WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=Z2QkztBcx-Y

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: Z2QkztBcx-Y):
- 00:00:00: Meeting Called to Order and Introductory Remarks
- 00:05:11: Grant Opportunities: Rural Development Fund and Rail Trail
- 00:14:45: Collaborative Grant Writing Strategies Discussion
- 00:24:18: Tax Incentive Policy Discussion: Transparency and Attractiveness
- 00:34:59: Complete Streets Grants and Connector Discussion
- 00:49:06: Complete Streets Application and Powder Mill Project
- 00:59:10: TIF Discussion Follow-up and Information Sharing
- 01:05:51: Approval of Minutes and Anderson Property Vote
- 01:11:15: Citizen Leadership Academy and Filling Vacancies
- 01:18:16: Welcoming New Businesses and Future Development
- 01:22:04: Preparing Small Business Forum and Southwick in Bloom
- 01:35:35: Updated Property Tax and Economic Commission Member
- 01:38:59: Meals Tax Discussion: Facts, Perception, and Town Finances
- 01:49:26: Mission Statement for ED Commission and Long Discussion
- 02:04:14: Planning Board Approvals, Zoning Update, and Adjournment


Part: 1

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Okay, today is Wednesday, April 15, 6 pm and I'd like to call to order the meeting of the Southwick Economic Development Commission. I'm Greg D. chair. Got >> Craig Shangson, >> Serena Fuller.

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>> So, we've got three members. It's a quorum. Julie is not able to come tonight. And we also have uh guests here, our select board Russia Anderson and we've got our town planner and economic development

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director. >> Yes, good evening. >> Good evening. >> And we've got guest John Goddard. Uh and we expect guest David to Delore because we're going to talk about complete streets in a minute, but we can

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uh we were just wrapping up the saying that we don't necessarily need to take that to town meeting that as long as it's approve approved by the uh select per uh so if we're talking about the policy the

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>> talking about uh well whatever we need to move forward streets community. >> Yes. >> Then that's >> I got a note. I got a note from Nicole. So, >> okay. Excellent. Because I I was just worried if we two

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days, you know, is the deadline for the warrant. >> Oh, sure. Yeah. This is the time when if action has to be taken. >> And my my goal here that I've been saying all along is I want to be able to put in a for a grant in November when it opens up.

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>> And there's a lot to do between now and then. >> Yes. And that's part of what I want to discuss is if we if it does get approved next week at the select board meeting to go forward with it. >> Uh next meeting is the 27th.

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>> Oh, okay. >> For the Patriots next week. So, >> all right. >> Oh, that's right. >> 27th. So, that I want to be kind of discussing what we want to do next. And I also want to, you know, talk about um well, how we decide what kind of

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project we want to do. And I want to touch on other grant opportunities that we would consider for different projects and hate to necessarily go into this in too much detail, but this maybe is more

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relevant to to you. Anyway, it's looking at for example Mass Works infrastructure program and have we had a grant recently with that? I looked at the last seven years and I didn't see us in the their list.

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>> Most recently um we have two grants uh from the FY25 cycle uh through Mass Works. Uh so I think under their umbrella includes the rural development fund. >> Okay. Well I was you know I was talking

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about infrastructure that yeah there's also rural development was another one on >> well I'm I'm thinking of >> the onetop. >> Yeah that's right. So Massworks if it will being called and and these other funds kind of folded in um to that onetop program. >> Right. But Mass Works specifically. I

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looked up their last year's awardees. Chester got 980 thou,000. Talon got a million. Uh, Becket got a million. Lennox got a million. 680.

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Uh, Deerfield got a million. And North Adams got 2 million. And some of these I think both Becket and Talon got a reward just a couple years earlier as well for close to the same. We should begin.

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>> We should be and and I know it's a well neither knowledge or another one way or another. Uh we we put in for uh we'll call it the first phase. A million dollar was capped under I believe the small town um roads program up there where we

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looked at just the first phase of work over at Powder Mill Road. Um so if you starting close to the school campus extending down to the Woodland School Drive um that being uh a road reconstruction project eats up dollars very quickly with every foot you move

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forward. Um so not nevertheless uh regrettably weren't funded through that um uh through that opportunity. Um and if you'd like this is I'm happy to expand on these ideas. Um I don't know if you want to get into the deep details of the ideas.

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I'm talking about, you know, strategically, is there a way to take a strategic approach? Because as I read through these programs, it says >> that the more people in the town you can get on board and endorsing it, etc., the

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more likely you are to get a grant. >> So, we'd be happy to endorse it economic development. >> So, there's a couple of thoughts. Um, if everybody will entertain my uh I guess it's expanding on this. Always just had to listen to me for an hour plus. So,

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um, my apologies. But nevertheless, um, I dug into this uh this uh called the the one-stop program and trying to find u a good fit um for such a rail trail connector project >> and and I'm thinking broadly, but

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>> sure. Well, >> rail trail is one of the one of them. I'm thinking so >> and when David comes in, we'll talk about mass trails because he's dealt with that before >> and that's gonna be fantastic. Um the the opportunity that I found um is I

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suppose rooted within some of the philosophy under Mass Works, right? They are trying to um unlock parcels for development in places. Um, I believe that Masswork supported, if you will, the prior phase of the Hudson Drive Sam

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West uh road project. Uh, that fitting very cleanly, but also unlocking opportunities for um economic development. I think this still fits within within that uh umbrella. um is if we're looking at a recreational

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connection to bring people to um our commercial corridor, our downtown area, >> well, we have a a corridor with uh 60,000 trips a year. >> Open that to our our town center. I

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think it uh it fits and the best fit I was able to find was through that same rural development fund that if you will uh uh supported design work uh and engineering for one of the culberts having fewer strings tied to it. Um

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some of the strings that get tied to these grants are matches. >> Um Right. Yeah. >> And uh >> although sometimes it's only 10%. >> Right. And that's the goal, right? to stay away ones that are in the 20% range and I think we'll be talking a little about that later where it's harder to

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come up with staff hours or even if you will uh funds you know through John meeting or otherwise that can support and manage that um uh that match. Um so you're right something close to the 10% range starts to be much more attainable

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when you're looking at staff um hours. Um so we feel that at at a rather high level um and of course we're looking at some of the um uh I guess it's the mass works one-stop continuum right my my thought was that the the world

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development fund might be one of the better fits for such a program >> yeah and I I saw qualy in terms of density we don't qualify in terms of total population but it's one or the other and >> yep >> and we've got I think it's under 500 per

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mile something like that. >> Yeah. >> Average. >> Uh yeah, I went through I tried to find all that I could of the recent I see the Klein Road cover was under the the municipal vulnerability program or

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something. >> Construction. Y >> that was 526,000 just for the preparation phase I guess. >> No, then that was the construction. >> The construction. Okay. And then there's Bungalow Street, which community development block grant. >> Yes.

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>> Million1 170. >> Yes. I I >> was that federal money though. >> I'm uh So that was community development block grants. I don't know where the root of those funds might be. It may be

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through a different chain, but that that was funds as it was provided to us. Yeah. And then the uh there's a preparation of North Lake

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Avenue. >> Mhm. And that's for mass development just the site prep and powder mill has initiating design for 115,000 and

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there's the rand road bridge over double brook has some fun too. Yeah, we we are um at least we try to hit the I'm going to call it the usual players um and uh every year frankly you know go there

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what's our next you know we're looking at a design year are we trying to shift you know towards the more uh well costly implementation um projects so we got there try to hit we're going to call it those resources um but there are ones that we don't uh

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come into contact with either through staff uh we'll call um staff hour limits um only so many uh uh opportunities we can you know chase down in a given year. Um but uh but the state's I think done a fairly

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good job between Mass DOT trying to consolidate under a similar umbrella as what the onetop program does for Mass Works uh and even the eco onetop is a spin-off of that um to try to make it a little bit easier

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um to go to a single clearing house, >> right? put in your expression of interest and let them triage, give you feedback for, okay, this is where we think you're strong, where you might be missing, and this might be the best fit for, you know, your your uh your proposal. >> Does Pioner Valley Planning Commission

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get involved in that too somewhere along the way or no? >> Yes. Um when for the we'll call it for the right project. >> Okay. >> Um they're Go ahead. They are assisting us with the eco1top grant um for

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modernization of our our zoning ordinance. >> Yeah. Were they involved too with the Ed Hulcom thing that >> uh not Ed Hulcom but if you will the CDBG block grants have historically been exclusively um

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managed if you will through PVPC. >> Yeah. >> Um that those funds will be being provided to them to administer. We work with a consultant and eventually we get the construction um out of those lake roads through those programs for unaccepted

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streets. >> Yeah, we Alvin has joined now, but I'm in a an Western Mass Economic Development Group that meets once a month and last month we had a presentation from someone on the one stop.

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>> Fantastic. >> Just really pushed and said, "You got to be aggressive. You got to get out there. you you've got to work with their consultants. You even use their AI to >> to help find matching projects.

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>> I So that's kind of a funny thing that they changed uh for this year. Um the expression of interest if you will element where you are coming up with a very broad very although brief um but you know it's the course description of what you're trying to achieve um if you

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will in the onestep program. Yeah. That's uh that is managed through >> there's a calendar program. >> Right now they're just opening up those expression of interest. >> Yeah. >> Things that work toward where things are submitted and a lot of these obviously

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take a year or more to prepare just for the app. >> You bring up a good point. um there is some well uh leg work leading up to it whether it's through PVPC you know if it's the type um and scale of project

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where their participation is um needed or helpful uh sometimes they're poised to move quickly um as they did with eco onetop similar communities uh within the their region similar needs sometimes we have

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to engage uh civil engineer >> I'm sorry John Wandy could you mute your mic please. >> Randy, are you >> We have music to go along with >> a company. I've never >> Maybe this is that part of that one step.

