I would like to now call the meeting of the economic development commission for Wednesday. What is this? The 19th of November. Like to call it to order. And
this is Greg Dy chair. And let's go around the room for >> Julie Pain, >> Alvin Allen, town planner, economic development director, >> Steven Roach, >> Greg Samuelson, >> Serena Fuller. So we have our full group
now because we now have a total member list of five people with the potential for two uh associates. So that change was made a few weeks ago by the select board and that allows us to proceed with
a quorum of a minimum of three now. So that'll make it easier which we've now had three times where we haven't reached quorum. So uh we hope to do it for the rest of the year because we have a lot to catch up on.
>> Who else is on the committee now? >> This is our whole group. >> This is it. >> Is Jack's resigned, right? >> Jack Jack resigned. He said for personal reasons. I I don't know where it was. I know that he had been planning to to
stay with us. So >> Bill Terry, >> Bill Terry uh resigned because of you know busy with his business and he's involved in in in a lot of things there and then
who else did did we have >> Mark FCO was >> his work he had to do a whole lot more traveling so this is this is our group and we will make that work. um
recording cliff. Uh so let's uh and also I got a an email from Nicole earlier this afternoon with the last minute cancellation. She apologized she
something came up and she wasn't able to join us in this meeting but will join in our December meeting and I told her I would add her to the agenda for that. So what what she had wanted to talk about was she had been involved in in some
kind of med meeting that was with the the chamber callers for Westfield and and they were talking about their restaurant week and and had a question about whether we were doing anything for restaurant week and so we wanted to
pursue that. We we didn't I know that I looked it up and there were three restaurants in Southwick that had participated but generally we have not done a lot with the Chamber of Commerce. That's a something where they pay to join and I
think for a a small business if you have three or less employees you can join for like 250 and maybe it's $400 for a larger business than that. And then you have levels of involvement that go up to over $3,000. So, it's a it's a different
kind of thing. And we'd have to talk about and I I invited Nicole to join us to see what kind of ideas she would have for things that she thought would be useful for us to do with them. U I see on their website that they show
still show us the EDC as as members although we had chosen not to spend our very limited budget on that and and while I mentioned budget I'll just bring you up to date on on where we are
on on the budget. We finished out last year using up everything in our regular budget within about $50. So, we did okay in in using it for things like the the signage we did for Enjoy Southwick and
and some of the initial efforts for uh Southwick and Bloom and uh and then we also pulled out of the we pulled money out of our gift account >> which doesn't expire. So, what we have
now, we started the year in our regular account with $1,900. >> Yeah. >> And we had a a bill for $215 for >> for South, I think, for the >> Southwick and Bloom materials.
>> Uh, so that's all we So, we have $1665 left in our regular budget. >> And then in our gift account, >> we originally had $3,700. We used twothirds of that for the the
Enjoy Southwick materials. Uh and so we have remaining in that $1,433. So that's what we have for the balance of the year. 1655 in the regular account and and 1483 in in the gift account. So
we have a little better than $3,000 between them. Um, and by the way, the the Enjoy Southwick hold some good amount of activity through the summer. We are up to having, you know,
should have looked it up this morning, but it's well over 3,000 unique users and over 11,000 page views on the site. So, that's a good amount of activity for a a town of a little over 9,000.
So, I I think that that's doing okay and we're going to continue to add to that and and grow grow that and and come up with some more ideas to move that forward. Uh
okay. So, covered that. Uh you know, we mentioned this last week, but didn't have the whole group here. uh Alvin and I had attended the the gathering of >> developers conference
>> the developers conference right which had I was surprised with how many people were there it was held in the >> GM >> MGM uh >> ballroom area and there were over 600 over 500 for sure
>> yes >> maybe close to 600 >> I want to say about 600 >> and you you knew most of the people Just about everybody. >> I do a lot of people. >> You were saying hi. Oh, hi Albert. Hi. >> Did you hold up one of these?
I do not >> but we will have someone who will come to the next meeting for mass development to kind of >> uh well one we'll kind of lay out to him I guess projects initiatives that we want to dive into probably some of these
off the master plan and then see how mass development may can help us out with some of those initiatives. >> Yeah. >> Sullivan replaced. >> Yes. that I saw >> pulled out of the >> the
>> this is the new new one Aaron Vega. >> Yeah. >> Oh, okay. >> The new lead for the Western Mass if anybody wants to know him read about him. >> I do know him. He u was the economic development director in Holio City,
>> right? And he's also been a a state rep and he's >> had other positions and >> and all. He's he's very well experienced and has been in business. So, sounds like a very wellqualified uh person to fill in for that.
>> So, and you have any other comments about the conference itself and takeaways? >> Um takeaways um outside of just economic development opportunity. I mean, we did go to a particular session that that gave uh
examples of different uh cities and towns throughout the the valley >> and sort of what they're doing and you know, how do they um revitalize their downtown so to speak or or whatever it may have been. Um so there were uh I think I can't remember
>> it was inspiring. It was Greenfield gave a presentation >> uh Pittsfield uh and I think >> in the purple it was Yeah. Holy Oak gave one. >> Yeah.
>> And and then Turner's Falls or what is it? The town that >> Turn is actually the town Montigue. >> Montagu. So they gave it all of them were great presentations. They were excited. They were doing new things. And to me it it
shows the difference u economic development can make. have a champions of those kind of things. Uh they're pushing them forward because some of those and and did we also have we had North Adams too. >> Yes. North
>> North Adams which >> North Adams is nice. >> It's got a lot of potential. >> Yeah. I had a client up there years ago. I haven't been there recently, but it's way up there. And when you take North Adams and and Holio, if you look at the >> worst places to live in Massachusetts,
you see those videos. I know >> they will list Holio and North Adams because of the >> of the unemployment, the problems they've had, but they both have incredible potential and have the right people in there >> to push their their positive points.
they could turn them around and and make them couple of the best places to live because they they both you know have history and you know good historic structures and and good positive you
know natural settings and so I >> I was inspired by the presentations that were given >> but also housing was also a large catalog at openstead discussion as well. [Music]
>> Yeah. That and I'll I'll mention while we're on this subject, I sat in on the last couple we we have the economic development partners which is kind of the the group that meets once a month. It's the second Thursday morning of each
month on a Zoom meeting and it's a presentation from different people. We had a a presentation from South Hadley about >> all the things they were doing to develop the corridor along 202
because they're built out and their challenges like everybody else. They've got, >> you know, not a lot of room for >> for new development. So, it has to be redevelopment or or upgrading. Mhm. >> And uh they presented how they had this
big zoning effort to reszone and simplify the zoning and to to zone for for more housing and more mixed use. And the great news is just a couple weeks ago they when they went through their special time meeting they passed all of that the zoning.
>> Plus they have Mount Holio which is a great asset. Yeah. and the commons and being very nice. >> That was not necessarily a given because a year ago they tried to pass some zoning changes and they were all turned down. But this year they passed the
whole thing and and I've got a print out here of all the, >> you know, an an article there was a good article on Mass Live from one of the publications that went through all of the the upgrades.
So, it was an inspiration for our own zoning efforts, which we'll we'll talk about that as one of the potential goals. Um, and then, uh, this month, you know, what was it? Last week on on Thursday,
um, we had a presentation. I have to remember all all the ne details. But anyway, there's another presentation that was, you know, that kind of thing that that's
inspiring and and shows what can be done on a on a basis. I'll remember that in a minute bring it up. But it's something that any any of us can join that and join those Zoom meetings. I know it can be hard if you're working to make time
on a Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. Usually it goes 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. But now that I'm retired, I'm more flexible, at least busier than ever, but more flexible and find those useful to to listen in on.
[Music] And you know they they talk he talks about all the the things they're trying to bring in like food sciences in cooperation with
UMass at Amherst. They've got that and and then potential business opportunities that could be located different places for for food science and food production on a specialized basis. And there's also quantum
computing initiatives. So we should stay in touch with that to you know get awareness of any facilities we might have or any opportunities we would have participated
in and some of that which is targeted to try to give attention and there was a lot of discussion in the developers conference about giving western mass the fair share of economic attention >> which it tends to be have second
thoughts s uh in second place to >> Well, did you hear about the casinos? The money we're not Springfield is not getting any more money from the casinos. >> Okay. Well, let's have all this around the >> No, it's going that way to Boston and
sorry he's got you talking. >> Yeah, we had the >> governor and healing about that. >> The closing >> it's been dwindling down and now he's >> closing address was lieutenant governor. >> Oh. >> Wasn't it? and and talked about how she was going to try to make sure we got our
fair share in Western Mass. And >> yeah, West of Worcester, >> it's about making them aware of the >> of the the talent. We've got educational facilities. We've got a workforce. We've got >> I live here.
