Town of Somers

Economic Development Commission

P.O. Box 308

Somers, Connecticut 06071

 

EDC Minutes

August 1, 2005

Selectmen’s Conference Room

Town Hall

 

Call to Order

 

Chairman Louis Bachetti called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.

Lou welcomed new commission member Ron Elliott.

 

Attendance

 

Members present were Louis Bachetti, David Reed, Maura Gardiner, Robert Schmidt, and Ron Elliott.  Ed Jekot and Richard Cheney were absent.

 

Approval of Minutes

 

Motion by Maura Gardiner and seconded by David Reed that the minutes of the June 6, 2005 meeting be approved without change.  The motion passed.  Voting in favor of the motion were Lou Bachetti, Robert Schmidt,  David Reed, and Maura Gardiner.

 

Committee Reports

 

            Planning Commission Liaison Committee

 

1.    Maura Gardiner met with the sub committee of the planning commission which consisted of Joe Ladarola, Brad Pellissier and Michael Collins. They met on June 28, 2005 at 7:00 in the selectmen’s conference room. Sub committee asked for a full commission meeting to be held in the near future between Planning and EDC and requested a showing of the Tourism video that has been produced.

 

2. The EDC authorized Robert Schmidt to attend the June 20th

              Zoning Commission Meeting and to share the EDC’s goals with

     them. Bob reported that this meeting was cancelled and

     subsequently directed by the chair of   Zoning to hold an

     alternative and preliminary meeting with the town planner

     Patrice Carson. Lou Bachetti stated that he will arrange follow-

     up meetings with the chairmen both Planning and Zoning.

 

Supporting Local Business and Industry

 

     As Rich Cheney was absent, chairman, Lou Bachetti gave an

     update on the surveys that will be sent out to the various

     businesses in town. In addition discussion followed on an “after

     5 meeting” inviting all local businesses to attend. Preliminary

     plans call for a center of town meeting under a tent with costs

     subsidized by Rockville Savings Bank. Timing is tentatively

     scheduled for late September or early October.

 

Tourism Development Discussion

    

1.    David Reed has developed a Tourism Promotion Plan and presented it the group for review.  Maura Gardiner made a motion that the commission review the proposed plan and discuss it more fully at the next meeting of the EDC. This motion was seconded by Bob Schmidt and was approved unanimously.

 

Commercial. Industrial, and Retail Vacancies

 

   David Reed and Lou Bachetti have almost completed a database

   of commercial, industrial, and retail vacancies in Somers that

   will be placed in a notebook.  This notebook will be located at

   the Land Use Office for people looking for available properties

   in Somers.

 

Business Visitation Program

 

   Mr. Bachetti has visited approximately 19 businesses in town.

   The program has been positively received. It was also discussed

that other members who are interested in performing this

function of meeting one to one with businesses notify Lou so

that a coordinated effort can be made and a schedule can be

produced. The questionnaire that is being used as the anchor

point continues to be  refined.

 

Lou also updated the group of the dilemma on parking that

Power Associates, which is located on Main Street, is currently

having and challenged the group to provide alternatives that may

resolve this issue. Members are to provide their

recommendations directly to Lou.

 

Chairman’s Report – Lou Bachetti

 

Lou reviewed the items that the EDC will submit for

consideration   in the Town’s Annual Report. These items will

include write-ups of the following: Businesses Working together,

Tourism, After Hours Forum and Business visitations.

 

New Businesses in Town

 

1. A bicycle repair shop,” Fit to Ride,” opened at the Playhouse Plaza.

2. Dance Academy of Somers, LLC will be opening shortly and

will be located on South Road near the Dunkin Donuts

3. Criations, an Alpaca Shop will also be opening soon at the

same location as above

 

Adjournment

 

Motion to adjourn was made by David Reed, seconded by Maura Gardiner and was unanimously approved.  The meeting was officially adjourned at 8:57 p. m.

 

Respectfully submitted by,

 

Ronald L. Elliott, Acting Secretary of the EDC

 

Minutes are not official until approved at a subsequent meeting.