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>> Okay, maybe >> that's good. So I was I was just mentioning that uh uh working with uh consultants to come up with cost estimates uh and a lot of ways that's their marketing effort to help you what is it going to cost to build this

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culvert or connector um you know um or what have you. They can help look at the broad per,000 I think in there just for the preparation work. >> Sure. Yeah. for identifying priority projects, right? Um at that level. So

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there is some leg work um and opportunities to collaborate outside of I'm going to call it just the the town of Southwick um staff or people whoever's pushing it forward should be able to you know >> so sort of bureaucracy kind of like help

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you because when I I used the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission 40 years ago when I opened my business they helped me with my parking lot. They helped me with my sign and it was great. They came in, but that's back in the old day. We didn't have computers and all that stuff's going on, but they were they were really nice and it was really they

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were great to do business with. >> They were phenomenal. And I was brand new. I was half the age I am now. They were great. >> I'm grateful that uh you know, we do have the resources um at their agency u to help us zoom out a little bit. Uh

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each one of us uh in our in our days we can sometimes get a little tunnel vision or have to really you know get into the nitty-gritty on somewhere but you know they operate well at a regional level at a higher elevation. Um >> you know a good portion of their staff

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are devoted to um you know pursue helping communities to pursue um and be awarded grants. Right. >> Did I go too far? Adam. >> So, back to the practical consideration, what's the best way to work

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collaboratively if that's helpful to get >> so >> some additional grants that may otherwise fall in the cracks between uh different areas. So I think um you and the economic development commission

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um uh having this uh discussion is a good place. You have to have a springboard from somewhere, right? Um uh that seed that you're going to see if you can sprinkle some water on and do you want what do you want to grow into? Is it going to sprout? Right. >> Um you know that part right there. Uh I

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do think that um having discussions with you know various related town um um staff or or departments um can help to build that momentum. The discussion goes even further when you get further down the line. We do engage the select board

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that's uh for I think all grant activities they do want to see the endorsement um of the select board um for us to pursue. Um I don't think that there would be many opportunities for frivolous uh grant applications given

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the depth that some of them require but nevertheless um identifying is the hard part right trying to figure out what's what's out there. >> Um because uh we'll call just a a keyword search doesn't quite get you there. >> As I mentioned I think that the continuums that they are assembling are

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really helpful. Um but sometimes just asking the folks uh you know for us sometimes I ask um a consulting engineer >> um as a project draws to a close or looking to move to another phase ask for their opinion what do you think the best fit is um given these you know

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qualifying characteristics and these mitigating ones. So consultants um as well as you know agents over at PVPC if uh if they can't if they're not the right person to speak to they can always plug us in with someone who is. Is it

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worth it for any of us to go through one stop and inquire separately or is it better to do a coordinated uh careful effort to so uh I'll oper I'll confess in in

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preparation uh for today I've been working through uh expressions of interest for our um physical infrastructure projects um and seeing um if we're at a point where we feel like we have a strong candidate for the

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massworks program. Figuring out, you know, how many projects the town will be able to, you know, support an application for or maybe eligible to submit. Sometimes there are limitations. Um, but for fun um so seeing as that was a artificial intelligence um generated

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process um you know, as I mentioned, I put in every active project we have going on that I don't have a current application elsewhere. um in the works for and I threw in if you will this idea to make a connector between our commercial corridor and I'll be honest that's also what steered me towards

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looking more closely at the rural development fund. Um I think as with a lot of artificial dungeons you have to be descriptive um and think about you know what are the u what are the limitations >> right what are the pitfalls >> right um

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in in this particular case I just described it as being as you know connecting our main commercial thoroughare >> um with a um wellused um uh rail trail that supports pedestrian bicycle and other um we call it um

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non nonmotorized uh traffic you people use it for uh for pleasure for recreation and for we'll call it commuter transportation you know purposes that opportunity is there and so if we expand it what uh how does this fit in um and and I'd be happy to share

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that um with the commission so you can see what the feedback from the program looked like what the prompt was that I gave it to and make sure we're seeing eye to eye >> sure sure >> um so >> u I suppose the when thinking about next steps um with

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such an effort whether it's you know through this uh uh one-stop opportunity or something else is examining okay uh you know which entity within the town is best suited to um advance a proposal

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um is it public works is it park and recreation is it the economic development commission and of course we all we all play on the same team so >> is it finance is it yeah I know what you're Yes. >> And and with the rail trail, it may be

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working >> that and I can appreciate that. >> And I'm seeing that the rural fund is up to 500,000 and that might cover it. Um whereas the the infrastructure is a

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million to five million points. I we can the fun part about I suppose well working with this now uh artificial nodes interface is that I think we have the opportunity to you know at least examine a little bit closely you know what what feedback did it have in the background um that may have pushed it

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one way or another >> and and in the presentation last month they said you know we've they've tested the artificial intelligence and it's not 100% yet >> uh that's a fair observation across the board right? Everything has to be vetted

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>> and and so don't rely entirely on it. Use that explor in an exploratory way, but talk to the real people there. >> My concern and not to this isn't what we're going to call a disqualifying characteristic, but um uh I'm going to

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say the the prototypical Mass Works project um is providing I'm going to call it opportunities for growth in a very direct fashion. Um now while I think we all can appreciate that more

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people um on our downtown section of college highway is growth and it leads to >> I think argument I I looked at the descriptions of these other projects I read off >> and

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I didn't see you know super arguments in any >> and that's fair you are only scored against everybody else who applies in a given year right Um, >> right. I think that ours could easily compete with the ones I saw back at Chester. And, you know,

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>> it's it's worth exploration for sure. I think the we'll call it the ideal project in their world is where, you know, uh, you're looking at a project that somehow um, opens a new opportunity. And if all this is resonating, you're like, John, we've got

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all of that, then perfect. But, you know, commitments from business owners, >> I think that argument. Um, and for sure you I think you open this discussion with support. All right. I think that's a >> the bigger vision I have for for the town center is to

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be able to if you can can have more dense development around it like this new 42 depot. Mhm. >> That helps all of the town center and

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and you get pedestrians, you get bicyclists and electric bikes and >> Oh, yeah. >> You know, all that stuff coming right into town center. And a lot of the small businesses that are some that that you

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kind of go in on a whim rather than is if you're driving there, you have to have it planned and I'm going there and drive and park and shop. If you can make the town center walkable as our as our master plan calls for it, you get a lot

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more people just wandering in and that is a huge opportunity. The more walkable you make the town center, the more you get, you know, walk-in business a lot of small businesses in particular. >> Yeah.

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Um, so that I think there's a strong argument for economic development and all of that. >> John, do you write grants yourself? Have you done it? >> Uh, yeah. The quick answer is yes. I

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amum in my mind there's a uh a more qualified person or more person that uh, you know, devotes their pursuit to grant um, writing, but uh, I do manage application and compose information. Oh, you do? >> Um, for our DPW uh grants. Yes.

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>> That's great. >> Okay. Since David isn't here yet, can we switch to another topic here? So, move through the agenda and we'll come back to this as soon as David is here. And since we have uh Randy on, if I can

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unmute him. >> Hello. >> Oh, you there? >> Yes, I am here. Okay, let's let's go to your your and this was in addition to the agenda at the last minute, a proposal to

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uh move forward with developing a policy for for tax incentives, >> right? For tax incremental financing. Um, it's something that will help display to the public, you know, transparency and that we're we have a policy that everyone is eligible for and

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that there's no favoritism that going on for certain people, that type of thing. >> Yeah, I I'm all for it. It's actually one of our master plan action items. >> Yeah. Okay, great. >> Development is is supposed to do. We

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didn't put it up in the first priority, but I think we could. I think we could move it up. I looked at I read through the ones from Greenfield in West Springfield that that uh Alvin forwarded to me and I like the one from Greenfield

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really well and I think it would be great. I I love how it qualified it a lot because my one concern about TIFFs is that we don't want to use them unless we need to. Unless that's what's required to get the kind of business we

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want. and and I thought all the qualifications Greenfield put in there were were really good. The one change I would make from what Greenfield did is I don't think we need we don't have a big goal of bringing in employment because we're pretty much a bedroom community as

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it is. Uh and our entry level jobs are in demand. So the biggest thing is we want development for for uh you know new expanding the pack space is the main

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thing we're looking for in in a tiff. Well, um this would definitely go a long way towards, you know, establishing that. And so I was proposing to put together a committee of different people. Um you know, uh Alvin, of

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course, the economic developer and planner, myself. Uh I was hoping yeah to maybe have someone even from the master plan committee or you know from the economic development commission uh or both really um participating too so that we could help craft this make sure that

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it's something that is uh you know good for the town but also provides a sufficient incentive for anyone that might be looking to uh to utilize that process to help them develop their business. >> I think that's a great idea. I'd be

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happy to join. Uh I think it's well worth doing and I agree with you that if you have it there, it can be a it can be a draw. The other thing to keep in mind compared to West Springfield and I assume Greenfield

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as well is we've got a strong tax incentive right now anyway because we have the lowest tax rate, business tax rate of most anyone. certainly lower than West Springfield or Springfield is over $30 32 or something.

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>> Uh yeah, they're they're all Westfield they're all more than double our basic property tax, >> right? With a split tax rate, too, so it's higher for commercial properties. >> Well, that's what makes it double. >> Yeah, exactly. So, um, yeah, I think it

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would just be a great idea that going forward that we have this in place, like I said, to show the impartiality and that no one is, uh, you know, getting a a different deal than someone else. Um, and, uh, both of those were crafted with

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a certain, you know, something that happened or a certain thought process in mind, you know, and, um, so yeah, Greenfields did sort of reflect and I was on the committee that developed that. sort of, you know, took in some more proactive

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type of uh concerns. And then they did have uh certain things that were specific to Greenfield and certain things that they were trying to develop that we could, you know, leave out. Those are just as I said, examples. And I think that Alvin might also be able to get us another example. Um, but I think

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that we should put this committee together and uh hammer out exactly what our policy is going to be and then we can have it that's something that's online. um for people to look at if they are interested and to let them know, hey, there are incentives that are available if you're looking to, you

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know, spend some money, invest in your uh in your business and you want to have it in a good community. >> Yeah, I'm all for it. And, you know, an ad hoc committee may only be a few months of we'd have something to, you know, present to the select board or

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broader group. >> What do you think, Russ? >> Sounds good to me. quicker the better. >> And so, um, I'm pretty sure I have talked to Nicole about this and I'm pretty sure that we have her blessing to

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to, um, to initiate this in, uh, incentive or, uh, you know, this this process, I guess. And so um you know uh like I said I I I did talk to Alvin and I believe that he is you know wants to participate and I am definitely I think

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the board of assessors needs to be one of the participants. So um I I'm not sure who else we should ask or how else we need to advertise this to to put it together to make sure that we're not uh leaving anyone out that wants to be in the mix that you know is appropriate.

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Anyway, you know, do we have to make a motion or something like that? You know, I'm not sure, but um or if it would be more appropriate to come from a different office. Um I'm just uh I actually also when I was talking to Nicole, she has so much on her plate that I asked her if I

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could sort of uh take the initiative to try and spearhead this to get it done. So, um, you know, maybe, uh, just like I said, I'm not sure if we would need to make a motion in some officially some

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>> let's ask Russ here whether >> whether that does an ad hoc committee like this have to be initiated by a have to be a subcommittee does it need to come from board because it's it it seems like it's coming. I can't speak as an

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expert on it obviously, but >> yeah, >> it seems like it's coming from something that's tax base and something that's economic development, >> right? >> So whether >> it comes from you and the board just endorses it or the town administrator

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endorses it, I'm not sure the legality of that. >> Um, >> yeah, I would think the assessor is definitely being because they're >> My personal feeling is there should be a a separation from the board. >> Yeah. in in in the workings of it. That's my personal feeling. Has nothing to do with the board.

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>> Sure. >> Um >> that makes sense. And and let me read the this is the approved 20 240 master plan economic development 2.5 develop and implement an economic incentive program that may include tax incentives

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and grant writing assistance for new businesses uh coming to or starting in South to incentivize small and local business generation in town including new farm businesses that are lessened by the increase in size. >> So I would assume that in in the process

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you would have some sort of hearing slashopen door slash something. So any input could come in whether it could be from business, whether it be from >> another board we're not thinking about. Um as long as you have those processes in place, >> right? >> To me that seems fair.