>> Maybe more affordable housing. We've got a lot of things that could be of interest to to industry >> if we can get the mass transit through. >> Yeah. To get the the Amtrak going all the way to you know what else? If we get
the uh a commuter rail into spring. Well, I just read today in the paper that the Union um station there in Springfield, their writership is down because there's a Connecticut rail, >> but they're trying to balance between
the two of them and and they have different activities which is kind of cool. One had a a trick-or- treat thing on the train and then someone else had So, they're trying it. It doesn't look as good because it's >> but um because they really did over that Indian station. It's gorgeous. I used to
work at the Springfield paper. He used to go by and go when my my three kids all went to school in Boston. So we were always going back and forth and >> they would end up going on the Peter Pan
bus. They wanted to do >> commuter rail had to drive to Worcester. >> That's right. >> And then they could take that. But it would have been really nice to go right out of >> Yeah. like Amtrak that's down too, you know, or the then they get
>> Yeah. And I' I've used it as much as I could to go to Washington and places like that. I love it. >> But stop a lot. >> Okay. Well, >> I didn't mean to interfere. I didn't >> No, that's that's good. I I we hadn't talked for you know I wanted to use the
beginning to kind of catch up on on you know what we and if there's any other questions here of general nature before we get into the agenda. >> Okay. Well, we'll let's start by approving the met
I did write a minute minutes for our August meeting even though we didn't have a quorum. I it didn't get posted because I guess they don't post it unless you have a they don't post the video unless you have the quorum, but I don't mind putting up the the minutes because it was kind of a catch up on
what our our things were. So, I I sent those out and if >> everybody have a chance to see that and if so, uh let's >> make a motion to I'll move to approve
the minutes. We have a second. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. Okay. Unanimous minutes are approved for both June and August meetings and we'll get those uh posted. I've already noted the you know the
resation of Jack Cody from from us and now yeah I >> was so good with the accounting piece the books that >> so I >> speaking of which not to interrupt you but that whole thing with Southwoods
that last bill that was just remember for the south and finally >> okay >> finally Carol Karen called me and said Buzz said to call Serena she can probably get the bill paid Yeah, I >> I've known him forever. I handd delivered it here, >> right? To And I'm glad you brought that
up because I I followed up later. I I talked with accounting. I checked all the details. Here's what I'd like to do to >> avoid that in the future. >> Circumvent that. >> Deliver the bill to me. >> Yeah. >> Just or tell me I'll pick it up myself
because I've got to sign up on it anyway. Then I'll do the cover sheet because we have to for a bill we have to do a cover sheet. I've got to sign off on it. I'll deliver it to accounting. Get it into the check run for the following week. So just do that. Yeah.
>> Instead of mailing it before I always thought, well, they need it postmarked. They don't really need it postmarked. They just >> right >> have to have the original bill. >> So that's the one thing they always require, the original invoice. They'll deliver that to me. I'll make sure the
proper cover sheets's done. I will personally sign off on it. Make sure it's delivered to accounting and gets into the check run and nothing gets delayed. I hate being so >> paid. I don't like any of our you got to work smarter, not harder, you know. So,
yeah, was you know, they're small business and I'm a small business. I understand how that is. So, >> okay. So, I I see we have at least one guest. So, I I need to say if there's public comment, uh let's open it up. I don't know if uh
>> do we have two? >> Well, Cliff, >> he's new. >> Any public comment? Okay, just an observer. So, okay. Uh now we got to
discuss and vote on our officers for the fiscal year. And we've talked about it a few times leading up to now and and we had nobody stepping up to chair. I'm okay with
doing the chair another year. I would like to rotate it eventually and I would like >> I I said I would do it. Did you get my email or I texted you back? Well, I was in Germany. So, >> for three weeks I was overseas. So,
>> um >> I said potentially beginning of the year because I think I told you what happened. My cousin passed away. Well, >> so like after the first of the year, I should have things where I could probably >> Okay. So, you you'd be willing to step up as the
>> vice chair? >> Sure. >> For now? >> Yeah. And even as vice chair, >> what do you say for now? Can you wait till January? Are we going to meet? >> Well, vice chair, you're okay. You're >> I know. It's like the Commodore in the in the yacht club, the rear commodor.
>> I mean, that it's okay as as vice chair that you're not I mean, we're almost to January >> and I know this group a little bit. I've been How long have I been in a week? >> Right. Yeah. >> And and so as vice chair, I would be
willing to let you run, you know, okay, >> meetings whenever you wanted >> because the whole point I see I would like to look at at the three officers as kind of a of a leadership team
uh with flexibility on on duties uh that you know I don't mind doing minutes for example and and So to have a clerk doesn't mean they have to do the minutes. We're flexible on that. >> Now the agenda has to get into the town
hall. How soon? >> I can do the agenda, too, >> but it has to be stamped, >> right? It has to be stamped at least 48 hours before the meeting. I like to I like to do it the Thursday or Friday of the week before just so I don't take a
risk on it being late. uh that I I I don't mind doing that. I just So, Thursday and Friday, >> what I what I do is is print it out, bring it in to be stamped, and then I go
over to the select board office and Margaret will make copies for me there. >> Okay. >> For distribution if needed. Um, so again, I, you know, even if we switch
around and somebody becomes else becomes chair, I'm willing to step in and and do some of the things I've been doing. And plus, we're also going to talk about our goals in the teams that we have. And
because we're now down to five members, our teams have to be two people because otherwise it's a quorum. Um, so but no problem. Well, you know, lots of opportunities for leadership on
projects that you're interested in because the people that are doing the teams are leading on those goals, those tasks. So, lots of chance for initiative and leadership.
Uh, so you're interested in in co-chair. Anybody else interested in co-chair? Anybody else interested in clerk? I don't want to, >> you know, nominate somebody who's doesn't want to do it.
>> Well, >> way too much on the platter right. Well, and we can start with chair and co-chair and then see if anybody wants to step up for the the clerk.
>> Okay. Anybody want to uh move for chair nomination move? >> Yeah, you cannot move. >> Well, I suppose we can nominate both >> in in one motion.
>> We can. So you move to nominate uh myself and her chair and Serena for co-chair >> second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Okay. Unanimous.
and clerk. Again, think of don't think of it in terms of necessarily a time commitment, but just wanting to be involved in in leadership team and and potentially stepping up and doing more
and and whatever. It's about training. Anybody want to step forward? clerk is it kind of similar to a secretary in that >> what's included in that time >> for
a clerk of the works that's someone on a job site >> it's when I when I see how they do it in the select board I don't see a lot of you know enumerated
responsibilities ities. I mean, there are some you you can look it up in places where it says, well, the clerk's responsible for doing minutes and doing the agenda, making sure it's submitted. I'll I'll do that.
So clerk is just stepping in and being willing to to be involved and and I guess it there's nothing that says we have to have a clerk, but well I'm not going to push anybody.
we'll we'll table that and >> you know if anybody down the line would like to step in you know it's kind of getting in line for a leadership rotation because I I like to have a depth of of involvement in leadership.
So we'll we'll go with what we have. Um, >> I have a question about the ethics and all that stuff we're supposed to take online. It seems like it dropped off and we had to get sworn in all the time. >> The ethics and we had >> you get
>> I'm glad you brought it up. I'm glad you brought it up because I did get a note from >> my about myate. >> So, you did your >> I got my certificate. you did your conflict of interest and I also had a note that Craig you needed to update
yours. I had to update mine last year. It was pretty quick thing. You kind of did a review and you answer a few questions and they gave you here's the information that >> I had conflict of interest. One of those
there was two sections. >> Yeah. >> Um ethics >> was like 10 minutes. It's nothing else. >> Craig, if you have questions, just contact Christie. There's phone and email and >> we have to get sworn in, too, right? So, >> well, no, you don't have to. And you
have to get sworn in again unless you've been reappointed. So, Julie had to get sworn in again. >> Oh, okay. All right. >> But nobody else that clear. >> Nobody else expired. You don't You get sworn in if your term expires and then you reapply.
>> Okay. >> Or for renewal. But but there's a certain period of time where your your your certificate of conflict of interest or ethics expires and that was the note from from Christy about that.
