Terrace. But >> yeah, I I What does it connect to on the other side then? >> Where does it go on the other side? I I'm not proposing the exact point, but
to find a the ideal crossing point >> there that would allow people to to get across because if you're at the summer house and you want to cross just highway. >> Oh, you can't. >> The alternative to it is to walk all the
way to the light >> crosswalk all the way back up the half mile. >> Excuse me. >> And if you go both ways, you go a mile. >> Great. My my friend Mike has owned that house since 1990. You know who Mike is? >> So Mike said, "I don't know what the deal is. They can get there from Feeding
Hills Road. They can go to Powdermill School. They can access it. They just don't know about it. If they drive through town, yeah, you're not going to know if you're from Connecticut or somewhere. But the people around here know how to get on that bike path."
>> The Not even just a bike path, but you're just saying just right. Well, in my office years ago, there was a post office there. I had a Pittney Bose meter and I would take it would take 15 minutes sometimes to get across the street. So, I'd rather drive over there.
I couldn't get my parking lot goes right into the old post office. It was ridiculous. I mean, the traffic is unbelievable. >> And my my point now is not to argue >> which one because >> I'm not arguing is the subcommittee would make a decision now. Maybe they'll decide
there's a better project than than that. >> Uh that will be the point of discussion, but nothing's going to happen at all if if there's not a group working on it. And right now, nobody is focused on it.
>> You have to have people working and if they don't get paid, they usually don't do it. >> So the statement don't do it. >> If everybody read the statement, it's it's a wide openen statement. the the statement is about creating the ad hoc committee with representatives from each area. We'll recommend that to the select
board because we think there's great economic development potential in this million dollar complete street grant. >> Right. >> So I got to head up. >> Yeah. I would like to make a motion to
endorse this and is there a second? >> Second. Okay. Uh, all in favor? We should have discussion now. >> Yeah, we should have a discussion. >> Okay. Right. We were having our discussion. Well, okay. Go ahead. I'm trying to be proper.
>> I just came from where they do the rules of rural and all that. Very decisive. But >> so is this will this um grant cover the cost of this rail to the >> big thing too? It
>> more than cover it would. Okay. guarantee. >> I've been working with David Deloy, chair park and wreck about it and he's done some initial uh estimates and whatever his estimate
kind of on the high side would be 500,000. So a million allows what's the distance quarter mile >> and uh no major bridges or no bridges or
anything >> wetlands >> no no wetlands uh the one thing it has to cross is the pipeline already we've already brought out >> the Tennessee pipeline is right there >> pipline line brought our representative.
They we walked up to the point where we looked at it all the >> all the discussion they said very definitely doable >> because they fly a helicopter over there all the time. >> Um the the property that I've proposed
it belongs to my church. I've taken it before the church council. Everybody is 100% in favor given right away to that. The other crossing is a little corner of the 22 depot condo property and we
contacted the developer. They said we're we're definitely would be cooperative with anything you want to do there. It's a great advantage to them because it gives them a walking route to town center for it's a selling point for the founder properties once
they build it. Okay. >> So, in any case, those are all issues to be dealt with. We're not proposing >> a finished proposal. We're just proposing a >> Well, you don't want to get into litigation like 25 white street.
>> This is a proposal to study it, not to, you know, do it. So the >> when it a positive vote is to say yeah we should propose doing a committee to study this. >> So who's so you're saying you're going
to reach out to the other boards the board of selectment and everything >> first I would take this statement present it to the select board because they would be the one to constitute that ad hoc committee. So I'm just making a recommendation to
the select board to constitute an ad hoc committee to study a potential use for a million dollar complete street granting. That's all we're saying here. It's not even defining what that proposal would be other than we should have a committee
that studies it. And it's relevant to economic development because the main benefit would be economic development for the town and quality life. >> Yeah. But what happens like what happened to my sister and brother-in-law if the neighbors don't like it? This is
what happened to them. There was a l there was a judge there every every month from Boston land court looking at this property. >> Yeah. Well, we'll deal with all those things. I don't want to get into >> Yeah, but look at this. And I had to live this and I'm still living it. >> Yeah.