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>> So what's broken that we're trying to fix? >> Well, we don't have a >> formal policy for tax incentives. And that that's a problem in in two ways. If you do them just kind of one person at a

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time, it may not be fairly awkward. >> It's never bothered us before. >> Well, >> we've gotten undone. >> But maybe I'm not sure the tax incentives we've done in the f in the past have been optimum for the town and

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this would help optimize them for the town by having a a consistent policy. So who would decide what the tiff is? >> Still has to be voted on. Tom still have to be approved. >> So in other words, you're trying to find

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a place where they can go and and say this is what I have to policy that says here's what we offer. Here's our fair policy on dealing with this rather than favoritism. You know, we're looking for this kind of

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business. We're we're looking for this types of characteristics for tax incentive. We want it we we might limit it to fiveyear. You know, we did want it 10 years. Maybe we want to say >> and percentage percentages. Yeah. Per

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year. >> This should be the standard percentage unless you know there's some extra advantage in in this particular case. Here are the kinds of businesses we we'd like. We, you know, I think it's West Springfield excluded retail entirely in

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their in their write up. They said, "We're not interested in retail unless there's really some special one." You know, we're looking for manufacturing. We get special incentives to to uh redevelopments in in vacant buildings or

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or clean out areas. And >> have we given a lot of tiffs? We currently have one right now with Wall-E computers. >> I know Wall-E has one. Yes, I understand that one. But but prior to that, have we had done a lot? I don't think we have. >> That's true. >> Yeah. >> I'm just trying to understand what makes

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this fair when you have uh another business of, you know, like value in the community. It it just really unlevels the playing field. So, I don't see what we've ever done that's made this fair, much less what I think. I don't think we've done in the past, but we've uh I

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will send all of you the the samples that that I just got two hours ago, so I haven't had a lot of time to to read it, but I'll I'll send you >> the the ones from um >> Hey, look. Sorry, I'm late. >> I think in transparency that there is a

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process. >> Yes. >> Start calling for a motion and all that kind of stuff. We haven't even seen anything. I >> We can't do a motion. The motion would be just to to do to set up the committee. I'm not sure we need to vote on that here, whether we have the authority to to set it up. I

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>> I think we should do some more talking amongst ourselves first. But uh anyway, >> and that's why we brought it up at this meeting to begin with just to let people know that this is something that we're trying to accomplish. Um I think that there might be another business that is attempting to pursue um a tiff with us

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right now. And so it would be in my opinion it would be a good idea for us to get on this as soon as possible. And Greg you mentioned the master plan committee and there was uh that same uh item that was brought to the assessors which I explained the different things

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that we had uh available the small commercial exemption and uh tiffs and I suggested I sort of ended that responsibility for the board and my suggestion was to to create this tiff committee. So I'm not sure if you know it could possibly be born out of the

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master plan committee that hey we want to look at you know what of of creating this formal policy so that we can show uh like I said that to the general public we're treating everyone the same and that no one is getting any preferential treatment and also just as

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a guide to business to look at if they are thinking about it to have the information on our website so they can uh u make a more educated decision I think would be a good idea also. >> Okay. Well, let's, you know, for this meeting just say I'll

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I'll say that I'm very interested. There's some questions. We'll we'll follow up with more discussion, but I'm very interested. I think you should go ahead and and talk to master plan implementation and see if that's something that that they would authorize

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or or what would the best process would be. But I'm I'm willing to be on it and I think Alvin is and you know so >> yeah and myself. So there's a start and I will talk to uh the town manager Nicole and uh make sure that she's in

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the loop and um ask her for further guidance on where it should be initiated uh you know officially and um like I said I've kind of asked her if I could take the ball and run with it on this. So hopefully I'll just get her blessing and um there may not need to be any

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official vote anywhere to start this up about if I you know get the authorization or or possibly uh someone from the select board you know if it's brought up at their next meeting you know we'll figure out what we have to do to make sure that it's official and uh and authorized and then we'll take steps

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towards uh you know establishing our our own policy. >> Yeah. Okay. Let's move it forward. >> All right. Well, I appreciate you making the time and and taking me a little early.

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>> Okay. >> Thank you. >> All right. Well, thank you. Now we'll move on to back to our we we started the discussion of of grants and we were talking about uh

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you know discussing mass works grants and the onetop and and infrastructure program and they also have their uh rural development program that we're saying might be a something that even the bike trail would fit in. I know you have more experience with mass trails.

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So maybe you could you know give your thoughts on >> Yeah. Mass trails more for the grants are looking to connected to different things be it parks like the lakes the schools something like that you'd be more more likely to get grants for not

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necessarily repairs something that's going to draw more people to different businesses. So, so the connector would >> that that would probably fall under that. Yeah. Be >> because we're bringing people in. It's

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also a new entry point where we'd have parking and be an entry point to for the trail. So, it's it's definitely connecting it to the center of town from something that's bypassing the town. >> Yeah. Costwise with that, you're looking at having to get money from other

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sources, right? >> Along with a grant for that. Do they what percent do they >> um usually >> usually 30 to 50% but when you apply for it they're going to want >> know where the money's coming from and

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and who's funding it >> with with the connector. Uh would that conflict with any other project park and wreck project? >> Um as far as parking goes or as far as money goes? money. Have you guys

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requested any funds? >> Well, we have the the pickle ball things going forward, so I'm not sure how it's going to work as far as applying for another big grant like this close. It might, it might not. It's not up to us.

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>> It's a crap Yeah. Yeah. You don't know. Yeah. >> Yeah. It's I mean, we could be in favor of >> because you have two going here and two at Wall-E Park. Is that right? >> Uh there'll be six at Wall-E Park. >> Oh, six at Wally Park and two here. got a little bigger than I thought. >> Oh, it did? Okay. >> Yeah.

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>> All right. >> David brings up a good point in that uh trying to uh I guess we'll we talked about it earlier, conceive a project, right? Uh figure out what's going to look like, what what's the scope going to be? Um, and when it comes

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down to looking at grant support, figuring out, you know, where you what asks you can get on the table and hopefully get funded for through one mechanism or another to help support whatever can't be managed with, we'll call it staff matching funds. That's it's hard hard to hard to line all that

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up and then hit a, you know, submittal deadline um without that being part of we'll call the future year cycle. a lot of convincing. >> It seems to me, you know, about getting too deep into this, it seems like to me like the next step would be to talk to a

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live person beyond AI to explain the the what the idea is and what the benefits are and have them give their opinion. >> I think that's a a reasonable conclusion. Um,

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>> who would that be? The the only thing I'll observe is that uh um for example the onetop um actual program being open right now closes uh early early June um you know there's a period of time when you can engage uh people for that it probably means

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throughout the year you can have very coarse discussions but as you're trying to hone in on project specific answers uh they start to have defined windows about you know when they're available for those discussions and when they're not. So, but yeah, that it you're I

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think >> which is why I'm trying to push push us to do something sooner than than later. >> Yes. >> So, we don't miss a whole year. >> Yeah. >> Um

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what are your other thoughts on your experience with um well grants? It's >> we've just gone through for the mass trails grant, but it's that's due February 1st or it has everything's got to be in and they want to see your source of funding before then. So be it

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from the CPC or somebody else you want to have that like >> do they combine sources of grants? Would that be it or it would have to be a >> I would imagine if you had another grant that was free and clear before going for that and that was going to provide a

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certain amount of money. >> So like if we went to rural and they said well we'll give you because that that goes from 100 to 500,000 and you were saying that your estimate is it might be 500,000.

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>> Yeah. just by the things I've got. I mean crossing the gas line as part of it be a little bit of expense with that and then basically the whole thing would have to be excavated out of it. >> Right. And by the way we went in and

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>> we back in early spring of last year was it late? I forget now when it was. We actually met with the gas line people and >> and walked walked to the spot and >> and uh you know talked about it and they

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they said, "Yeah, you can do it. Just you can't drive your real heavy equipment across the gas line. You got to take care of a couple of test holes out there to >> see what's in there and how deep the gas lines are." And then it would have to be I believe it was four or five feet built

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up anywhere that's crossing that. >> Yeah. And then excavating. >> Yes. >> It's a big expense. >> Yes. And the fill to get >> Yes. >> everything out there.

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>> How many fuses is the total length is about a quarter mile. >> So they're just boxing out for the paving. Well, the paving and the rest of the site work excavating and bringing in just boxing out. You say excavating and

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just boxing out. Yes. Getting rid of the >> Yeah, there'll be some trees that'll have to come down certain areas >> through the woods. Quite a quite a few trees. >> Now, do you have to get um what do you call it when you go on someone's property? An eman. >> Yeah. The only part it was going to

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cross is the new condominiums, which I I guess you had spoke to, >> right? John had sent a letter to them and it it was they said I hey we we'll be glad to work we'll be any way you want. >> So that's it that's going to cross

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>> and then it's going through the the church property which we would be willing to write >> whatever legal agreement that would provide a >> What about all those people with the backyards? My friend has it wouldn't go through anybody's backyards. It's basically um from where the condos are.

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>> Yeah. of Powdermel Road, their back entrance there. It's fairly close to that and it runs through the woods there. >> Okay. >> So, it's not gonna hit anybody's backyard till you know a long way from the the you can't even see the houses

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from >> No, >> it's pretty steep, too, isn't it? >> Um, not the way we walked out. It's kind of gradual. >> It's 4% I think%. It seems like it the prudent thing to

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get a couple of estimates, right? I mean per leader project. >> Yeah, just got rough estimates on it, but not anybody to go out there and walk it and price it from there. >> But I think we're going to get serious

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with any grand writing folk, it'd be nice to have three in hand. >> Yeah. Yeah, definitely. >> Exactly what's going to happen. And then I would think that as as far as the narrative goes, I think a lot of this stuff it's nice to sit and talk across the way from somebody. But I think if we

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get this all down on a piece of paper on the benefits and so forth, it's a lot easier to absorb than >> and and there are issues with the grants as John has brought up whether they'd prefer to have something that the town owns and this is town owned property. But

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>> but I mean you can outline just what we just talked about right here. That's the package, right? I mean, so it's a I don't want to say a shove already, but uh nearly I mean subject to these things being accomplished. >> You're coming this side of it, the church. >> It has to be like ADA wheelchairs and

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>> there's nothing anything that was really steep because it kind of sprayed up and was kind of >> that's what I thought because it's going to go up through the highway. Correct. >> Okay. >> Seems like that's a steep. and we'll we'll come

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>> Would you like to pull up a map and put it on the screen? >> Um, >> I don't want to get into it that deep right now because we're going to run out of time. >> No problem. >> Uh, >> but anyway, this is this is a bike trail and this is wide here and just a very

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little corner, but that'll connect it to 100 units that that'll be a quarter mile from the mountain. Okay. Uh does it pay? I proposed at one point to the select board that we have, you know, a ad hoc committee of people from

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planning and park and wreck or DPW or whatever to talk about, you know, uses for complete street grant or whatever. They didn't like the idea. I I think that from what I remember is it got presented. It got sort of

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supported. Um and then Rich was we're waiting for Rich to come back with a a definite on there's more positives than negatives. Just making sure there's no >> So, we might bring that up again if if Rich comes back and and >> so I would I would put forward to Rich

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and to Nicole to um revisit it on old business for the 27th. >> Okay. Then it's a goal to try to you got a couple weeks to kind of >> but it and then if that does get approved in order to pick the project

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what's the best way to do that to have you know park and rec planning economic ad hoc together to brainstorm who takes the lead and and you know are there other projects to throw into the mix.