>> And I did get an email from her when I remember that. >> Okay. >> Did you get an email? No, you did. >> From whom? >> From the clerk. >> Christy the about No, you you said you did that. >> Yes. Yeah. Yeah. It was from
>> then from the Massachusetts website I think was Yeah. Yeah. But I I did get an email took me 10 or 15 minutes. >> The first time >> was an hour. >> Yeah. The first time I did it was a long time. >> The the first time it's longer. The renewal. >> You can't fast.
>> The renewal is not reading the whole thing again and going through the video. It's a few reminders and then they ask you a few questions. And >> like getting a core check. I had to get that through my church when I'm in the choir, you know, dealing with younger
adults. [Music] >> Okay. >> Involved. >> All right. Now, let's go on to the master plan actions. And last month when we didn't have a quorum,
we we did discuss this uh to a degree and we'll talk a little bit more about that later, but I I sent out
our list of 15 uh master plan actions where the primary uh the leader of these actions I didn't print that. I was away. But do you have an extra one? >> Yeah. >> And I don't Oh, thank you. I know. I
resp >> Okay. And the one before that I said, "Well, that's okay. I was without Wi-Fi." >> Okay. >> We have to do this again or >> No, what this is >> the whole thing. What what we're going
to do is for the master plan they have, as was explained to us before, we have kind of a scoreboard of of goals we get. We have to complete, we have to tell
them how many goals we want to complete. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. how many goals we want to complete within the current year because the idea is to get all of our goals completed by 2040.
>> Okay? So, you have to do a couple a year or so and then then they have a scoring system where they they give you a certain number of points for completing a certain point in in there and you you've got to get at
least two green lights and yellow lights and whatever. >> Okay? >> It's it's a matter of tracking progress. It's a way to incentivize. And >> so what we want to do is pick out two or three of our 15 goals that we think we
can get mostly or at least partially done by the end of the fiscal year, June of 26. And the good thing for us is one of them is pretty much done already, >> right? The website,
>> the right benefits. >> So we've got a a head start on this. and I sent it out and Julie maybe you did respond already but I I had written down Stephen responded
and we're just marking down three goals that we wanted and I want to pick three because we won't necessarily complete them entirely but if we can partially do two more we've got one entirely completed. >> Yes. If we can at least partially do do
more, then we should get a a green light for >> the printed brochure of local businesses. >> I had that as something. >> These were just these were not these were just ones that I marked down as
possible things we wanted to to initiate. And ideally what I'd like to do is come up with a consensus of of what we do uh so that we can I can go back out and
tell the implementation committee uh which ones we were going to do so that they can start tracking. Norm Chvers came in and presented a little more information to us and and also I'll update you on another thing we
discussed, but let's focus on this >> right now. >> If we were to pick three, Stephen picked uh the database because it's already done. Both Stephen and I picked the database of business owners.
I picked one that I'm not sure we can do, but I would love to do is is to get into it. We've got the the website pretty much updated, but to get to complete that, we have to get into
social media. Is there anybody that's adept at social media? >> I'm not even on Facebook with any um >> that was running the page, but it's still pretty much >> Yeah. before we sign somebody. I guess having a plan of what we want to what sort of message you want to put out
there and then sign that to somebody. It's kind of a >> just to have the idea is to have a presence on there. And my biggest goal in having a presence on social media is
to drive people to the shop Southwick site. So, well, two things. To drive them to the Southwick and Bloom when that's get started and to drive them to the the uh shop Southwick,
>> right, >> to our directory to build traffic. Does that make sense? >> And so, it's not I don't want to, you know, just >> we can't post things all the time. I just want to promote
>> that and promote, you know, go go see our restaurants. And I mean, there's just different ways to get them into shop Southwick. >> Uh, right. >> We talked about the restaurant week, >> right? Which >> and the taste of Southwick I saw in here.
>> Taste of Southwick is another thing we, you know, we could we could look at. But anyway, let's not get into the the depth on that yet. It's just a matter. It doesn't have to be something >> terribly deep. >> The one business per month of the EDC
meeting. I think that's a good one. >> Okay. >> Reminds me of when we had the Southern Association of Merchants. But I think it's a good thing if they'll come. >> Well, we have to have a reason for the >> Well, that's exactly right.
are calm >> precisely and that's what we found with >> and I don't want >> group >> it it's about you know whether we invite them to this meeting or whether we hold a a meeting where where we have a bunch of
businesses in the key is to have something >> that is value >> like we had the trade shows would you call them trade shows >> we made money that's how we got money in that gift account is we had things at the ranch we had them here. >> We had it at Tucker,
>> Bras. That's how we made money. We were talking about advertising. We need funds and that's the way we raised money. We got that gift account. >> And And what did they pay for when they came? >> They paid How much was it to rent a table? Was that $25? >> Half a table. I'd have a half a table
and farm family would be next to me. Um I didn't really put out brochures, but >> what was the audience? the the >> anybody well at the ranch a lot of people came from from Westill and Southfield. It was like a collab collaboration with the Westfield
chamber. >> Were they business owners that came or residents? Was it targeted? >> Both. >> I mean what was the idea? Was it for businesses to to get >> to put their put out their wares basically to display what they they did.
Um, so we even had people, a lot of home businesses in town, people that made I I never even saw these places, you know, people that made things, um, knitted things. I mean, it was um, it was it went over very well at the at the ranch. Tuckers, it went over well. We actually
ran out of space there. But again, you have food there and you have liquor, so that brings people in. the the food was provided by the >> by Tuckers or by by the the >> right because we paid they had to have
an admission fee and then they paid and then the proceeds we got from that we paid Tuckers >> um for that right do you remember that >> I don't I'm thinking about when we had the town hall here too >> oh the town hall we didn't have liquor or anything then no
>> and it >> it did well don't you think >> I think so I mean And I'm open. I'm open to doing that. I mean, we would >> And it was it was a big deal when we were um first formed when the Southern Association of Businesses and Merchants was formed. We had it up at the high
school. And who was the guy that he passed away though? The guy from the automotive the truck goth trucking. What was his name? >> So you were like in the gymnasium, right? >> Yeah. We were in the cafeteria. >> From the cafeteria. >> Yeah. Oh, Chase.
>> Yeah. Dick Chase. Um, and it went over extremely well. >> Yeah. And I don't know if that's >> We did something outside too, I think. Didn't we? >> I'm looking at what which of these goals
that would fit into. >> It takes a lot of work though. I mean, you can't. >> Would that be the small business forum? >> That would be more like it. into the >> well here here's a better description of of what what these are. The small
business forum is is described as um probably see This is probably the one that says hold a small business in Southwick forum once
you invited current business owners prospective potential small business owners startups as well as agencies like Mass Challenge Mass Development Finance ensure small businesses aware of access to funding. Now, that's the one that um
is called an annual small business forum. And Stephen, you marked that one. And I'm open to to that. We're going to have >> we're going to have next time mass development. Um and I'm sure we'd get lots of others
if we were confident that >> businesses would be interested in that. As Craig said, it is a lot of work. We It was We did a lot of work. Amber and Mike
um Mike McMan. It was a lot of work, >> but we we we did it. >> Yeah. And that's >> We did it for years. Well, with South >> How many different businesses? >> Oh my god. I think we had 25
>> at the most. 30. >> The smaller one was here. >> Yeah. >> And what would they >> Yeah, the smallest one was here. I I want to say like 25. It wasn't a lot. >> Oh, and and that's what made it nice because people, you know, small business didn't want to spend the money. A lot of
them didn't want maybe didn't have interest to come because I mean, what are you going to hand out? I I myself was just sitting there for my insurance agency, but I but I'm also was a commissioner, so I was walking around, you know, the event greeting people. But there there was at the ranch there was a
lot of people that showed. It was a nice day and a lot of families came and they got to see the businesses that were there >> and and I haven't been into their inside. Was there an open space there where Oh, yeah. Set up.
>> Oh, yeah. We took over the um the banquet area there, right? >> Banquet area. >> Yeah. >> It was very nice. And it was in the springtime. >> And it was a Westfield Southwood collaboration. It was nice.