>> This is what can happen is what I'm saying. >> It has to be >> mass land court >> has to be run properly. >> It would have to be on >> and the last one is 2020. Not that old. >> It was an infrastructure project. It had to be town owned land or or easement
too, >> right? We won't provide. This cost my late sister and brother-in-law at least threequarters of a million dollars and it was the town's attorney who didn't take out title insurance >> deliberately. >> Okay. Any other discussion of
I wish we had more teeth in it when we just talk about studying. I mean if I know something that needs to be done then why don't >> we just recommend that it it be done that they follow through? Because if you don't lay out a process, it'll just get pushed aside. If we at
least if we lay out something, we've got to make it easy for them to say yes. [clears throat] >> I already know three people who are against it. >> We could do a study. >> Well, let's >> that live on that street. >> Just one one idea. Okay, let's let's not jump
ahead. >> Well, I'm just telling you because I >> there may be other there may be other ideas to use this complete street Do we have anybody look at this? Do we have anybody in town that's like all right who's the authority to say yes on complete streets and I don't think we have that right
>> not select the authority to say yes >> but I don't think the select board on their own authority is going to research all these projects and then they finally need an ad committee to research >> make proposals for why we should do this and then have them use their authority
to say yes >> and to do the answer their questions and you know present our findings. It's It's a >> So, is that Rob Le going to have to go in and Kelvin and Ela spent so much money with Rob Le? >> There's also a >> Well, he seems to have the monopoly
around here >> program. They offer $38,000 grant for >> uh you know, study of the the project once once you decide you're serious about a project.
>> But 38,000 that's a lot of money. Is this an automatic thing then that once the select board says yes, we're going to undertake this that >> well then you have to go to apply for the grant. But the grant has almost every town in the state has already
gotten this grant. I mean this grant is >> both a 38 and a million. >> Well up now that's what I was going to ask. >> Up to >> up to this fall it's been at 100,000. They just upped it to >> see. Yeah. So yeah, they got the half million. Okay.
>> And the the 38,000 U development. >> But you know how much things cost nowadays? A million dollars is a drop in the bucket. >> We got a th somewhere here. Shane, this is a >> um this is a way to try to get a foot in
the door of making it happen. And it's not going to happen unless somebody is is doing a study. And >> that's the thing. Who's going to do it? this ad hoc committee. >> Well, we had a lot of committees, a lot of boards I've sat on and they fall
through the wayside. >> If someone's strong enough to do it and stays on top of it because in life, unless people get paid, they put everything else that's volunteer at a secondary thing in their life because they have their life to run and they're
all in there. I have a business. I have I have a lot of things to run, >> right? And I and I would I'd be willing to do this, but I know from past experience with dealing with the >> and we're not ask anybody in here to to
be on the committee. That's not >> right. I understand. I understand that. >> So, we're just voting to endorse. >> Okay. I'll vote for that >> to get some grant money. >> Okay. >> Any other questions? >> No. >> Okay. U I'd like to move that we vote to
endorse this. Do we have a second? Second. >> Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Okay, that's passed. Um, now we owe to the master plan implementation
committee. They want us to identify two or three. I say three or four because >> I want to, you know, we don't necessarily have to complete these actions, >> but we've got a star. We got a star
>> on them. It's a prioritization and you rightly point out that >> the master plan is very complex and you know has a whole lot of detail but it also has a >> oh I understand >> out there due date 2040. >> I'm a good student. >> We want to do a little bit at a time and
we want to pick uh three or four. One of them we've already completed which is is our business directory and Stephen and I have have identified the ones we've chosen. I put it out there asked over and over again. So I'm
hoping that everybody has >> we were talking about that last time >> has in mind which ones. I just want to get the the the vote on. Um what uh Stephen and I have
voted on. Pull back see master plan. You know, I think everybody could agree that the database of business owners is a key because that's one we've already >> Yeah. pretty much completed and we
really only need to fully complete two or partially complete three or four. So, having fully completed one is is great. And uh and Diane, so
>> where's Eningga? How about Caroline? She sent me a selfie you and her the other night at your I have suggested >> that social media was was one of the
things that that we would need to do. We've already we've got our website. >> Yeah, >> pretty much >> that was huge. >> Fully developed. >> But social media is part of that action. And I like your idea of having an outside
>> consultant because you've got to monitor it if you've got it. >> My goal is to make our initiatives more visible to promote >> pictureally our shop Southwick. >> Yeah. >> Uh through Facebook.