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Uh if we get complete streets, we want >> check all the boxes. >> We we want to if we do get complete streets and it doesn't apply to the this connector, we want to find something else that applies to whether that's powder mill or whatever. I think it

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I think there's a lot to discuss. >> Is Powder Bell a long-term project as far as redoing that? I I mean like 5 years 10 years or >> uh >> no definite >> no uh well first of all it's a it's near-term in at least in

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relating to the fact that we do have engineered plans and active conservation permits um longer term in that we don't uh currently have a source of funding to support the work. Uh it's it involves

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water main and storm drainage improvements in addition to some minor road realignment closer to depot and south longard. >> Yeah. >> Uh will also improve that intersection. All I'm trying to say is that I guess with another project per linear foot

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it's costly. So it is a little longer term in that aspect. >> Okay. And I have argued that doesn't pay to go all the way to depot that >> we'll agree to disagree but nevertheless >> um I think you're touching upon an important point. It is hard to figure

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out uh the limitations seem to be a little bit lighter in terms of how to get applications into authorities uh through these clearing houses. Um, but for sure trying to figure out which ones to put the time to advance uh and have

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the support of the select board uh is a bit of a process. I I personally I think is economic development has a proposal and whether it's with park and wreck and whatever other players it it could could be

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should be presented and vet vetted by those involved and and if there's a second project then somebody probably the select board and or others are going to have to score it as to >> okay you know boards >> and part of the problem we're going to

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have is we have no Right. The that's the problem. >> So, I mean, we're really standing on the edge of a cliff. We're hanging on, but not like some other towns. So, um, we have to be very careful on how we do it. So, so perhaps that this project scores

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higher because maybe it only takes, I don't know, >> X amount of dollars. Yeah. >> X amount of dollars and your project takes X amount times 10. >> Huge dump. Yeah. >> So, >> you know, you're planning for that in year 10. This is year two. And when you say there's no money, is the CP are the CPC

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>> CPC? No, no, I'm not. I'm just talking tax money and >> right >> using free cash to pay bills. So >> a potential source of of a 10% share, whatever proportion share >> because there's a lot of rows in bad shape.

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>> Yeah. And we're kind of refining some of that right now that we think we have some answers. Yeah. >> But we're not going to have all the answers, right? Um, so it's, you know, and some of the frustration with that is it's it's not just the road, it's the drainage.

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>> Exactly. >> Some of them get away with a quick fix. Some of them we can't. >> Some of them we might not be able to do a >> big fix just because you get to use that service where people they looked down all the streets. >> Yep. Just being refined. Okay. It is. Okay. >> This week. Good.

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>> So, >> it's definitely it helps you plan. All right. a quarter mile is going to cost us 150,000 or whatever. Right. Um, so now we got to sit down and go through and I was asking see if you're there tomorrow morning, but >> I am >> and kind of pick a all right, for x

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amount of dollars, what are we looking at? What streets are have the biggest impact, >> right? >> Get us >> which ones are highly traveled, blah blah blah. Yeah. Yeah. But yeah. >> Um, but it's frustrating because what we want to do, we can't, >> right? I understand.

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which I'll just throw this out for economic development and I don't know if this the street program comes into it. We had a um what do you call it public comment the other night. I don't think you were there for point grow

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and they asked if we could you know a the road's horrible you know complaint >> not walkable. >> Not walkable. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. We were there and they're asking for sidewalks down that road. Oh, I know who that is, too. >> But I mean, it I never thought of it

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before, but when I do drive down there, there's always a lot of people walking on the edge. >> There are. >> And I don't don't know if because you're taking a population density of um the apartments um and a lot of the side streets to a state entity, the boat

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ramp. >> Yeah. >> Restaurants. I don't know if that opens other doors for other grants, >> right? Like Grove Street, that area, like Lakewood, all of that. >> That whole area, the population, all that. fits complete streets kind of stuff. >> Yeah. Yeah. Complete streets. We want to make connections with economic activity

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and recreation and >> such. So just throw that on the list. >> And complete streets is big about >> we need to build a bridge. >> Safety for pedestrians is a big point. >> Yeah. No, you're right. And I know an attorney who moved on grocery street with his wife and he used to live at the

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apartments and he said he was going to try to >> Maybe that's him. >> Yeah, I think it is. I think it is. But, you know, it's like, geez, I never thought of that. And he's right. Every time go by there, someone's walking down this edge of the road. >> Yeah. And it's Yeah, it's not a good situation.

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>> So, just thought I'd bring those two. >> Yeah, that's a a very good point. Okay. Well, we've got more agendas. So, let's wrap it up with the idea that the 27th there's going to be a vote on it at that

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point. >> Right. Mhm. >> The select board's going to vote on it >> if it gets presented in old business if we can get all the parts that we are looking for. So, yeah. >> So, what are you going to vote on >> if we're moving forward with this the concept of complete streets

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>> because of a policy in order to qualify for the grants of up to a million dollar? >> Just that we're we would be acknowledging the concept to entertain grants under this whatever the project might be. No, no specific project.

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>> That's kind of the way to look at it, right? >> Right. Initially, you just adopt the policy, >> right? Right. >> And and then that qualifies you to then pursue the grants. >> Then Greg's going to write them all and then look them over.

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>> It's Yeah. Probably a lot of towns get turned off because they don't have the they don't have a meeting like this going on. It's just complicated. >> It's hard. >> It's hard. and and find the people that are talented enough to put this together and you know brainstorm it. >> In terms of complete streets over 200

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towns I know grants. So >> it's >> well you would think everyone will be able to be qualified for that that you don't have to join it or whatever. You would think that >> you can and the policy is not complicated. There's basically a template for it. We just take a

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template. I've wrote up a sample. You've written up one. uh we just agree on it, keep it uh as simple as possible but >> but qualifying >> right >> for the the programming >> and

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you know we we don't think that there there's any economic negatives that John is or riches so canet um whether he's he sees any because that's been the concern before

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that they've required to us to spend money that we wouldn't otherwise. But >> or it might not fit our town, you know, for >> right. >> Well, they they they exclude rural areas to say you don't have to build sidewalks in rural areas. You it has to make

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economic sense, but it's mostly for I think the point grow is an exact type of thing that they're trying to to do and make make it >> safer >> safer. It's it's about, you know, complete street

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is is mostly counteracting a street that's made for cars only. You're adding in the pedestrian and maybe the bicycle and you know in cities transit buses, but uh you know for us it's it's making sure they're walkable.

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>> They're safe. >> They're safe. mostly about safety. Good. >> Okay. Well, we'll we'll leave it at that and and uh pick it up again. I'll I'll be in touch. >> Excellent.

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>> And and with you, David, as well. Okay. And if you have think of anything, you know, let me know. I will. >> Uh >> does park and wreck have any more projects coming up or >> they're in the pipeline? >> No, >> they don't. >> Nothing right now.

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We're kind of in a little disarray at the moment. >> Oh, are you? Okay. >> Okay. Well, I'll sure I'll be in touch with you on this, too. But okay. >> I appreciate you coming. >> Sorry. A little late, but >> I hope it was a good game. >> It was till they started putting in

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relief, Patrick, and then it got a little sidetracked. >> Okay. >> All right. Well, >> excellent. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Nice to meet you. >> Thank you. Yes. Uh I look forward to future discussions. >> My nephew works for DPW. I don't know.

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>> Oh yeah. Yes. >> He is a character, >> right? I think his mom his mom like >> he's a great guy. >> He's a gentle giant. >> He does. He's a great guy.

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continue there what he said. Yeah. Down at Rapid Public. >> Nice to meet you. >> Thank you, David. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. >> Okay. >> Have a good night. >> Good night. >> Yeah, you too. >> Thanks. Thanks.

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>> Thank you. >> Nice guys. >> Can we just circle back to the tiff just for a sec? Not use much time. I just want I have a question about that. Okay. Sure. >> And I guess I felt blindsided tonight, you know. Well, I you know, we we kind of

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>> I figure >> said we're not going to decide anything for sure on the tip tonight other than say let's let's keep the discussion going. So >> So when did this start? Last week or so or last >> two hours ago. >> Yeah, it came to me last minute. So it was brought up.

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>> Is this epic fury? >> So during what meeting or >> it came to me around lunchtime today? So, um I mean we had had informal discussions about it and that you know he wanted to move it forward and and and >> John >> no I'm sorry um

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>> Randy >> Randy Randy the town assessor. >> Okay. >> So um and we're supposed to have discussions with Nicole and see how you know we're going to move it forward and it was part of the the master plan implementation. Um

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and so but then you know he threw it out there that he wanted to put together this committee and that he wanted to have the EDC a part of it. And so um I think there were some factors that sort of expedited him to to want to okay

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let's we got to get this going. Um and so I told hey we we have a meeting today. Um I don't think we can we can't render any votes cuz one I can't even get you on the agenda. We can discuss it as like a all other matters sort of >> thing but there's nothing that we can

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actually move forward because it's you know we're unable to put it on the agenda >> uh formally. >> So I told him at the very least you can come give some information it'll beformational and then at a subsequent meeting you know you guys however you guys will want to move it forward.

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>> Understood. So 30,000 foot view though I mean I'm just trying to understand what is what is the real application for this because it seems like to me tiff represents uh tipping of the scales. >> It's two two applications for for one is

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is to attract people if they can go on to our site and read our tiff policy maybe people we wouldn't know about would express interest. So it could be a prospecting tool. And the other thing it's a policy that can guide us if we

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have like as Randy said there's somebody interested in TI. You don't have a policy >> who wouldn't be interested in a tiff. What what business would not be interested in in that? I I'm just trying to understand because if you can't there has to be some

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>> Yeah, sure they can be interested but that's part of the reason why you have a policy because a policy is the main goal of a policy is to be restrictive. So what would tip the scales for us to award somebody a tiff? I just give give me >> that's written in the policy

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idea. >> I think a caveat would be like um if there is some particular use that isn't already in the town and we want to you know >> I'll give you a big one. If somebody wanted to come in and redevelop the Pioneer Dairy site, >> right?

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>> So that would be a big one. So, you're talking about someone that's big, new construction or a rehab or something like that. >> An an addition to the tax base. I think the primary thing we're looking for that we wouldn't otherwise get. >> I think the last one was somebody who

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said, "You know what? I'm going to leave the town." >> Yeah, that was right. >> Well, I don't know. >> Oh, yeah. >> But if you read the Greenfield one, I'll send you the Greenfield one. They say,

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you know, you have to show proof that number one, you can't conduct your business without it or you have some other competitor and you have to show us the proof of that competitor, that other town, and and show that you got a better

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deal in the other town before we'll come down. >> So, so it's not something you just kind of hand out freely. I'm I'm against >> that. And will people actually go through all the motions for that? I guess. I don't know.