>> Oh, so >> well, >> so Westfield >> we had some speak No, I'm trying. Maybe I'm confusing this a little bit. We had speakers. I know one time we we brought someone in from the Air Guard. We had maybe that was a breakfast with Soundsic Association merchants. And matter of fact, I brought one of the files because
I the insurance for the South Association emergence. Um I spent a lot of years doing that. So didn't Craig. I spent like 10 years. Um I was a secretary. I did um I was a president. Um and then we had to disband because
the same people were almost like this. We have the same people, you know, in the same on the committee for so long and they they just didn't want to do it anymore. And then we joined, was it Springfield Chamber? Was it
Westfield? Something happened in Westfield. >> And then it kind of dropped the ball. It kind of everything just fell apart. >> Westfield Chamber is is available. Regional chamber. It's not >> limited to just Westfield. They
>> have a list of maybe a dozen communities surrounding them that are are members. and and there's maybe a dozen Southwick businesses that are members of the Westfield Chamber. I don't see a need to
duplicate what they're doing. Um >> well, like back uh July 4th of 1993, we had an event at the South of Gre Center, special events, as I did the insurance for it, and there was a flat truck there.
>> Yeah. Yeah. And I mean um in front of that will be a dance floor. Yeah, that's what I remember. Flatbed. Okay. What else is going to be there? Flatbed of a truck. Rich Hoff was the um was the president then. Rich Hoff II. He owned
the general store at that time. Remember >> um >> Duffy? >> And yeah, Bill Duffy who's passed away. Um, but I mean that's a lot of years ago and we put a lot of time into that.
>> Okay. Well, I mean the two criteria for what we pick out as the actions are that number one we have to think it's very much worthwhile. Number two, we have to feel that we are capable of doing it. that we have the volunteers
that that have the time and and energy to put into it. >> That that's my only concern right now is we're so lean >> time so lean. >> So we should pick that should be a primary consideration. >> I think we ought to you know maybe table it but we should keep it in mind because it was
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> It was a good thing. Matter of fact, Shannon O'Brien, the senator, and then she became she ran for governor and then she became the cannabis. She's head of um she was a guest speaker on the application here. They handled
the insurance >> and it says beverages and food are covered for the association, not for other vendors and their products. This what the underwriter told me. >> So, it's good to have your expertise on that. Well, it's a lot of sweat equity.
I spent a lot of time, a lot. When you say secretary, I took so many minutes for that. Then I became the president and we had meetings at the Grove. We got the um ranch there liquor permit because the town didn't want to give them a liquor permit. And do you remember that? Were you at that meeting? >> Oh, yeah. Yeah.
>> And we brought in the Hall family and um and I was trying to say to people, well, this is a this is a diamond in the rough. I mean, why didn't they not have this golf course yet with a without a liquor license, you know, because they were they had their issues getting that thing going, but
>> we we had more influence back then, I think, than it was because we got involved with it. This was, you know, for the town signed by, remember that? >> Oh, yes. And you did that. So, here's like some of the This is the brochure. We had food fund games on the fourth. Yeah. And and Oh, we talk about the sign
bylaws. So, I mean, but but it all stemmed out of what is now EDC. I mean, >> and a lot of that's been taken over by the plan board then. >> Well, I don't know. I'm just saying that original sign bylaw is what we
>> as businesses put together. >> We did administered by the planning board, right? >> To the point I got to bring this up while I talk about signs. I had where my building's located. Do you know where my office is? You have to have signs kind
of on the parking lot side. My parking lot assigned with Well, recently I just had new signs put up and I said it better be the exact measurements because the sign company and I actually have the signs made from by my insurance company which I don't want to share with everybody but they give me the signs and
I said it better be the exact measurements because I had some signs that were too clean board made me take them down and the brackets in my vinyl siding. I'm I was going, "Wow." >> Well, here we have a Tom Planner here. You want to comment on that?
>> And I don't think they were distasteful. It was just a matter of they said you can't have more than two signs on the building, but if you do have two signs, they got to be this big. >> Yeah. Um there's a certain square footage that you can't go over. I want to say it's 100 square feet. Um,
it's it's I don't know what it is for the the front facade, but the >> and I have a lighted sign. I was one of the first ones >> but there is a certain square footage that you can't >> but Craig's mission was to kind of get consistent like if you go down the road
to Simsbury or stuff like that where you have some nice signage that looks >> not pardon the expression what it is now. was kind of like if you see certain plazas you got these right but it didn't work. We tried to get to Craig you can
say more >> spent a lot of time. >> Yeah. >> So so there's a couple things there square footage but then also u um how the the size of your facade. So if you have a larger building then you can have
more signs because just because of the >> facade for smaller structure you may >> have a max of let's say 50 uh square feet per per facade just depending on you know how big the building is >> and we were trying to do away with the temporary size those what do they call
them >> we what do you call those signs that you fold up yeah um >> the sandwich >> yeah there was an there was an explosion of those going on at one point and people like I don't want to say the mobile station but yes the mobile station yeah we had banners so it got a
little out of control >> um >> and then you mix enforcement with that >> yes >> and selective enforcement >> yes >> so anyway >> but this man right here spent a lot of time years >> yeah on that
>> years >> so we're burned out there's a reason >> yeah and and >> but I want to continue for making this doable, you know, being selective. And and this might be a good time. I just
want to bring in a a big picture thing here about when we're when we're talking about goals. Here's what I see as the priorities in the big picture for economic development.
Really two things that we want to accomplish. We want to make the town affordable and we want to have good quality of life. Those are the reasons for economic development. You know, otherwise why why bother? I mean
economic development if you don't have active business then the tax burden keeps going up for the people remaining. You want more people to share the tax burden. You want to increase the tax
base so that the town is more affordable, but you want to do that in a way where the quality of life is maintained or improved. You don't want, you know, to bring in a a lot of inappropriate businesses that
expand the tax base but don't >> maintain the quality. >> You want it attractive to attract people too. That's right. >> And affordability >> and bloom is prime example how we want to enhance the look of the >> so under affordability I put two things
fair and reasonable property tax and housing options for all income level housing is a question of affordability too. he wants. You don't want to have a whole bunch of jobs that people can't afford to live here to take the jobs.
>> That is not great for there's so many towns that you know a lot of the employees can't afford to live there. >> Sure. >> Hate to sorry to interrupt but as much as you wanted to be here I have to go. Would you be able to let me go please?
>> Let me see if we had any other voting. Well, we wanted to >> vote on our goal, but we have a quorum. So, go ahead. We'll we'll vote. >> We relocated to a So, I have a little >> Oh, you did? >> Yes. >> You did?
>> Are Do you sell the place yet? >> No. >> Zoning problems. So, maybe >> Well, we're going to talk about zoning in a little bit. >> All right. Thank you. >> It's nice to see you all. Yes.
>> Have a nice um Thanksgiving. >> Yes. Thank you all. Happy Thanksgiving. Bye. Bye. >> Thanks, Jill. >> Yeah, I didn't mean to take up all the time, but I did bring this folder. And I was going to if I had a few more minutes, I would stop and get the sign
inside my lobby of my office. It's got the businesses up there. So that's why I think housing is a fair question for economic development too because you want to develop businesses but you also want to develop housing options that are affordable for people. And then quality
of life includes safe streets, low signal rated school, pleasant attractive town center, well-maintained infrastructure, dependable town services, convenient local shops and restaurant, good variety of recreational venues. Those are all things we want to
to enhance through economic development, you know, and and some of those things are just a matter of being able to afford safe streets and low crime and schools. I mean, there's a lot more involved, but unless you have the economic base, you can't do that. That's
what makes a town a good place to live. And so in any of these goals, that's kind of what we have in the back of our mind. We want to improve affordability and quality of life. So as we look through
these these things, the idea of of doing the the directory of businesses is to encourage local shopping. That's really
and more people that shop locally, the >> the better the local businesses do. And the more >> good businesses are attracted to the town. >> Sure. >> And if those are the appropriate kind of businesses, it makes the quality of life
because you have a lot of convenient and attractive local shopping. So that all works together. So >> we got a question here. the co-op and town center for local. Do we do we have one? I know they have one in Westfield.
They don't have a um they have one in Westfield, the Church of the Atoma, a farmers market. >> Well, a co-op is not necessarily a farmers market, >> right? No, I know that. But is that what they're kind of >> We did some discussion of that back in June. Um
and I'm open to that. that that's something we have to make sure we have the resources to do. Uh and it it could you could start that with just an event, a one-time event. You know, we talked about it if you
could ensure good weather. You could even have it set up out in there. >> Yeah. I suggested we could have it in the big front lawn at Daily Grind right in the middle of town is is one one place and you know have like you're talking about
all the businesses to have examples of their wares and >> and play it up and be a fun time and food there >> and all of that and people to to learn more about what different local
businesses offer. you know, the agricultural businesses and and the the, you know, home crafting, production, whatever businesses that people might not be aware of the types of things they
have that, you know, but >> I think that we want to be careful we don't get too lean, you know, with what we try to take on. I mean, I look at things like this South um Chamber of Commerce. I mean that would >> I I can't even imagine.