um and to make more people aware of that and and if we start doing promotional events for businesses that would be a [clears throat] way to publicize those promotional events. >> So can we talk about this whole business
incubator or whole annual business forum? I don't know. You know, it looks like we're swinging at a nap with these two things here. Um I really don't understand much of a difference there have to differentiate I didn't either. I
saw them as very similar things. Um >> well I I have done here is just the brief summary. >> Yeah >> we also have and we've passed this out multiple times and it's online the more detailed statement. You got to read that more
detailed statement. They are differentiated there. >> Yeah. and I have to go I think for this >> the one we just pick one of those and if we have to have three one we pick one but let's just discuss what the difference is and then pick one of those
>> Stephen you pick one of those >> and I think the basic kind of message behind that is getting getting people in the same room of people that people with property and people that want to start businesses or even like Nicole mentioned today um people that have properties
that want to develop that might have limitations to where development might be difficult and connecting them to people that we spoke to today that might have incentive programs or something to get over that hurdle >> to where development can occur.
>> What I might suggest then is we look at the one that would be all-encompassing which looks like the small business forum >> because we can still within the context of that. >> That makes sense. >> All right. got two >> database research.
>> Well, if if we bring in social media and website, that would be three. >> And that could be enough because again, >> when will we adopt these three, >> right? I'll do a second >> and we will state that our goal is to fully complete the or have the
equivalent of fully completing two would be our goal, but we're trying to exceed our our goal. So, we want to Our first one we'll have fully complete. Our second one I'm hoping we can complete. But if we
far on that with the the social media if we can get an outside service for the social media. >> Yeah, I've got it. >> Yeah, I've got it. >> The budget. Um >> it's very reasonable. 119 a month. I only pay half of that because my company pays the other half.
>> Okay. >> My insurance company. >> Yeah. We'll we'll we'll take a look. >> And they're fabulous. >> And uh and then we're not committing to do this public forum
>> within this fiscal year, but at least getting it set up will >> have defining it >> because I don't want to do a public forum unless we have something of real value to provide to people that we bring in. We can get back. We We've done this
before. It's not >> It's not hard, but it it's going to take a little time. So, >> y >> Okay. Well, which one is that public forum you said was what is the number? >> 1.7.
>> Excuse me. Uh there's 1.7 and 1.6. You're just speaking about 1.6. >> Okay. The small business one, the lower one. >> Okay. >> Okay. So >> yeah, >> any more discussion on >> no >> master plan actions? Okay, >> that's been enough.
>> I'd like to make a motion that >> each done. >> I made a motion each second. >> Okay. >> Yeah, let's move on. >> And and these are the >> I supposed to be on a Zoom call. >> The the three that we identified everybody is aware of. Uh let's [snorts] all in favor say I.
>> I. Okay. Unanimously. adopt. We've adopted our three master plan action and then we've got >> Do you feel better? >> We're making progress. Yes. I've been wanting to >> I know I know you've been you've been taunting us. >> We've been trying to get there.
>> I've been trying since August to get that that >> I know. Well, we got it now. It's your Christmas gift >> then. Now, I'd like to that that produces three of three of the short-term goals.
I'd like to have >> seven more short-term goals. >> I know you wanted 10 >> and this is where >> you know you as vice chair >> exactly >> as I've been trying to say the last three months. This is the time if you have an idea you think we should
>> I have plenty of ideas. I've had them for 50 >> 58 years. Um and that these are are ideas. These are short-term goals where we want to describe it in a way where we can actually complete what we describe
>> by the end of June. >> Right. >> Because we're already halfway through the fiscal year. >> Um >> as I said, our first master plan sat on a shelf. We paid $60,000 for it. It never got used. >> Yeah. >> And that was a lot of money back. You know how many years ago that was? But I
know it it's it seems way >> No, I understand >> studying this all out, but it that's that's the kind of business insurance, >> you know, I'm an insurance you know how picky insurance is. >> Yeah. Underwriting >> to actually um get something moving. So,
I have made a number of discuss proposals here for what some of our other uh you know, I've had things like I want the EDC to make a recommendation on zoning revision. >> Oh, yeah. >> And I'm fine with heading that up.