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I maybe I'm being kind of >> I mean, we aren't even concerned kind of naive here, but >> we aren't even concerned within our assessor's office to make the the playing field level with businesses in other town and businesses in this town. So, I mean, when they could do that. >> So, now we're reaching for another

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instrument to be able to make that happen. >> Well, I think we it's not one or the other. We need to to pursue both. >> So what got this going? Was there a business that wants to come in? Is that my >> that's contacted?

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>> So that's contacted the the town. >> Yeah. >> Um it's actually an an existing uh business. I'm not going to get No, you don't have to deep into it, but it's an existing business. They want to expand the operation, but as part of that expansion, they're asking for

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>> um tax incentives. Now, let's close this out by saying I'll send you the information because >> Alvin just called me middle of the afternoon and said, "Hey, you know, this just came up and right >> and he said he forwarded to me those and I just read them quickly

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>> and quickly. You said it, but it has to be voted on or approved by at a town meeting or the select board or how's that work?" You know, >> I think that it has to be approved meeting. >> Yeah, I thought so, too. Yeah, >> it's usually it has to have both

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legislative and executive approval, >> right, >> to to be implemented, but they have to pass a bunch of hurdles first. >> Well, I may be interested in being on that committee as well. So, >> yeah, Craig would be excellent. >> Yeah, I mean, I think he needs some business um influence in these

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decisions. So, >> Okay. Yeah. I mean the the whole the whole economic development group is is should give input to to this commission. >> I agree. But I mean a lot gets missed in between meetings.

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>> It does. A lot does get missed. >> Boy, I I sit here and I'm thinking I missed one meeting probably in about 20 years or two meetings maybe and >> I know you fell behind. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. Well, let's move on through

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our agenda and attend it here. >> Uh, >> we have to approve the minutes. >> Let's approve the minutes. I I Yeah, you know, you got the minutes. Yeah, >> I did not get the minutes. >> Oh, you couldn't open it. >> No, I couldn't open it. So, but I wasn't here anyway. So, you guys have >> Yeah, that's right. You couldn't really

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vote on it if you were here. >> I was good with that. I read it. Read the minutes. But I can't approve. We can't. >> Do you have a copy of them? Just so I can >> I think as long as you have a majority, I don't think you require a quorum. Yeah. Quum for minutes. >> Okay. >> Yeah, I don't think so either. >> All right.

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>> All right. I'll approve them. I'll make a motion >> and I'll second it. Okay. >> Yeah. All in favor say I. I. >> Can I read it at some point though? Can you? Oh, >> absolutely. We need to a after the we close the meeting, let's talk about briefly how I can get you stuff because

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that's a real I can't send you attachments. Uh, I don't understand. I can send it if it's the town email that's a problem. I could send it from my personal email. Maybe that would work. >> Is it going to Shepherd Corp? Is that your >> Shepherd Corp? Yeah. >> And Miles gets those.

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>> It's It just says pages and unable to open this document. So I I just assume it's it's not a PDF, is it? >> I I send I usually send word files with the minutes.

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>> Yeah. But I could send a PDF. I could convert it to a PDF and send it. >> Okay. >> Um, if that's if that's the >> I'm grasping right now, but >> because I like sending the word. It has a live link for things that are in

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there. Anyway, I'll we'll we'll play around with it. I >> I want to be able to for a while I wasn't none of it. It was bouncing back. It was failing to even >> I had a problem with my in my email for a long time too. >> Well, just send me a test with

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>> what's this vote 177? >> Yeah, this is on >> Anderson Anderson a conversion of a 61B >> to he's selling it. >> So, >> who is that? Brooks

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Construction. >> I can't recall the name. It's it's just a a private owner of of three 3 point something acres of woods on Claus Road. I drove by there to look and he's got lot numbers out

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>> and we can we have to vote on that. >> The the reason we have to approve it is because there's in in 61B there's a right of first refusal from the town. Yep. >> You know, if there the guy wants to to sell it, he has to go to the town first

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and and see if they town wants to buy it. >> And uh they're asking EDC to >> to present a statement on >> and as say I drove by it. I' I've looked at it on the map. It's it's, you know,

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fairly young woods. It was probably agricultural land at one point. reasonably level, not mountainous at all. And I don't see any reason we the town would want that property. >> Is it forestry or what?

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>> It was in agricultural, wasn't it? >> I don't know which >> what end of Claus Anderson, the K I mean the college highway end. >> It's a little closer to the other end. >> Oh, to the other end. Okay. Well, kind of in the middle, but

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>> So 61A then, is that what it's under? >> Yeah. So, there's 61, 61A, and 61B. And they have they they each um represent different classifications. >> So, I'm not sure if >> I'm not familiar with B at all.

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>> And there three different lots or one property, but he's sell it. Oh, >> okay. He's looking to subdivide it into separate buildable lots. >> So in this case, doesn't the town get or is his is his 10 years up or does the

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town get paid back the taxes that he saved? >> I mean surely he's got to pay us some amount of back taxes. >> Yeah, I would assume so. I believe that's what the process is. >> So he's in a rears. >> No, he's not. Okay. When you go into >> Oh, when you go into the That's right, too.

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That's right. Yeah. Yeah. you get an incentive >> and then if you convert it out of that >> yeah I've dealt with that >> then >> yeah you can't get by with >> so we have to take the vote here >> yes we'll take the vote just to say we don't want to we don't think the town

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should acquire it >> well the town's got no money there we shouldn't even talk about this >> well but we have to give the vote so >> I'll make a motion >> that we we agree that uh

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We should refuse the town to We agreed that the town should refuse to to buy this and it we'll release. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I'll favor. >> I don't ever remember doing this. Do you Craig? >> No. >> Never.

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>> Okay. And I'll I'll I'll inform the select board that please >> maybe they just need a little support or something. Uh >> the we talked about the cedar citizens leadership

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>> academy in the last meeting. The goal of that was to get more people involved in in volunteer and they were going to go through a whole >> bring up because I wasn't here. They were going to do like a five or six week course where they took people through

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each section of town government where the EDC was even going to speak for 10 10 minutes >> like a mentorship like like >> it's it's like to show people the town government from the inside and explain what what everybody does in the hopes

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that they would then volunteer, but they didn't. I think they started promoting it too late and didn't advertise it very well and and so they didn't get enough people to to do it. So they're going to try again in the fall. So they cancelled this was going to happen in

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>> okay >> go right in the end of April into May. And so they >> this reminds you of the things that the police used to do where you go to a cl you know go through the motions of the police department. Remember that? >> I forgot what they call that. Do

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>> where you go to an academy? Well, it's not Well, it says academy, but >> at the police department. No. And the citizens go and they learn all this stuff. Remember? You heard about that, haven't you? >> No. >> Oh, yeah. Riding in the car and all that, >> but I haven't heard of it lately, but we did it in town quite a few times.

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>> So, yeah, this would have been a presentation by different um >> departments. >> Department. So, police might have had one week, fire might have had another week, >> planning, economic development may have had another week. Um, building and health may have had another

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week. So, u Yeah. >> All right. >> We never had any week. I We can vouch for that cuz we've been here forever, right? >> We've been here forever. We are the old the old We're moldy or >> something in other towns. She's worked.

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Oh, Nicole has >> uh but on this subject uh Serena tell us what our prospects are for finding filling our vacancies either for >> on our on our commission. >> Yeah. Well, >> for the regular position or associate

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two we have two associate positions we could fill. >> Well, I kind of approached I told you before the meeting a woman this Sharon Enson I think that's how you pronounce her name and I don't know if I even got the right reaction, but she said she I

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mean sound like she was interested. I haven't reached out to Amber because I I've been so busy too and I know she's seen a lot of thing, but as far as an associate thing, I haven't I've asked a few people but nobody's interested. How about you? >> Why would we do associate?

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just >> have one on >> to help fill a quorum if if we didn't oh >> if we were short of a quorum and also to to help people to be the idea was if we were going to cut from nine back down to

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five. What if we had more people interested in it? Well, then we they could be an associate until another position opened. >> Yeah, it seems like we need to fill up the other positions first. >> Well, you know what was tough is leaving losing Steve. We got somebody who's

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alive when we need to fill the position. >> Yeah. >> Oh, absolutely. I would give priority to filling the position. But I'm just saying >> that if someone wasn't comfortable in being a full member, make that commitment >> to an associate.

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>> Be an associate because people >> Amber, we really want Amber. >> Yeah. Well, >> I'm trying. >> Okay. >> And Sharon would be good, too. Sharon would be excellent. Yeah. >> Sharon was a guidance counselor at Westfield High School. >> That that'd be great. She's very

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enthusiastic. >> I'd love to have very enthusiastic at five because I'm nervous that every meeting >> Yeah, me too. You don't get anybody here. >> That will be short and when Julie, you know, understandably got things coming out of the last we need the reasons. We

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don't have all the ideas sitting here. >> No, we don't. We need we need a diverse group, >> right, Craig? >> We need a more diverse group. And as I've said many times, we can rotate leadership too, >> right? We talked about that and I told you I would and I don't mind doing that.

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>> Then just one is just a a note I wanted to make that I had a a call or an email about >> trails. >> Somebody that had seen our enjoy Southwick signs on the rail trail from Westfield and

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>> and they wanted to contact. I called Well, I I got the contact and and called her. It was Leanne Crosby who's in community develop in Westfield. >> Really? >> They don't have economic development. Community development is kind of a

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broader sense because they have their their uh you know bigger scope there. Yeah. >> So, community develop encompasses both housing and economic development. Anyway, I had a nice conversation with her to they're they want to do something

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like our our rail Charles signs with the QR codes and >> I've given those to a few people. I live in Westfield. >> Okay. >> Because I think it's great. >> So that's been noticed.

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>> Oh boy. Oh yeah. This EDC. >> Yeah. This is something that that Serena you can talk about the Tyranny W. >> Yeah. Well, um, >> you know, John. >> Well, see, maybe it's a different tyranny. I know Mike Tyranny. He had

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tyranny insurance. Is a different tyranny? >> Oh, I don't know John then. >> Yeah, he's a real good guy. >> Is he an attorney? >> No. >> Is he's an investment? >> Keith Roy. >> Oh, yes. >> So, Keith Roy is renting from him up there. >> Oh, he is. >> Yes. But John,

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>> we're talking about the building across from the funeral home. So John is in there as well as Keith Roy. >> I did not know that. And there's an accounting person in there. And >> that is Keith. >> He's he's doing accounting then. >> Yes. >> Oh, he's not doing home improvement.

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>> He is as well. >> Oh, I'm confused. Very confused. So that's the Keith, the KG, whatever that is because it also says on the sign estate attorneys. We haven't had any attorneys in town for the longest time. It says, did you see that on the sign? the street sign,

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>> it says estate attorneys >> plural, >> cuz the only attorney in town now is Linda Molta, but she doesn't even have an office here. She's in Springfield and she doesn't do estates. >> Figured that out when I was trying to do the business director. >> Yeah. >> But so I I I thought it was Mike Charity

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who used to be in insurance. >> John, I do not know John. So I'm sorry. >> Right. So you have you talked to them? Do you want >> No. Well, that's what I wanted to know. Do you do you want to go in with there with me? >> I'll go in with you and and >> we have to welcome them.