>> No, I for that. >> No, I would want what I would try to do there is to redirect it and make that and I've talked about this before rather than a chamber of commerce just kind of
a co-op advertising uh medium. That would be what this printed brochure would be. you know, build it around an advertising co-op effort and it's one of the things I want to Bria in in relation to this
restaurant week and everything. I looked at at at the Chamber of Commerce promotion on that and they basically said, >> "Okay, we want to proclaim this restaurant week. Here's the applications. The restaurants are responsible for promotion of this, for
setting up the offers, for setting up the venues. I it was all the restaurants were were to do it and I said well what is the chamber actually providing and maybe it's more than what I saw there but to do
if you're going to provide an an added value you provide a medium for co-op advertising like a printed >> you know destination map which what I was describing before where people can
you know we'll help do distribution will help get it printed and people would pay, you know, a modest fee to to be a part of it. And so you're providing something that's simple for them to participate in
>> with the placemats in a restaurant. >> Well, this but in that idea I sold it all over town and different places and and the nice thing is is you can do it, you know, through the whole year. It wouldn't be a one time, you know. >> No, I understand.
>> ad in the newspaper that is here >> and thrown out the next day. >> But people would keep it because it would have >> inter >> I put together information about >> the the recreational destinations plus,
>> you know, all the the printed information. So people say, "Well, this is cool. I'm going to save this and use it to plan >> our weekends and whatever in our activities we're going to do >> uh and and also distribute it to neighboring uh communities so that they
the south can be promoted as a destination a day destination >> it could be inserted into the west >> yeah you could do that too and and in a way that that could also distribute it >> and and you encourage people save this
>> to to plan your So what I'm hearing from the conversation I mean some of these master plan goals seem pretty ambitious for our capabilities now >> the amount of people >> I mean things like a chamber of commerce seem beyond what our capacity is >> right so redirect that into
>> this kind of co-op effort a very limited it's not a traditional chamber of commerce but it is >> kind of a a structure of a business association that's coming together for a co-op advertising Yeah, it makes perfect sense to me
down the road. I think we need two goals for plan um goals. I think the goal is to get two per year. >> I think we're Do you think our next action item for this is to get everybody kind of on board to see what the most realistic are? I think Greg and I have
numbers down on here, right? >> I think for our next meeting probably have everybody rank these >> top three most reasonable. Then we can >> we go down. >> Well, I was hoping that we could >> kind of agree today >> on two or three today. And and
>> we could do it with two, but >> my reason for three is to at least get started. >> We don't have to complete all three. >> Yeah, >> we'll see. >> But if we could partially do a couple of them and you know, we already have the database completed. So we can
>> we add two and maybe table the third one. >> Okay. >> Because I have to interject here. If we do that south, we can bloom again. That takes up a lot of time. >> Yeah. And >> I mean, that took up a lot of time. >> Let me fill you in on what we discussed
last month with Norman Chver when we wasn't here because he was going to add another >> uh thing to do a social committee. >> Uh and he said, "Well, the social committee should fall under the the EDC."
And I kind of pushed back on that and said, >> you know, they're also talking about a beautifification committee. How about if we do the beautifification committee instead of social committee? Yeah. and you know some other group does the
social committee because I think the beautifification we're already doing Southwick and Bloom that fits more with the idea of economic development with a social committee and that could go under cultural whatever >> something else >> because I don't know if Julie is not
going to have time I don't know what sounds like that took a lot of effort >> but but that was the first year now you've got you've got it set up >> we have it set up But not that easy. >> There's still a lot to be done. >> Yeah. And there's a lot of improvements
we wanted to make. Um anyway, I'm just saying as a timetable for a small committee or if Diane even willing to do it. She's not even a commissioner. Um >> we'll have to see. I mean, there there was there were things that came out of
that though. >> Fabulous. >> Yeah. I mean, as far as people wanting to get together and have a having a >> garden club and all. >> Yeah. I mean we have you know just just by putting this on we did a lot of good. So yeah
>> we got the recognition the logo. >> I would love to continue that u and that was the intention all along is if that would be first year and now that we've got more attention it would be easier and we get more involvement in a second
year and maybe you wouldn't have to do quite the exhaustive amount of prizes. Yeah. >> Uh it doesn't have to, you know, people do it for recognition. And speaking of that, I still want to get those photos.
And I asked Julie for the the photos so I can put them up on our website. Okay. >> And you know, especially as we get toward if we do promote it again, I want >> I have a couple of the photos. They weren't spectacular though.
>> I thought we had a professional photographer. Well, he was a professional. He's a friend of mine, David Pierce. Um, I have a few, but it doesn't really show Southampton and Bloom. It just shows me with giving a, you know, that kind of thing. >> Oh, I'd like to show the actual this
flower displays as well. >> Well, we want to give examples. >> No, it didn't because it was just at the >> Oh, you didn't have that. >> It was just at Coward's Farm. So, that I thought you had gone around. >> We have some pictures. >> Maybe. Maybe I I >> Well, actually, I took some on my phone,
but I think Julie did because we wrote around the three of us. >> Okay. See what Julie has. >> And I'll >> But I'm talking about when we gave out the prizes. That's what I'm >> I don't I'm I'm not That's not what people want to see.
One picture giving out prizes, but people would like to see examples of, >> oh wow, that's cool. I could do something like that. you know, something that would inspire people to >> Yeah. >> to be involved. >> Funny because I was trying to put up
signs. People weren't home during the day and I don't want to be trespassing and calling people on the >> Well, these are supposed to be public facing. >> Well, I know. And I did put signs. I put them at the by the mailbox. I don't want to be on their property thinking, you know, I knocked on a few doors. some of
the smaller um like the roads over by um the lake, but um it was a little uncomfortable and we all couldn't do it at the same time. That was the problem. >> Okay. And we should emphasize in in the next year the whole point is is it should be
front long public facing displays. >> But that didn't always necessarily show the flowers. That's the thing. And I remember saying to Julie and to Diane, I said, "Why don't I put the lady had her flower display on a back deck? You had to go up the stair and I couldn't. So I put it by the road just to just to
promote the South. >> We should be more particular in in the future and be clear about the >> Yeah, there's a lot of education. There needs to be a lot more. So >> yeah, because you if you it's on your your back deck and nobody can see that it's not beautifying the
>> Yeah. And I didn't mean to get off track from what we're doing here, but what I'm saying is is a time element, time management. Like it's tough. I mean, that's one of them. It's not really in your beautifification project but um >> well it's not on here but then our next
agenda item are the goals. So I want >> two or three of our goals will be from the master plan >> and then I want to do an additional seven goals where we move things forward that are not part of the master plan but
just goals that we want to do and we'll talk about those next. Why aren't they part of the master plan? >> Because the master plan was set by somebody else. And you know the there are other things.
We don't want to be limited by the the master plan. Well, I'll just give you an example of the other goals that I I wanted to do to develop an input for the zoning revision project. These are the things we do as team. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And I'll do that alone if nobody wants
to help. But I I want to do that. >> You want that park that space there by the church for the bike trail. Right. >> Right. The next one is to do the rail connector. And I'm I'm been talking to
>> David De Delore about it. He's he's still working on >> on piece of that. Promises to get back to me shortly. Did they go down the by the town line up there by Emanuel?
>> The town's going to that area where it used to be Shibli's auction bar long while long while long while long while long while long while long while long while long while long while long he's gone. >> Yeah. They're not going to they're focused on rather than buying that property across the road. There's
some highway department property >> that could be used for parking. because they're talking about renting it, leasing it. >> Well, they just make an arrangement to a >> with the highway department to to have some parking there. Okay. >> For the trail, right?
>> And you wouldn't have to buy the property then. I don't know if you have anything. >> I think in the select board meeting this week, they brought that up and and uh Doug said he's still waiting to hear back
from from somebody on that. is going to follow up, but he's they're still working on on getting that because I I think that's what we're doing. >> Oh, yeah. >> You know, recreation is a huge draw and don't have time to get into that now,
but I' I've dug out a lot of information about the economic value of >> Yeah. >> of outdoor recreation. >> Yeah. I saw the thing about the lake, how they're trying to streamline that thing with lake management and all that. >> They're getting >> Yeah, I know. I was in Lake D.