>> That's what happened at Carvana. >> And I think we can easily accomplish that by the end. I've got lots of ideas on how to to do that. that that with planning board and DVCP, we've got a project going on zoning vision. I want
to have input that project. >> That's one that I I strongly believe >> we've got an ace in the hole over here. >> Yeah, we do. >> Yeah. I want to to do the, you know, propose, you know, to provide support
for rail trail connector project. It's not going to be completed by the end of the year, but our support can be completed. And that's one thing that I I want to do. I want to do an updated property tax analysis. I I want to get the new uh data as soon as it's it's
fully complete and probably after the first of the year. And then I want to also get expense side information associated with those properties. uh so that we can have both revenue and expense
and that is important in setting priorities for development. Um curious. >> We've got to understand what the revenue and expenses are for the town and the trend lines and and what things will provide the best
expansion of our tax base because expansion of the tax base is the only way you can keep uh the tax per existing unit from going way way up. >> So, and save favors.
So, I'm going through right now the the things, you know, the the social media presence we've already put into the uh our master plan actions. Uh meetings with business owners, that's in a master
plan action. Uh we talked about last year we had a project to identify criteria for new business and the reason that didn't go through is it was perceived as being uh risky to
identify limiting factors, things we didn't want. Well, what I'm proposing this time instead of talk talking about things we don't want in a business, talk about things we do want in a business. Make it positive, which I I don't think would carry any of those kind of risks.
So that's one project I'd like to to see just identifying. >> We have to be openminded. You have to be openminded. Oh, absolutely. >> We can't we can't just go down a certain rabbit hole and say, "No, we don't want this or that." I mean, we have to we can't be picky. >> Well, well, >> we have we have to be selective. >> I would like to be selective.
>> No, we have to be selective. >> Yeah. Okay. >> You're not going to put weeds in your >> It's a wish list of qualities, you know, so we can be on the lookout for things. We know the kind of things we we would like to get uh Southic and Bloom like to
do that in a bigger and better way. >> Boy, takes a lot of people. >> Yeah. And I know we can Diane and myself and Julie. We >> Yeah, we and we took it took a lot of and it took Diane Samson more than it
did the three the two of us. >> And now that it's been done the first time, I hope some of those things will be a little easier second time. But but then we want to expand. So then that becomes where we kind of have a manpower, girl power issue or whatever.
>> Yeah. >> Because because it's a lot putting up the signs, doing the judging. I mean, Craig, you can attest to that. >> No, it's not. Let's limit the expansion to what we're capable of. But I would like to >> But if you want to make it successful, it's got to be expanded because it was
very we had very few people that um applied because they were confused. First of all, that whole thing with the website got messed up. >> Well, that No, I know. So, anyway, it was we we worked out we went through a lot of the trenches, >> but now we we've talked about we wanted you
>> and even the publicity side will be easier the second time. >> Oh, definitely. >> Because people will, >> you know, the first adopters are always hard to get and you get a little momentum if you >> and it was very similar to what I do with grandmother's garden. We've had garden tours. It was very similar. As a
matter of fact, I try I'm trying to I'm still working with Grandmother's Garden and I told Moren Kane who's you know and so I said we're going to and I they have some brochures. I showed you a brochure at the farm day that they did for grandmother's garden. We could put it on the rail trail and just you know collaborate between the two communities
Westfield Southwick they connect. Um it's that kind of a thing. >> In terms of Southick and Blue, what I'd like to do is get photos of last year, >> right? And I have all the signs still in my SUV. so that people can go on the website. Here's what people did last year and I'm
hoping we have and social media. Social media will be a way to promote it. >> But we tried to find a place to put the signs here in the town hall. We couldn't find a place. I'm like, well, I don't think I Well, anyway. >> Okay. So, >> yikes. >> Here's how I'd like to >> Okay, go ahead.