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>> Welcome them and get them in the business directory. >> Yes, >> they want to be in. >> Yes. >> Kick their tires. >> Sure. >> It will be nice. >> Let me know. >> All right. >> So, what is John's title? What does he do? He's >> he very close close friend of mine.

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>> Oh, so he he bought that building from Lory's. Okay. And what does he do? Is he just a real estate person or is he in there? >> No, no, no, no. He's wealth management. Oh, he is wealthy manager. Okay. Well, do you want to go with us? >> I mean, I can. I mean,

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>> if you know him, >> I know. >> Sure. Sure. That'd be great. You can come up with a thumb that >> And we'll hand him one of these. Can you do some flowers? >> No, but I mean that's a It looks like a nice thing there. I mean, >> that's what we need in town.

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>> Yeah. >> Yeah. I'd love that. >> It's a nice building. know they're welcome and that we're here to support them and >> we need that. We need estate attorneys. We need attorneys in this town. Like we need doctors. We're not working out that well with that. But no, I I would it' be

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good if you went Craig with us. >> I'm tired of next week, but maybe the following week it opens up a little bit. So >> Okay. >> All right. Okay. Uh then try to quickly go through the

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first of all I'll make a note that on I'd sent out letters as I emails as I said last meeting on the two uh master plan actions that we want to have officially completed and and that's

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the the database of business owners and the website social media. Mhm. >> I've only heard back from one from conservation. >> Oh, really? >> I'm going to check with with the implementation group with Northern Achiever and say,

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>> "What do I do if I don't hear back from people? Can I assume that they're okay with it? We fulfill our obligation just by giving them a chance to I I'll send another reminder >> to them." >> What What are you on? Which one are you on here? >> I'm

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>> A, B, and C. Oh, >> in in number seven, A and B are the two that we're trying to to officially complete. And >> part of that completion process is is to go to all the supporting parties

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>> and there's three of them for the first one and five for the second one that include conservation and >> and agriculture and right and just say, do you have any input to this? And I I presented them all the things we've a

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complete itemization of all the things we've done to complete it and say, "Do you have any additional input as a support?" >> And you heard nothing >> just from conservation. Sabrina sent me that real nice note that I read in the last meeting

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>> that said, "Yeah, we think that's looks great and we're full in full support and >> go for it. Uh, so I I I may just resend the email. It's been more than a month,

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>> right? >> And then I'll check with with Norm whether I need to do anything else in order to >> Or you can say, please confirm receipt. >> Yeah, confirm receipt if nothing else. >> I mean, that's polite way of getting around it >> because we're supposed to have this

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completed by the 30th of June. So, we're down to the last. >> Yeah, just say please confirm receipt. Then we have the annual small business form. >> That satisfy them. >> Yeah. Does that satisfy them? >> What we want to do is get get the

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official green or gold star, >> right? No. That we finished our >> that we finished our but is enough that they receive this or do we need to say um we need to ask them where they confirm receipt end? >> Right. What I may do in the second

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letter is to say something like if we don't hear anything back from you in the next two weeks, confirm receipt and if you don't have any input, if we don't get any input from you, we'll assume you don't have any. Right. >> By this Yeah. by this. >> Yeah, exactly.

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>> Um, the small business forum is one of the ones we wanted to to at least start discussing >> for next year, >> preparing because we bud we we put it

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here because we wanted to budget for that. So we have a budget requested and I assume approved for doing that that form which is a matter of inviting right >> people that >> and charge them for their tables. We had

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to make some money, >> right, Craig? >> You you you're the ones that know how to do this. You tell me how we do this. >> It's a lot of work. >> Yeah. I'm I'm a little concerned because we have a lot of other stuff on the platter and if we don't >> I know. I know. >> Well, this doesn't >> about it next year. We might not do it

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till spring of next year, but we've got to prepare in advance. We got >> We're gonna get really involved in this connector and all this kind of stuff. I mean, we have a lot to do. >> Well, yeah. And I agree with Craig. How much are we going to be involved in doing that connector?

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>> Oh, >> we physically can't do that much. >> No, I >> we're just going to stamp our name on it. Part of it is when I think of economic development, you know, it takes grant money and sometimes do economic development. So,

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I'm just getting into to champion some grants and I realize that maybe we're getting all we can from DPW and David's doing some for park and rack, but on the other hand, nothing was being done on complete streets and it

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took a year and a half of pushing before we're finally going to qualify to request some money. >> But would we write the grant EDC? No. >> Um, not necessarily. Although I'm I'm okay with writing it. >> Yeah. >> Writing a proposed grant.

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>> So what is the resistance to this? I mean I don't >> to the complete streets >> are going on for well for this connector. >> It's a matter of getting the money >> getting the money. >> Um >> that's the only resistance. I mean it's not

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>> I've not heard anybody. When I I first brought it up a year and a half ago, Diane was the first one. I >> Diane Gail >> Diane Gale and she immediately said I love it and she

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said contact David Delorei and and this and that which I did but she was extremely supportive. >> Now did you get dollars and cents or a rough estimate of what it's going to cost? >> David was asking >> David was doing that. Okay.

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>> Yeah. But as I'm I agree with you that the tighter we can make that the better and you have the expertise in that kind of stuff. >> Well, I mean I I know as long as the scope of what was going to be done, we'd easily get three >> three kids >> on this.

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>> Yeah. And that gets us real close to where we >> and I've offered to anyone walk walk them through the route anytime you want. I've I've flagged it just the I went through with an elevation tracker and

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tried to get the the the best. >> Did you take all of them with you? >> Uh I don't generally >> when we I sense a field trip coming up. >> My my first meeting with Alvin, I I insisted we walk the town center and >> Oh, I remember you saying that. You did

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that, huh? I pointed out the the where that I was proposing with the connector. Okay. So small business forum just as we have time and priorities can change but we

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have to have some things you know with the the idea of of doing the tax incentive policy that would be another one we could fulfill for next year if that comes up. But again we will put

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that off until you have a chance to read these sample policies. Uh, the South can bloom. >> You don't have to tell everything. >> Well, here it is. Send me I'll give you a copy. >> Get give me a copy if you have, you

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know, >> because this is what Diane >> don't if you have a two-minute summary of where we are. And I'm particularly interested in, >> you know, we've got the fiscal year ends in a couple months and we've got money to spend the money.

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Let's get the bills. Let's spend the money. We've got we've got it in the budget. We've got money >> in the current year that we >> we've got, you know, >> 12 $1,300. >> At least need to get the website paid for, right?

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>> The website is I'll I'll do the website. >> Yeah, he the website is covered. I I >> I thought this was through >> Oh, we have the little dog social media. Well, we have we got the money for that in our budget. We got what? $3,000. >> But I thought this was separate from

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ADC. This is for the uh little >> Well, no. >> No, it's confusing. It is confusing >> for the budget for fiscal year 27 which starts in June and goes through next year >> that we have a thousand for Facebook a

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th00and for >> little dog >> meeting a th00and for little dog a th00and for uh Southic and Bloom and a th00and for uh you know if we if we want to do this meeting next spring >> the you mean the forum

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>> the forum >> yeah yeah that's next year's budget But in in the current year budget, which we have two months left, we've got >> How much money do we have? >> We have like $1,300. 12 $1,300. So, I want to, you know, we'll get to the

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little dog. >> South Lake and Bloom. We've got money. Let's >> We need to redo these signs because we have to take all this out. We did discuss that today at our meeting. We met at uh the Notch this morning. Diane and Sharon Enstein. What is it that

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>> Well, we need to take out We don't We don't want to um announce the winners or anything on the farm day. >> Oh, just that word. >> Yeah. And we've got to get a new QR code. So, this isn't a big deal. Correct. >> Well, I forget why she said that. I'm not big on QR codes >> because the QR code goes to the tab in

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our website and I can change the tab in any way you want. I can create a whole new >> tab. Well, maybe I'm not as clear. Maybe Diane wasn't as clear. Maybe that's the one that goes direct or is that the one that goes directly to >> I thought it was a link tree the link

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for the sign up website by professional service for the link tree. >> Oh well Sharon is going to do Sharon's very good at this stuff because she does Facebook with her her business. Yeah. She said she's going to do help with a scan a QR code to a link tree and that

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kind of thing was would would ask people who wants to do who wants to participate in the contest, who maybe wants to work on the committee. We're also trying to reach out to um the people that participated last year and get a gallery of photos that we can put up which would

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be nice. >> I've been asking >> I know and I said that this morning is ready to anytime. >> Yeah, I know. To put the photos up. So that's the kind of thing um Sharon was talking about. >> Send them heard that email to me. I'll put them I know. I think they got this

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all taken care of. So we just need to find out how much money. >> Yeah, >> that's what we need >> for for science because we bought I have 28 of them in my car. I think 28 of them. I kept kept them in my car with the stands. >> I'll make sure that that it's paid. >> I know. I know that thing with

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Southwoods. I think we might just need from what I remember from what we were talking about this morning a couple more bigger visible banners so we can put them like we're going to put that sign on the that um by the across from the mobile station >> and then a banner we're talking about

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maybe by the congregational church where they have one right now for the the art council that and um another place maybe at Blossoming Acres because Blossoming Acres I guess wants to get more involved Diane knows the lady there. I know her

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too. Bober is it little? She lost her husband. But but anyway, um so we just want to get some focal points and we also want to try to decorate if I get permission from Mr. Filio that area across not the whole area but just to kind of that'll be gorgeous. Yeah.

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>> And I said and even in the fall and even at Christmas time >> that'd be a beautifification for the >> we talked about south looking lights. I mean we talked about all kinds of things this morning. Um, it would be great. >> You're recruiting volunteers, engaging the school. >> Yep. Yep. Reaching out. Yep. Engaging

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the school because your your wife mentioned if we have flowers there, who's going to water them? And I said, well, the kids on National Honor Society need to get community credits and stuff like that. And I know Maryanne Margato and everything >> and the sign up form. Let's get that

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going. Just >> Oh, I know. Yeah. to register >> make make that live because that just >> yes >> we need the link that goes directly to that Google form and I will monitor that. >> Okay, >> let's use mine and last time we tried to

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have Julie use it. It got messed up. >> Yes. >> Uh let's use the Google form in my account. I will check it every day and send it to whoever you want the signups. >> Right. >> And then Sharon U made a very good point. She said, "We could probably tell

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businesses like hers." So if people need help, they could go see Reinspired or they could see, not me, but someone else that could would like maybe South Flores or Raised Farm that would want to help people if they have a problem, you know, maybe picking out something.