>> I was in I was I grew up on that land. >> Well, we won't get into that that side thing now. So, anyway, working on the rail connector. I've al also talked to uh Christy Banish or had an email from her recently saying they're doing a a
study on bike trail stuff and and I I asked her to send me all that information about the the traffic and I think that's >> a huge benefit, something to gain. Um, then I wanted to do an updated property
tax property tax analysis. uh now that we have Randy Austin in there, you know, and I've I've sat down and talked to him a long while about issues that I I had and questions about business, property, taxes and
>> and he's serious and and willing to talk and and I'm going to follow up with him to get all the updates. And I know you, Craig, you've had deal with you. We'll get into that >> house cleaning.
>> Yes, they certainly make sense. >> I don't know if you've seen that seen the editorial Springfield paper last week Monday. >> Anyway, it's it there's a lot of cleaning up. >> These are things we've been saying for years and years and years.
>> Oh, it's what I've been trying to to Yeah. to work with for a long time, but we'll get into that here. But anyway, this is important though because we try to encourage businesses coming. >> Oh, absolutely. >> You have to have that. >> And I was >> worked out,
>> you know, I was ready to even go for election on the on the board of assessors if I needed to. I hopefully won't need to with the new assessor um just to help get it straightened up. It has to be fair and consistent. The
whole point about property tax is equal and fair distribution. politics total >> and and it's got to be be done. >> And what I want to do is and I've already got the database downloaded that there was previously and that's where I
found all the problems that that were in it, but I'm going to get an updated download as soon as they have the new uh new revised assessment. I'm going to get that by the first of the year. So I'm really concerned because there seems to be a trend in this state, you know,
instead of people living within their means, >> towns living within their means, there's a trend to go for this income approach rout. And that is only supposed to be used when there isn't bricks and mortar or whatever because Shireena could bring in 10 million a year.
>> Yeah. >> Does that mean the value of that building is anymore? That's why >> no income should be used only when it affects the market value of the property. >> And the ideal case where income should
be used is in an apartment building because if you sell the apartment building, somebody will buy it as an investment based on the income. >> Yeah. But it's none of their business. >> That that's not fair. That I don't I don't They don't
>> because here's here's the deal. I mean, you've got you've got all these um groups on out there that are just buying up stuff. That doesn't make it the value of the property. >> It is really an unfair approach. >> It is. >> And it's going to really price
>> people like us out of business. >> Yeah. >> Well, won't get into that now, but but my my goal is to see that it's done fairly. >> Like Okay. As an example, I'm an agent, insurance agent. our agents association
every year wants us to fill out and I don't do it what I'm paying my employees. >> Yeah, that's that's not fair. Now, I know they give a lot of reasons why because they want to say, "Well, we want to figure out how to attract new agents into the industry." >> When I say valuing
valuing the property doesn't mean valuing the business. >> Well, they ask for the numbers >> because the business is, you know, like in insurance particularly, you could move to a different you could take your business facility. You could work out at home. You could whatever.
>> But they ask me for they want to know what I'm making at my office. >> I'm talking about things when I say apartment building that you can't pick up and move. That's that is the Well, but what you know, so that let's say you have two apartment buildings next to
each next to each other. Serena runs one, I run the other one. She does a wonderful job >> and brings in 10 million a year. I only bring in four million a year. Why should that affect the value of that? happen. >> Again, it it it's what they could sell it for.
>> Would it affect what you could sell it for? >> Yeah. >> If they run the business poorly, somebody could look at it and say, "Well, I could do a whole lot better." >> Jeff Bezos would come in and offer him. It doesn't that's that's that's an inequity. That doesn't make any sense. >> No. Anyway,
>> it's only what someone's willing to pay for what it's worth. It doesn't matter. I mean, it's not in this like insurance. There's an insurance value. There's an assessed value, there's a market value. Um, people are always saying, "Well, why is my insurance so much? Why is Well, we don't insure the property. We insure
just the building and the outbuildings on it. We don't market. We So, there's so many different numbers and it's sort of I want to try to say it's the same thing when you're talking about the taxes and the building. >> It's just >> we have to be careful." >> No, I have to be really careful.
>> My goal is not to get in into that part of it. My goal is to be able to look at the potential income on the average of of different kinds of development because we've got potential
for we've got land that can be developed. >> We've got vacant properties that can be redeveloped. I want to understand the relative value of those so we can we can target
the most profitable types of development for a town. >> So you're going to tax based on potential. >> I'm not I'm not deciding what to tax. I'm just saying if you got, you know, an acre of land out here, what
do you want on it or five acres? Do you want a big box store? Do you want a housing development? >> What are you asking that to? >> I'm I'm saying what should we as a town try to to go for? Do you want a carvana there? Do you want to
>> I have a said it's none of the town's business what my land I'm going to do with my land. Why do you even ask what you what? >> No. It's a memo from the EDC from a business person's perspective on this I think would to the assessor would be a very
>> beneficial perspective >> that would be that would be >> and it might be a consideration >> always out of the loop >> so it might be a consideration >> and we had >> thank you >> you know one of the other items I have on the list is to have um
last year we had a a new new business evaluation template that we developed and I work with Mark Fogle and >> the reason that it it didn't get accepted is say well we can't
we can't have this evaluation criteria because it you know it might be considered unfair or whatever and and applying it to to businesses. Well, I said as economic development, if we if
we can't have some idealized goal of what we're looking for, we it's not clear. So, I thought, how else could we do it? Well, the other way to do it, instead of having the thing, a list of things we don't want, which was kind of what the criteria was, is to narrow it
down to things we don't want. Instead, we have a list of the ideal things we're looking for, the things that we feel would be >> Oh, yeah. That's >> the most attractive to the town in terms of >> of the most profitable use of that, >> right?
>> We'd like to get a doctor's office. We'd like to get a >> the most beneficial for the town and balancing out the, you know, not instead of competing with other things in town. here are things niches we we would like to fill
if we could find you know whether it's a doctor's office or whatever else what kinds of development that's where I did a lot of analysis in the property tax on the the assessment value per acre and analyzed that the
most profitable uh tax reven is great. Or we're coming from things like the Depot Square uh condos or the Rosewood or the Winfield Circle.
And those are beneficial for the town too because they >> of course >> they bring in customers >> and taxes and and had higher values per acre than most businesses are single family homes >> and especially if they're near the town center and depot square is ideal I'm
going to be 22 depot which should be ideal if they ever get that started >> but then they it's kind of an oxymoron because they don't want to go above a certain population because then they lose some federal funding and things >> I'd like I want to more about that that that seems like a
you know we're limited by population why do any development >> so it's kind of like you know I've been here Craig's been trying to do this and we're like well we don't really govern anything we're just >> kind of >> making South look better and but
>> if we can't increase the tax base if we can't bring in a certain amount more residents we're our property taxes are all when they go off, >> right? And Michael McMahon used to bring that up all the time on all our, you know, what our how attractive our our tax base is to businesses and
surrounding communities. He used to do all his studies, right? Um >> Right. >> Right. But we want to we want to bring in we don't want to bring in a business that just takes advantage of that and gives us a low revenue per acre and and
>> and is not the highest best and best use. And that fits into another it fits into the whole zoning question. We want to make sure we zone >> zone has to be zoning has to be done. You know, that's where we ran into trouble with the Dollar General is
because >> the the zoning there should have been a a mixed residential zone that wouldn't allow for something that would bring such >> such an abutters protest. And it's sad
because the person that put a house down in the back put it up for sale right away behind the Dollar General >> and and the Dollar General as soon as they opened they went up for sale. >> Yeah. >> Oh yeah. >> That's what they do. >> Yeah. They just they build >> that's like the storage unit. That's what they flip them.
>> 2.6 million or whatever it is. >> It's all about the bottom line. The dollar. >> Exactly. >> Dollar General. And I don't, you know, I'm hearing you say that we need to, you know, we really need to get the taxes up around here. I I think that
>> No, that we need we don't need to get the taxes up. We need to get the tax base, the assessed base up. So, it's it lowers the rate or keeps the rate from going up. You can't if you can't increase the tax
base, the rate is going to go up. I mean other than the cost of living more people paying tax, >> right? I understand that. I Well, I understand the theory of that, but >> I mean, why don't we just live within our means right now and then that's a
good place to start and then we can work on the other stuff because I maintain that we're we may be better off getting businesses in town here that are just good for the town and they don't really increase >> the tax base. Well, often the smaller
businesses that are good for the town are the the most efficient in the country too. >> The best ones >> in the country where the back >> the the big box stores are not the the best >> uh secured tax base increasers. Parvatum have been horrible because it had no
stability or no uh firm future. You want to the smaller businesses are more flexible. One of them goes out. >> You're not asking for tiffs either. Uh yeah, we don't want to we don't want to spend >> don't want to go there tonight.