>> to, you know, I've got It seems like everybody's supportive of the ones I already have here. What do you want to add? What do you want to add? That's here. >> I don't want to add anything. I think we have more than enough. Craig's agreeing. >> This is your chance. You're saying
>> No, I saying here's what we used to do. Here's what we think we should do. >> I think we should have those business fairs for the town, you know, for the for the businesses. That brought us revenue and it brought a lot of exposure. As a
matter of fact, here's a lady. I kept her card. I keep everything. this this lady is she works out of her home, an independent consultant, Pure Pure Haven. I never heard of her. All these people showed up at the ranch. And I said, I never knew who you were, but she pays what $35, whatever business certificate
is. Yeah. >> And so I think it's great because a lot of families came. Um there was people that had clothing, people that had candles, people that had soap. >> Um >> All right. Well, we've got a revolving account. >> We need money for our for our gift
account. >> We've got a revolving account. So, we can >> right >> do that >> and we're going to put money in doing that. >> That's going to take some planning and some work. So, I would say that's a good goal for the next fiscal year. Let's
talk about it. Let's prepare. >> Well, that's Mike McMahon was good at doing that. That's the the next thing that you know they're looking for a budget already for the next next year. >> It's it's yesterday. We need it.
>> But we'll we'll talk about the budget in a minute. >> Let's Anybody else have anything to add to this? If not, let's vote to >> I think we have our hands full. >> Yeah, we do. >> Okay. Let's keep it simple. will so
>> make a motion that this list combined with our master plan action list will become our short-term goals for this year. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. I. >> I. Okay. So that's that's done. Then
in terms of of teams are we don't have Julie here but we can and maybe we don't have to get into it. We need a team. I don't know. >> Teams, you know, we had teams of up to three before. Now with five members, we can't have a team. >> That's better, right?
>> We our team has to be only two. >> Yeah. >> In order to meet separately with >> and we did that very nicely. >> So, think about where you want to to specialize. And let's not get into it tonight since it's already 7:30.
>> Yeah. I'm supposed to be on a family Zoom call. think think of where you could most contribute and we'll we'll settle that next time and and get our our >> We had these too when we went to we had
the name tags. Michael did these. He did the the dining list. He did the um golf course list. I have them in my office and I hand them out to people >> and and >> he did this in his out of his own budget. >> Yeah. and and we can do something like
that. Think about it, right? >> And they knew that I was misalic economic think I saved it. >> Think through >> how you would set that up and we'll start talking about it in the second half of this year and maybe it could
become a goal then for >> for the the next next fiscal year when fiscal year 27. >> Um all right. So that covers our our agenda. Any other items now?
Diane, do you have any comments? >> Public comments. >> Public comment. >> Um, >> you wear two hats though. >> I just want to say I like your fire. >> It's better with less people because we weren't getting much done because people, not any fault of them, they
just, you know, you lose people and then you start, you know, as it didn't happen. It didn't help to have three meetings in a row without a coral, >> right? And I couldn't be here because my cousin passed away and I >> talked about the budget. So, I mean, is there something we >> The budget is the biggest thing we need
to get accomplished next >> and and I didn't have this on the agenda because this came up after I did the agenda. Uh, these budgets we need to have ready >> before the end of January. Evidently I
there were no deadlines on any of the the budget stuff that we got in email. >> The finance committee meets. Yeah. Yeah. Because the finance committee will meet. When do they meet for that for the budget? I sat there with Mike McQuina. >> I forgot when are daunting was I was
telling them it's pretty daunting when we were sitting there going, "Oh boy, are we going to get our money?" I would caution us because I mean we've already dipped into the gift time ago >> through these business forums and we need >> Yes, we made them through the business to get back on
>> but everybody hated Mike but >> these dinners or whatever we're going to have so we can build that back up again instead of just cleaning it out. >> Exactly. >> Yeah. I mean there a couple ways there there are two or three ways we could bring in money. One
idea was this destination map which people would advertise would pay into that. That was meant to be self-funding. >> But that's not on our goal right now. >> No, it isn't because I didn't think we we could complete that by the end of this. >> I any of these the fact that it's not on
the goals doesn't mean that we can't talk about it. It means that we're just not going to try to complete that goal by the end of We can start initiating early some of the goals for the next fiscal year. >> Well, these get togethers cost money,
>> right? They do. They cost money. That's right. >> Right. Well, we have >> We have >> We don't have Tuckers anymore. >> Yeah. The >> We've had them here. We've had them at the
Green. So what did why did we what was our level funding budget last year? >> One time we went for 5,000. I know Mike and I or Michael. >> But last year we got >> No, we know >> 2,000 I think >> 2500
>> the reduction, 1900. Then we had 3,700 in round numbers from the gift account that was we used. We used >> No. Right. What what's the what's the bottom line? What do we have left in the in the get a bill paid? We haven't used anything in our our fiscal.