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>> That was part of the original thing. I remember that. >> And then there's something here about QR code to vote because we talked about not having Well, we gave everybody a prize last year, which we can't do this year. you did not travel. Um, but having maybe

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the public vote on who, you know, by having the pictures up there, who would be, you know, a winner or number of winners, so we wouldn't have to physically be anywhere, be all on the on the internet, all on the web. >> So, yeah, again, we could do that

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through a Google form. >> Yeah, >> because you you that way you could control one vote at a time because they have to, you know, give a name and address. So we can be sure that they were Southic residents and that they were not double voting.

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>> Um I don't think we need a lot more um uh you know papers and banners and so we have quite a few unless we get a huge amount of people that want to but we got to get going now. We're coming out of hibernation. We got to get we got to get moving now.

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>> I'll I'll support whatever you need to do to to make sure payments are made. >> Yeah. And and I I mentioned to you, you can't do a Visa card because Diane mentioned that we can't do that through our town. >> They they much prefer to have things direct the town rather than reimbursed.

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And then some if you absolutely can't do it any other way, you can get a reimbursement. But >> but what's >> Craig? Do you have something to add here? I didn't get a chance to read this. You just brought it in. But I >> I think there's something with that website here though that I'm going to

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get clarified. Something's different with that link tree. Any anything you have and a question, text me, call me, email me, >> whatever >> at any time.

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>> Yeah, we talked a lot about um earn different things that we could put because we don't want people stealing things either, like by that sign. I had some things stolen outside my business last year. So, um, we want something that's going to be kind of permanent. Um,

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and did you you've got a you've got a copy of this? >> Yeah. >> But we're excited. I mean, >> okay, let's move forward. It's April. >> I know. I know. >> You know, it's you plant in three weeks.

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>> Yeah. And usually people do plant by Memorial Day >> and and you can plant as early May. >> Yeah. You can. You can. >> Yeah, you got to got to do it by Memorial Day. >> Yeah, you have to. And Mother's Day. We're talking about Mother's Day, too. So, um, so

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we're going forward. >> Okay, good. >> Do you have anything you want to bring in, Greg? >> No, I think it's it sounds great to me. Thanks for all the hard work on this and and I I'll help. >> I'm always thinking about what we can do, how you can make it. You know, and

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if and it's like anything else like advertising. If people keep seeing this logo, then they become familiar with it. >> Yeah. >> It stands out. It is beautiful. Took us a while. Took us some money to do this. So, it's recognition. I think it's great.

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>> Okay. Excellent. the uh I wanted to thing I wanted to touch on before we went away from I'll think of it here >> the updated property tax. Well, th those I'm I'm still working on and I'm doing a

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lot of I've actually pulled together the whole town budget for the last since 2004 and put it in Excel and have a full analysis and trend lines and I'm running it against the the state department of

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revenue actually has the average or the total income for Southwick because they they obviously use it tax uh but I can have that and run the spending against the income of the town

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and >> you know get an portability measure. I'm doing a lot of analysis on budget and and property tax and getting a lot of detail and uh >> can I backtrack one second? Did you say

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we have $1,300 we could spend? We have to spend by June 30th. >> 12 to $1,300. Okay. >> This this budget, the other >> Okay. >> The other reimbursement hasn't gone through yet, but >> I think it was in in the range of 350 $60. >> Okay.

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>> Off of our existing amount that we had. So, it's it's somewhere in the between 12 to 13, I think, that we had. >> And plus, we have the gift account. That's just on the regular account. If we have any spillover, we've got the gift account. So if Sharon wants to apply to be an economic development

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commissioner, she can go online. >> There are applications. >> Applications are online, >> but then you got to get approved obviously by the select board. >> Right. >> Right. You usually you fill out the application, it's going to be a, you know, they're going to love having an

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applicant. >> Yeah. Yeah. Right. So the >> no problem getting the it's a it's a quick thing and >> and the filling out the application is see you can even submit it online

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there's a new website now so I remember the old one going back old women's club >> you can do a search on there for you know >> you have to be sponsored you need three I mean it's unbelievable some of these women's clubs it's going on 200 years I'm like >> this is very easy I I would and I have

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generally gone to the select board meetings where we had a candidate and and I would stand up and do an endorsement. >> Make sure it's okay. >> Okay. >> I think so. Yeah, that would be very welcome. Uh

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>> what do the meals tax thing? >> Oh boy. Well, the reason I asked you is because I've had a lot of people come me too an awful lot of people. >> Yeah. >> So, I mean I I wrote down I wrote down >> unfortunately there's a huge amount of misinformation I wrote

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>> was as you see on the on the write up uh >> the way I the way that I wrote it up is I put it into 10 discrete that >> I got that all right here. Yeah. And and if you are there any of the facts you'd

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argue with there are any of them that not true? Well, I don't >> Well, first of all, I think the um I looked at what we would bring in a year and it's less than $3,000. And so when you look at $150,000, that means

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there's 50 other places like ours in town that equal or exceed what we're selling. And the reason the way we've come up with that there's no direct way to measure that but I've gone through a number of calculations. Nicole has gone

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back where she actually had an amount in in 2022 >> a total amount through a state source and that was 160,000 in 2022. for from our town

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>> or some other town. >> Calculate it. It was a calculation of the amount against >> All right. >> It was it was the total amount of meal revenue because they >> they track that because it's part of the sales tax,

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>> right? >> It's always been part of the sales tax. So, they >> they have it, but it's not published on the website. So, I can't find it and I can't get it through AI directly. that Nicole said she she found in 2022, it would have been 160,000.

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>> So, these are people that are coming back. I And these are people inside the store asking me what's going on with this. I mean, the buzz is apparently gotten out, right? >> Well, because there's people out there giving false information >> and it was on the front page of the paper, too. >> Well, so, so this I don't I don't think

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you can argue with these facts. So, I mean, so there's three items right here. I'll just read these to you. I I try to summarize these everything that I've heard. Yes, 100% of property taxes paid by South residents, property owners, but surely the vast majority of the meals tax would be too. It's not like South is

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a major tourist destination. This is not so much reducing the tax burden on residents as rearranging it. Second point, while 75% may seem insignificant on any one transaction, it was truly not felt by customers, then every business would just raise its prices by the same

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amount to bolster its bottom line. Municipalities are not the only ones facing rising costs. And the third point, once a tax is implemented, it tends to only go one direction. The state may currently limited to 75, but who's to say it won't be 1.5 or two down the road. Um, and then the other one

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that I heard a lot about was um, uh, this may be the reason why we do get people that come across the line in into our town to, you know, because we don't have. It's a perception no matter how small it is. perception dirty word. Yeah.

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>> So, I mean, I'm I'm saying that so I got bombarded with this. I wasn't ready for it. I mean, >> yeah. People just stir it up. That's >> why why is this so important to us though? I mean, I just heard Russ say we're out of money with taxes and I've

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heard the assessor say that it's a mess in that office on over there. Why are we taking on something else right now? Is the other question. >> And is it ours to take on? I don't know. >> Isn't that like the finance

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committee or you know commission? >> Well, it's it's going to it's going to town meeting. It's Tom meeting on >> Richard Bastoni. You know Richard, he had a he's had open heart surgery. I'm very close to Richard and he said who the hell came up with that idea?

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It's and he goes and I liked the restaurant until he wanted to go with it. And I was like, okay, Richard, >> I every other in the state that has any restaurants is and it's not it's not anything new. It's been around since 2009.

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>> Oh, you're you're >> and it hasn't gone up since 2009. And and that's not the issue. The issue is the the sales tax rate itself has gone up several times. It started out at 3% in the 60s.

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And in 2009 it went from 5% to >> I think it's a bad time per anybody talking about taxes >> especially with the mess that this town is in. >> It's a tax reduction. >> What's that? >> What do you mean to the property owners >> to do this? It's a tax reduction for the property owners. >> I don't know.

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>> They're not significant. >> I I don't know. I don't I don't know. >> It's more significant mathematically. It will be a reduction. >> But people don't see it that way. perception, you know, >> that's because there there are people trying to, you know, that should know better that are are giving false

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information about it. >> I don't know people are I don't know that these people are giving have been given false information when they're just coming and they're voicing their opinion like this. There's >> there's a bunch on Facebook that >> there's been passed on to me that

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>> that there are >> not happy. >> I I'm not part of any of that. So >> yeah, I'm not on Facebook. Yeah. >> So, I don't know. All I know is what people say, where they get the information. >> Yeah. It's coming from people that

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should know better, you know. >> But I was wondering on the way over here driving here. Is this something that we are supposed to be is it one of our responsibilities to worry about that taxes as the EDC? I mean, I know we want to

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make life better for people, businesses to come into town and all of that, but I don't know. Do we get want to get labeled as putting a tax on somebody or coming up with that idea? >> I I'm not suicidal like that. >> Right. >> But, you know, being in the business myself right now, it it it puts me in an

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awkward position and I don't like being in that position. I don't think it's responsible, you know? I mean, when you have people saying that I'm going to stop coming, that's, you know, that's your position. I mean, that's I don't like that position. That's not fair.

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>> I got broad shoulders, but it's not it's not where I want to be. Well, my what I see as the a role of the economic development commission is to

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be an advisor to the town on economic matters and you know to correct misinformation to to be a a level head on this type of thing

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and that's why I get involved in in >> tax issues and and in >> did you come up with this idea? I hate to be blunt but did you come up with the idea? >> This is is something that that's come up and I' I've given my clear opinion on it. >> Okay.

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>> And just the factual opinion. It's as I wrote out there. It's it's not it's not even a an opinion. It's just a set of facts. M and I look at the, you know, what other

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>> towns are able, you know, the the the example I use is if we go and eat in in Westfield or West Springfield or Agawam or Springfield, we're helping to reduce their property

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tax. they come and eat in South Lake and they're not they're not contributing directly and there's I've heard estimates anywhere from 75% of are from out out of outside.

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I would I would say it's significant. It's not it's not nothing. There's plenty of people that that come from out of town that they that need here >> if even if it was a hundred Yeah. If it was 100% if nobody from out of town ate

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there, it would be a it'd be a level tax switch. It wouldn't be any increase at all, right? >> Or reduction, >> right? >> But however many people come. >> And I don't buy off on it either. If we want to save this money, this town money, then there's a lot of other

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things we could do that save it a lot more money. >> Oh, yeah. And we're trying to do those. >> Well, >> that's why we had the whole discussion on on getting grant money. No, and I'm all for that. I'm I'm not for alienating people and and choosing

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sides and so forth. I don't think that that's right. I I think it's as I said, I think it's Well, I won't take a vote on this. I'll just >> Okay. >> I I've given my my opinion >> or not my opinion. I've given I've done

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the research on the facts and it's it's like with property tax, you got to stick to facts. You can't have people Is this going for a vote? >> No. When you're looking at perception though? >> Yeah, it is going for a vote. >> It's going for a vote at the town meeting.

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>> Yeah. So, they'll decide. >> So, it's not >> No. So, no, it's not it's going to happen. It's going to go go for a vote. >> People will will uh decide on their own. So, it's it's not something you need to to say, well, vote. I mean, yeah, you can say

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I'm I'm not gonna be voting on it because I'm not >> Well, you know, you have you you have your facts and they may be facts, but perception is what a lot of businesses run on. And

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that's why I be careful about sitting here, you know, in a public meeting and maintaining a position and >> Yeah. >> So, you have to be careful. >> You have to be careful. Definitely. Okay. Well, we'll move on from that. >> No matter how I feel, I have to be careful.