>> Yeah. >> So I to I think we're on on this, you know, we can get into it. I I think we're in agreement on the kinds of businesses we want. Good solid businesses which are the stable
ones which which give us security. We don't want, >> you know, some big business. The worst thing is have some big business come in and then >> fail and you know you've got a big vacancy that is >> is not easy to fill >> or or disrupt an old type business.
>> Exactly. >> Yeah. So >> I think we've been pretty good. I don't think the turnover has been that bad. I mean you got the restaurants that turn over maybe a hairdresser or something like that but I don't think it's that bad. >> No. The these smaller businesses tend to
fill in. They do. someone drops out, somebody else comes in. That's, you know, and and one of the objections to something like Dollar General, it's it's a medium box store. It's not as quite as easy to fill in something appropriate. Plus, it's not located in the right.
>> Well, you know what? When you know what was happening, and this is still the king. It used to be used car lots around here. That's all you saw was a used car lot >> and certain person owned most of the property. One of my objections with what the Southwood >> of course
>> auto their assessment hasn't is it's not higher hardly than it was when they bought the property and >> no so you've got that you got auto you've got grove auto you've got all
>> that that was you know the real kind of negatives and I brought up and said well a lot of these just millions paying attention to their or assessors whoever are watching that they're they just stayed level for 20 years
>> while everybody else almost doubled in 25 30 years. There's going to be some >> Yeah, there's going to be some changes. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> So anyway, let's then >> we want to be on the same page, right?
>> We want the nice property tax analysis. I want to look at the expense side too. I want to get the expense because one of the troubles with new development I want run over >> time. One of the trouble with new
development is different kinds of development have different maintenance costs over time. >> Uh another reason why I like our depot square condos and the new 22 depot is
their private roads. They're they're dense. They're not going to have a whole lot of road maintenance 15 or 20 years down the line and utilities and all this >> like what happened at the ranch >> I a lot of these more suburban distant
ones have a lot more maintenance of course >> and and you know analyzing some of our older suburban type developments they're costing more than they're bringing in in tax revenue. So those are the kind of things I want
to look at in this property tax analysis so that we know what we're getting into and we direct our development toward the denser closer to town center properties that will pay back and will increase the tax base and increase the the customer
base for for businesses and and more, you know, walking and biking and and without increasing the car traffic as much. And that brings us into the >> oh jeez >> the walkability >> traffic >> the walkability initiatives. I want to
>> the speed limit and all that. >> I want to bring up the next round of of walkability. Westfield is is continuing to >> to aggressively go after safety and >> Oh yeah, the quarter. Did you see that? And Randy Brown's on that corner. Yes,
they they had a a meeting just on Monday of this >> Bridget Kane down Mike McCafety >> issues targeting of you know all of the >> doing deep analys big big grants to
>> to be involved in that and and speaking of grants one of the the things I want to bring up here and I don't know if we have time to did everybody read the complete streets funding program. >> I did. I read it. >> And that's been changed recently. It was
500,000 before it had all of these uh criteria you had to go through. They just revised it's now up to a million dollars. >> If you have a complete street policy, you get priority. >> Yeah. >> But we should definitely take advantage
of that. Did everybody read into that? Right. If you haven't, I'd like to I want us to understand it completely and maybe even maybe I'll write for the next meeting a
statement that we can craft and develop and vote on and say >> here's what we as an EDC recommend. >> I read you did a lot of the I did a lot of reading. I I read anyway, but >> where can we find it? It's it's it's
>> online you can you can search for the complete street funding program. It's on the state website. The mass >> Yeah. The mass >> mass dot I can see I'm in insurance. I see all this stuff.
>> Here's I'll I'll read a little bit of it. Construction grants are awarded up to a million dollars for eligible products. you know, prioritization plans no longer requirement. The it offers also in addition to the million dollars a technical assistant funding of up to
38,000 to develop a plan. >> Yeah. >> So give 38,000 to help develop a plan if you haven't done >> and almost every community, every town in the state has done this except a handful including Southwood. I the vast
majority of the towns >> like Granville and Chester, even the little ones who have already gotten the half million dollars in funding, >> we should take advantage of this. John Gard was in favor. I think I I see our time planned not in favor.
>> Your economic development director. >> Yes. Yes. >> And economic development director. So, I I'd like to to draft the strong statement, and I wanted to make sure everybody had a chance. Look that up. >> I read it. search complete street funding
uh on on the mass uh website and eligible activities, intersection redesign, roundabouts, intersection reconstruction curbs and
and street reconfigurations, traffic calming, >> uh road lane elimination, >> other traffic calming effects. adding adding bike space and pedestrian crossing modifications, ADA compliant
turbs and ramps and and pedestrian beacons and pedestrian activated warning devices and signal upgrades and crossing islands, raised intersections, raised crosswalks, crosswalk improvements, pedesting in bright network connections
like the one that that I'm proposing >> uh that we're trying to push forward. They will fund that up to a million dollars. >> Uh does it have to be municipally owned or can it >> the um can I know the church is privately owned? >> Well, we would
>> we have to create like an easement or something. >> Yeah, we'll we'll we'll write a we'll create an easement. Okay. >> To go through the property. >> Okay. Uh we'll do whatever is necessary to you know the >> church council is is entirely on board
with with this. I had to do the easement in front of my children. They did the sidewalks and everything a few different times. >> But they'll they'll do uh you know road bike facilities on road segments such as sidewalk, show you
path, separated bike lanes and and uh on-road bike lanes and bike boulevards and at grade rail crossing blah blah blah. All this environment and streetscape investments, street lightings, wayfinding, pedestrians, bicycles, bicycle parking, bicycle friendly, drain gates, storm water
management, street, street trees, landscaping, all of this stuff falls under and a billion dollars toward that and and that could enhance our town center and >> the whole walkability thing. So
I would like to it the the select board has brought it up in a couple of their meetings but they just kind of are have no urgency and raising well it's just going to cause us to be required to
you know limited on our future development and I don't see anything that that shows that we would be limited in any other way. I've read the policy that AOAM has written up and they they qualify everything. We will we will do this all
when it's appropriate, when it's feasible, when it is economically practical. They're not committing to right >> to putting a for example a biplane or whatever or on every single >> Well, we had master plans years ago and
they cost money for the town. They just sat on the shelf. UMass did one, someone else did one. I mean, I've been here a long time. >> 30 or >> Yeah. Yeah. One was 60,000 just sat on a shelf. >> Well, we we've got
um an open space plan and and all these things and I want to see them actually implemented. We've got a new open space committee being started and I've read the the last open space plan and they had all almost every open space. Well, we could have trails here and public
trails and connected but it's never done. >> Yeah. It's a long >> I want to I want to see things actually carried through to to where they're implemented in a way that's directly beneficial to the public. So that's you
ask why the other goals. These are the other goals I have that that aren't necessarily things that that we have to do as a whole group, but >> it's something that that I want to do even if
>> we can endorse we can suggest and endorse it >> if they want to. >> These are the Anyway, I want to vote on on this. So, please everybody look this up and read it. And I I will >> I think what I'll do is I'll draft a an
endorsement statement and see if we can modify it and then vote on it next time as as you know the EDC as a whole to endorse it and then present it to the select board, the planning board, whoever
others. Uh and that's what I want to do with with the zoning there. There is a zoning initiative now done with with Per Valley Planning Commission and the planning board has got it and who all involved in
that you're on the >> So we also have a working group uh which consists of Nicole Parker Diane Gale John Gddard uh Jess Thor and myself >> and I just wanted
to have a statement from the DC to the planning group and Here are facts and figures that we've dug out. I don't want to just present it as opinion. I want to support it with facts
from our property tax database and the the most profitable types of development and how it fits in with the economic growth of the town and say, "Here's some zoning recommendations we would like to
see implemented. uh based on what would work best. >> Well, it seems like we could almost agree on this number one. >> Yes. >> Across the board, couldn't we? I mean, as far as nailing them down >> on the numbers
back to the >> action completions back to master plan actions because we're running so late. I think >> I want everybody to think about this a little bit more. I agree with what you just said about the endorsing for the
draft. >> I want to v vote on these actions and look at the the other goals. I'd like to have I'd like to have three master plan actions and seven other goals. And a lot
of those goals, as I say, if nobody else has time for them, I will do them myself. But if if anybody is interested in in partnering, we can have teams of up to two people >> I can do it >> on on to uh and one of them is the South
African Bloom. And you know, I'm hoping that we can >> do that in a in a more streamlined way that that because we've done it before. Keep the >> the judging anything. think of things
that that paid off in terms of effort and things that that weren't that important. >> I feel bad there's like nine or 10 things here that happened. >> I know, >> you know, small business and new business and business form and all that kind of stuff. I mean, why are they so I
mean they all have something to do with each other, but yet you got all these different action items. I don't know. Yeah, there's a and you can look up the actual I I've abbreviated them for this list, but we have and I can send this to
everybody again, but here's the full >> I've got that >> full wording for each of these items. >> Uh I'm a new show reading it over. Yeah. And the one that the business incubator one is actually kind of a one-time
meeting. And that is one that Stephen championed. And I'd like you to think more about that. And it's something next time with with with mass development coming in and the other people that Alvin knows of that we've talked about.