>> We haven't. I didn't think we did. No. >> So, well, there was a little bit >> Southwoods. Remember for Southwest? >> No one's paying the bill. I know Serena will get a couple hundred dollars and we got that covered, but for the most part,
we have like $1,700 in the regular. Yeah. >> And then another 1,700 in the gift account. We used about half of this gift account to to do our project. >> Took us a long time to get that money, >> right? But we we wanted to put it to
work. >> No, I understand. >> And we we got a lot of benefit. We got our permanent size. >> We're being prudent. You're you're prudent with the money. Don't additional ones. >> So, our burn rate is going to be about
3,000. I mean, we ought to be going for >> Yeah, I would say >> some extra stuff, >> but we're not going to get five. Okay. >> Shoot high and you're get what you get. >> Well, if if we >> I shoot for five. >> If we go for a higher budget, you've got to define what we're going to use that for. We're not they're not going to be
interested in saying, >> "Well, trade fair. >> We'll move it up without having a very specific proposal for how to collect from Nicole. What's >> right, we expect we asked >> the same and so forth just like
Westfield Chamber of Commerce does. Then it's going to cost a little bit to do. I think they're looking to us know what we should do. >> You're the economic um >> so what do you think? >> I know you threw out you know outside entity. >> Yes.
>> To assist with the um social media. You said it was like$119 >> 119 a month. It's not expensive. >> So that would be in the budget. We'd ask that to the to the either yay or nay. So >> and it might even be less than that because they do it for me every day. I
don't think we need it every day. No. >> So, it would be even less than that. >> Weekly update is something. >> So, it would be it would be it would be Think of that. It would be half of that. Maybe a third of that. >> Yeah. >> Okay. That's >> And that's what's nice about them. You tell them what you want and they they send you the end of the month. They send
these are your posts for next month. Do you like them? You don't like them? I'll say get rid of number seven. You know, are you closed for the holiday? That's the kind of thing they do. So, they do any updates that you want and that's all included in that fee. So, in terms of what I think they would expect of us is
if we're going to ask for an extra thousand, extra 2,000, an extra whatever, 3,000, we've got to have a very specific proposal for how we're going to use it and how to benefit the town. >> Have you done it before? Have you gone in front of the finance committee to ask
for money to for the budget? >> Not to raise it. I've gone in front of them to >> And did you do you had to >> do a lot of funding? Yeah. Okay. All right. All right. >> But it was level funding. So I think if we go above level and
>> right now I don't have a >> um Serena you and Craig have an idea of how these other things were done. If you can >> Yeah. >> Jot down in very rough terms what what you think you would propose to use if we
had an extra thousand extra 2,000 what you would propose to use it for. Well, I'm just thinking in terms of the small business, you know, >> get together or business get together. >> Um, if we had somebody like Tuckers, I mean, we just wouldn't price the, you
know, the place for the night or yours supplies and it didn't cost anybody. And we used to get big turnouts because people like >> We got huge turnouts. >> Yeah. >> So, and how often would you do that sort of event? Well, I mean, I'm I don't
know. You did it a couple times. >> Well, a couple times a year. >> Okay. >> And it took a lot of planning because first of all, we had to get the $25 for everyone that was going to participate. We had to get the table set up. We had to find the venue. Um, we had, remember, Craig, we had the liquor and then one
time at Tucker, we had too many people. We had to refute, we had to turn people away. >> You did them here, didn't you? >> Yeah, we did them here, too. >> We did them at We did them at the school with Dick Dick. Um, we did them up at the high school. We did it at the American Legion. Um we had a I brought
that the last time in 1994. We had a um like a carnival over there at the Legion. It was great. A lot of work. We had to take insurance out. I insured a one day coverage for that. So the town, you know, so the people that came and so yeah, it's a lot of work. So you can't
do more than two a year, I don't think. >> So I say even one year. >> Even one. Make it big. Go big or go home. do one. Would would one of you like to put together a proposal for our next meeting to this? >> I'll do it. >> Okay.