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>> Yep. I understand. Uh, okay. I wanted to hit quickly this one on the the mission statement. >> Get a shorter one. >> Well, this really hit home for me when

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on Monday night I I was at the library because I got a note from them. and they still want to do a connection with EDC. And I went and met with them and they >> I talked to reference librarian. They said, "Oh, you know what? What does the

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EDC do?" >> And I I thought about what should I tell them? The mission of the EDC is be a catalyst for me as able business and economic growth with time working in collaboration with public officials. Other times division to attract system retain businesses sport blah blah blah

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goes on and on. I can't remember if if I could remember I couldn't tell them that >> and that's what we have right at the homepage of our website right up in the the top that this is who we are and somebody going there are they going to understand what we do? I think we need

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it to be separate. And I've played around a lot with different ones and I've come up with my stack here. >> We did this with Mike too. What's that? >> We had a mission statement when Michael

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was chair. >> Is it on the stationary? >> No. >> Start one. >> Going for super simple. What's our mission? to promote the kind of healthy economic growth for Southwick that will

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help us achieve the goals laid out in our 2040 map plan. >> That doesn't that's true. Do you have two helps in there? >> I mean I mean so then we >> No. >> All right.

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>> But we promote the kind of healthy economic growth. >> So our goal is healthy economic growth. It's not just growth. It's healthy economic growth. and what guides us the 2040 master plan. So, we're going to

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do it to achieve the goals that are in the plan. >> Should that be in a mission statement, though? I don't think you should be including that in there. What do you think, Craig? >> Mission, vision. I don't understand the difference. >> Yeah. >> But what don't think of what should be

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at the top if somebody's looking for what you do? And I I had that with with community development in Westfield. I went, "What do they do?" And I looked at their website. They didn't have a whole lot of jargon. No, I don't think it has to be.

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>> We work with, you know, you know, developing, you know, community things here and and we also do economic development. It was very simple. Here's what we do. That's what I'm looking for. Here's what we do. Now, if I'm talking one-on-one, I would also go on and say,

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for example, we have business directory. We do self in Bloom that helps all these things help the businesses and and but we want good things. We won't don't want to bring in something inappropriate for the town that would

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bring big heavy trucks through and and whatever that would be inappropriate for infrastructure. Uh so it's about healthy economic uh growth because that improves it

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increases the tax base. I think there's only three ways to get property tax relief uh you know beyond you know cutting services and budget drastically. You can increase the tax base that's one big one

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either residential or business. You got to make sure when you increase the tax base that you're not adding more cost than you're adding uh you know tax income. Wrong kind of of addition can

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cost you more than than you gain if down the line when because you have maintenance costs. Like when you do a big development out in remote area where the houses are not dense, the next time you have to redo the road, it can wipe out all the

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property tax gain you got got from the development or you get the wrong kind of business that comes in and then goes away and leaves you with a mess. You know, you got to have healthy growth uh to pay out.

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And you know what we want to and what the kind of growth we want is defined in the master plan. We can't explain it better than the master plan does. So I like having that reference because that's officially adopted by the town. It's not just an opinion.

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>> Yeah. But everyday person would they know what a master plan is? >> You know someone who's just reading it. I mean I don't know. I do. But do a lot of people know that? Would you? >> Well, if if If I was talking one-on-one, I would explain a little bit. It

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describes we we want to preserve our agricultural character. We want want to have a recreational thing. We, you know, all the things that are in the master plan. >> We want to build it. We want it to

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thrive is what we want. >> We want them to, you know, to be healthy. You know, where I had lunch today, I had lunch at the crepe house. Okay. >> It was very good. >> And and there's two extremes. You have the the town that has lost its

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industries hollow out is dead and you know tumble weeds are blowing through >> or you have the one that's >> got the wrong kind of development and and you know the traffic is horrible and it's unpleasant and >> Oh yeah. Um,

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so what we're looking for is that healthy growth, right, >> that's appropriate to our town. >> And unfortunately, we lost we lost kettleb bread and we lost Tuckers. >> That's unfortunate. >> Yeah. And and if there's anything we can do to fill this back in, we brought to

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you. So, I don't want to comment too much here, but you know, we um wish I knew how to use this thing. Um I don't know if economics the only thing here, but I mean you you touched on it.

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I mean, we have lakes and things like that. That's all that's not all about economics, right? We've talked about this before, so I don't know if that's important to us or not >> being a recreational community. >> Well, I don't know if it's important to

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say economic. We we surveyed all of the businesses and the number one thing they wanted is to promote South as a recreational destination to vote to promote shop local and to promote it as a recreational destination

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to bring in in people and visitors those >> Well, I I I'm thinking more in terms of of of a more holistic approach, you know, toward this economic mission. But I don't Let me >> Okay, write a a proposal. I'm just trying to move this.

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>> No, I think this is this is good. But I I just >> And I I was changing this all afternoon to, >> you know, >> I think it's good. The only thing with the master plan kind of I don't know where I don't know every time added more words I >> it bogged down.

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>> I know. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So I don't want to comment anymore, but I'm just >> But think of an elevator speech. I want an elevator speech on our on our website. Not this, you know, jargonfilled bureaucratic. >> Yeah. No, no, no, no, no. People don't

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read. People are lazy. They don't read. I sold advertising. You can't put 10 pounds of junk in a 5B bag. It's just going to be lost. >> I mean, it'd be nice to have something so short it can go on the sign, right? >> It would be nice.

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>> Right. I mean, >> new business here. come here to shock the >> anything. >> Alvin, is there anything you want to say? >> Yeah, from a planning board perspective,

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um the planning board in the last month has approved uh crepes tea house. Um >> so are we completely done with that? >> Not completely. >> Well, the health department, they jumped through the hurdles. No. >> Um no. Well, so they came to me uh

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earlier this week. they want to amend their their their parking plan. So I mean it's not >> okay >> it's it's minor and well >> in in a greater sense I think it's minor but >> okay >> um in regards to the use they've been approved for their the usage of their accessory uh structure for outdoor

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dining. >> Good. >> So that was approved. >> Um also 141 Congam they were approved also um to increase their number of rentals >> by two. >> Uh four. >> Four. Okay. >> Yeah.

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>> Who is that? the old Krabby Joe's. The the restaurant's vacant, but >> they've got rent boat rental dock >> on South Pond slips in addition to the restaurant. >> So, what about the fell used to be on economic development commission that had the slips and so forth where the

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>> He's at the other end of the lake. He is at the north >> Gorilla. What was his name? >> Gorilla. >> Frank. >> Frank. Yeah. >> Does he still have those there? >> I think so. a little >> and what about what about Julie's church

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and stuff? >> I don't want to call it Julie's church, but it's Julie's church. >> Yeah, I haven't >> I haven't heard anything more on that. >> See any updates on that? So, I'm waiting. See if they move forward. >> Are they trying to make the zoning easier, less complicated?

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>> They don't have to. Well, in regards to that particular project, they don't have to change the zoning. >> They don't have to change it. Oh, yeah. You did say that. >> Yeah. Now, in regards to our zoning modernization project, we did have our fifth uh working group meeting last week. Um we are um have rolled out a

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survey, a community survey. Okay. >> We um published it through um Southwood. So, you you'll get that in the mail if you're resident in the mail. >> Yeah. >> Um we'll have it um in in our um uh

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municipal buildings. So, the town hall, um, library, um, I believe the schools, but I'm not 100%. But, um, and then also the post office. And essentially, it'll be a sheet with a QR code that'll link you to the actual It's like a fivepage survey.

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>> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Send me a copy of it. >> I I'll get it to you. I I'll email everyone. >> How much is the old library being sold for? Do you know? >> I have no idea. Oh, >> China.

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>> Is he selling it? >> Yeah, it's for sale. Big for sale, son. There was a lot of hoops to jump through. Remember when he bought it for like $15,000? >> I guess it's too small for a office or something. I don't know. But he he it looks nice, but it's for sale.

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>> Yeah. So, I've gotten a couple phone calls on that. Again, I'm not sure how much they're selling for, but um well, the first person that called me wanted to put like some pool supplies >> Oh gosh. Oh, please >> try to figure out parking and the parking ratio is going to work for them.

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>> Um, and then I got another call from someone. I wanted there was some sort of medical use, but I can't I can't >> for that library. >> Yeah, they want to do some something. I don't know if it was like massage. Well, I call it medical, but like >> reflexology or something like that. >> Therapy, maybe. >> Oh my gosh.

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>> Not a a general practitioner. Well, back in the day, I thought it'd be a great tourist, like a like a place to go in and pick up brochures, you know, and all that, but a tourist a welcoming center, visitor center. >> It's ideal for that. >> So, I've gotten a few calls, but I

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haven't heard anything by city. >> And what about Depot Street? You were talking about that. It sort of looks like, but there's a big X there. The house hasn't come down yet, though. So, I know the town has uh or the building our building inspector has reached out

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to the property owner um and asked them to board and secure just to make sure kids don't run in there and something happens and you know >> yeah I mean it's it just has flipped so many times I think it's you know >> investment property. So,

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>> and so I believe they're they have to move forward this year because um or or they'd have to get an extension, >> right? >> Um and I believe they've already received extensions. >> Oh, they sure have in the past. I followed that very well >> for to be able to

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>> for their special permit. >> What do they want to put? 22 condos was the original. >> Oh, for that 100 units. >> 100. >> How much? 100. >> 100 units. >> Well, 100 is comes up fast, but 100's a lot, don't you think? for that area. >> I don't know. >> How many acres is it?

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>> Look what Grammyy's doing down there. I don't even know. >> Oh, I know. Oh, that's horrible. >> Oh my gosh. >> I mean, the plans for this look nice and and it'll be very profitable for tax because of the dense density of it. Our

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most profitable properties are like depot square and even rose rosewood and windfield which are all very profitable for the town. >> And I noticed pioneer dairy. Well, I

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think the building fell down or they had to take it down part of it. The garage in the back. Did you see that? >> No. Well, that's that's the type of thing to keep in mind for potential tiff if somebody would come in and and

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>> so who owns that right now? >> Pioneer Dairy. I mean on Paul and Brett Coulson brothers. >> They still do. >> Yeah. >> And I'd heard Okay. Are we still on Do we adjourn yet? >> Let's see.

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>> Uh >> Oh, no. Don't adjourn. Don't Don't adjourn. I'm still listening. Is this Cliff? >> Yes, it is. >> Hey, Cliff. >> Well, we're not going to continue the meeting. Uh, we

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>> joking. I'm totally joking. >> Are you joking? >> Sorry to keep you up. >> Cliff, I'm gonna need you for grandmother's garden. I got to call you in another week or two. I need some press release if you do that. >> Send me an email. It's easy to find it.

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>> Okay. >> All right. Well, I'll make a motion to adjurnn. All in that second. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Okay. Bye. But um Joe Dei offered