We have somebody talked to us from Common Capital before. or we haven't had um other people we've we've touched base on that could be part of the you know resources
of of advice and capital and whatever for small businesses that are looking to either start or to expand and I don't know if there's a need for that how many people would would be involved in that?
>> Yeah, that's what we asked, >> right? asked >> would um do you have like a licensing commission or anything in town or would they be interested in attending a I mean just kind of spitballing here maybe just say all right if we have people in the
room that said all right from mass development we also have people from the town and then we have people that want to start a business just connecting I mean the the key holders I guess >> to people that want to start a business just maybe introducing them to people that can say yes >> to whatever idea that they have
>> right whether funding or licensing >> that can be part of our discussion. We're going to have uh what's his name from the >> Benjamin Murphy >> Benjamin Burke. >> He's going to be on join us on Zoom at the beginning of our meeting the next meeting.
>> Uh and he's from Mass Development. >> Yes. >> Benjamin Murphy. >> Yes. And >> we may also have connections to some of these other groups like Tom Capital >> and and we could ask him for example,
you know, what are ways some towns have have helped connect you with businesses? You know, would a forum of some type that we invite businesses in, what what can we do to connect help connect you
with with people that would want your services? You know, we even I mean, we'd have to really reach back, but we even had a document that said, you know, I want to start a business in town. What do what do I do? I mean, we walk them through the whole process. >> We did that
>> of, you know, it was all on one sheet of paper. >> Yeah. >> You know, as far as building permit and all that kind of stuff. >> That's important to know because it is daunting for people and >> Well, if you have that documentation, bring it up again. >> I can pull it out. Pull it out of the way. you say I I can pull it out
>> because that's that's something and and one thing >> why reinvent the wheel >> put in here I we've I've been trying to get this cooperation with the subject library going >> well it's almost like a packet if you walk into the town hall >> a packet
>> we should have a packet plus we could direct them to resources that the library has they have a lot of >> of resources about businesses started we don't have to develop these things ourselves You just have to help direct people. And if this is something that
you have already developed that we can actually just put on our website. I could do that. >> We do have it. >> Yeah. >> Give it to me. We can do a new tab and put it on the website. >> I mean, the town should have had it because we had we had them up >> in the court's office. I think where somebody came in.
>> Okay. See if you can you can find >> Yeah, I'll I've got a huge file on all this. I've got economic development. >> I'll put it on the the website. And if you have, but I like to put it in my office as well. >> Okay. >> Yeah.
>> Um, makes sense. >> So, that's all good. >> Yeah. Let's let's get these goals pushed together. Um, I think I covered all the the ones that I had proposed. If we're going to
do any kind of meeting with business owners, I think we need to have a a plan. >> Oh, yes. uh we need to have something of real value. We need to identify the target group of business owners,
you know, and a target might be people in the town center. It might be restaurants as a category. It might be services as a category. I you know, and we have to have something that we can offer. That's why I say a swap
advertising thing,formational services or or a group of people that are looking for for resources, >> a directory of some sort. >> Well, we've got our directory. >> I know, but we have I know what you're saying. I know what you're saying. I
sold advertising to two newspapers and I promoted all the major malls in the area. I did tabloids. I did I mean I worked for Condas. I worked for the um New House newspapers. I have a lot of experience. Our directory can >> and I know about co-op advertising.
>> Our directory can be enhanced. We can put photos in our directory. We can put promotional items in the directory. We can have, you know, I' I've thought about you can have an event, a holiday event where participating people would
would have an online coupon offered through the directory. Go online and find the best deal. We we have holiday deals on lots of businesses in town. Go and find Southwick and find all the deals. >> If you advertise like in Southwest, if
you advertise with a newspaper, I had a whole art department that I worked with. I worked with ad agencies and things like that. But if you advertise, they provide that service for as long as you pay for the ad. >> Artist. I mean, I I could do, >> right? And I'm looking for things that
would not I'm not looking for things I don't want to get into the ad business. I don't understand that paid advertising other than if we did a cost a lot of money. >> So if you're looking to get in front of the public, if you do a once a month tabloid or you do once a year or you
just you want something that's going to have shelf life booklet of some sort, >> right? Well, that's what supposed to be durable and last for years, >> right? But then you have college highway insurance and not travel center. You have Murphy's Donuts over here. They would pay for this.
You follow me? >> Well, they would pay. That's where I'm I'm I think this this destination map would be something they'd be paying for >> and that would need to be updated, >> right, >> each year. There's a lot of options. >> Do the distribution.
>> Uh that would be the best co-op advertising. This one I wanted it to be free because I I wanted everybody in it. >> I didn't want it to be only the people that could pay. >> Well, co-op advertising really >> got 160 businesses. >> If I sold Rolex watches, Rolex would pay
for the that's called co-op advertising. They pay for me to advertise the Rolex watches. So co-op is >> co-op is where you've got multiple businesses in one vehicle. >> Well, if you want to say it that way. But in the advertising world, co-op
advertising is something different. Well, we called it I've been in marketing for my whole >> we we did co-op direct marketing time. >> Well, we can talk about that. But yeah, because I I had a co-op department I worked with at the at the sprinkle paper
>> and and within print advertising. It may be a different thing we were doing. >> We did insert everything. >> Inserts and and space and >> we did all of that. We did booklets that were multi- ad booklets and and
envelopes that were multi ads in the envelope. Those were all >> vehicles. >> Okay, let me see what else we we've got here. Um, so again, now that we've had a chance to discuss it in person,
uh, think about it some more and think about what things you want to be on kind of a team and and directly involved in. uh look up the the complete streets and I'll come up with
with a statement and we'll vote on on our our master plan, our goals, our complete street and uh then we'll we'll get those things started and and have with the goal of
completing all of those things by by June of next year. And I think it's doable that, you know, the goals I put in are are things that I know I can do a large part of and would appreciate any
input from as many people as possible. >> And excellent. Um any Stephen, anything else you want to say? I didn't want to dominate >> want everybody have a chance to have
input. Uh Alvin, anything else that >> from the town planners perspective? Again, we talked about PBPC and the zoning modernization project and again um to solicit any input from this board um that I can bring back to the working
group. Um Murphy Mass development be at the next meeting. Uh in regards to planning board matters, um anything commercial wise, 497 College Highway Dunkin Donuts came before planning board this past month and they were approved for site plan
improvements um to redo the configuration of their parking lot for pedestrian and um uh well uh increase better traffic flow of the vehicles. >> They got all all the penalty. >> They got the parking lot was before the
permit. So yeah, so they they started doing the parking lot before they actually got the bonus fine. >> They put the parking >> they paid their fine. >> So and the other other uh only other commercial property 157 Being Hills Road CR T House that's been on our agenda
since I've been here. >> Um still no resolution. Uh the last thing um we had a meeting last night um the fire department is held up with how to classify the structures. You know obviously the applicants calling them
gazebo uh the fire department is trying to get a true classification to see how to properly um how are they going to review it per their fire code in building codes. >> Okay. Well, they're they're good business for the town. And I hope we get
it all straightened out. >> From the land use perspective, I have, you know, no issue on what they're trying to do. It's just a matter of, you know, >> it's a good location for for that kind of business. >> Yep. That's all. >> Okay. And I think we got enough things
lined up for for next month's agenda. Next meeting is December 17th. Uh, so I'll make a motion to adjurnn. Second. >> All in favor?