>> Can you craft one of your events around the country's 250? >> Yeah, that's what I was thinking too because a lot of people are doing that >> rounded up and you know pre-sentennial. >> We could do something at the congregational church or something um or something like that. They have a hall
there. I know they probably that's great exposure when we've had things at the remember we've had things or at least the Rotary did. I'm also a lion. We've had things in that parking lot. So it doesn't have to necessarily be bringing a table but bringing people together
whether it's a cookout whether it's a um whatever a movie night. I mean not we used to do stuff like that but just bringing people together in a central location. You don't even have to do that much advertising. You can put it on the town crier. You can put it congregational
church will put it on the um on that their sign. So >> just doing your own small business Saturday for South not not the annual small business Saturday and it around
>> the the celebration of the country and >> the small small business Saturday. I I supported this and I went I went and bought a lot of things from small merchants. We got these bags from American Express. I don't know if they still do it, >> but I thought I' I've seen them. So, and
they give you support. They send it. So, it's a good thing to put up in town, which we used to distribute. >> All right. Well, >> I'd like a proposal from both of you by the next meeting >> on how as possible. Yeah. You and Craig. >> I'm going to almost be gone the whole
time. >> All right. I'll be around. >> Yeah. Well, put together >> if I get rid of my pneumonia acute pneumonia that I have two months worth. >> Well, if you can put together jot down, I'm not >> I will bring all the files I have >> and hours, but but
>> well, I like what I just said like at the congregational church around you want to do it in the spring or summer. I agree with Diane around because it's 250. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. That's a great thing. I even called the I even called the publisher of the Springfield newspaper the other
day >> things up >> and I asked him because I worked for the new house newspapers for many years and I asked him >> are you doing something special for and of course they work on these things two two years ahead of time and I said will you reach out to me because I'm an
economic development and I never met the guy before but he's worked for New House newspapers for 46 years he said he would I went right to the top you know and I said I'm going to talk to the ad director who's Mark French. So he said he would and he asked me my I said I
have an insurance agency and all that. So I'm so ready to do that and it's of course promoting South promoting business. Okay. >> Promoting the 250th anniversary. >> Yeah. >> You know, maybe we can have a parade. I don't know. Everyone's going to be doing something. Not Fourth of July though.
Not Fourth of July weekend. That would not be good because everyone's going to be going somewhere. >> It's through the whole year. No one. >> So I told the guy um his name is George or Wani or something. I said we have the I said do you know where Southwick is? I mean he's lived in Michigan. He's been
in Springfield 15 years. He's been the publisher. Um he said yeah. He go I said well we had ice houses there. We have a lake where the indentation into Connecticut. And he's kind of going along with it but he takes a million calls a day. So but he was willing to talk to me for quite a while. And they
have an art department there. I had I had support of all of that at the newspaper. You put in one ad and you can get all that stuff free. You pay for the ad. But I did reach out to her just to let you know. >> I've been doing my homework. >> Well, thanks.
>> I see this notebook. It's full, >> right? >> It's all EDC. >> Take all this wisdom. Just sketch out pencil out. >> Hey, I've got a >> some ideas a general budget and >> I've got a doctor to train. >> Yeah, >> that's it.
Not formally, but I've got a lot of I have a lot of degrees in business and economics and insurance. >> No, I will. I'll commit to it. >> Yeah. >> And that's the thing. You need a commitment from somebody. And actually, I'm not leaving those plans. The last time I left the plants for my old house,
someone stole them. A realtor. I lived in a really nice distinctive >> after we'll take a quick look at it. >> Yeah. No, you can. No, what I'll do is I'll I'll meet with you and show you. I'd rather do that. Okay. But I'm not going to leave those. Those cost way too much money. Oh,
>> this too. >> I mean that regular I mean they put them on a retainer him in the law room. >> I make a motion to adjourn. >> Yes, me too. We merry Christmas. >> Okay. >> Happy Hanukkah. >> Second the motion. All in favor say I. I. I. Okay.
>> Meeting is >> Are you happy now? >> Yes.