Town of Somers

Economic Development Commission

P.O. Box 308

Somers, Connecticut 06071

EDC Minutes

January 8, 2007

Selectmen’s Conference Room

Town Hall

Call to Order

Chairman Lou Bachetti called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Attendance

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

Approval of Minutes

Motion by Maura Gardiner and seconded by David Reed that the minutes of the December 4, 2006 meeting be approved without change. The motion passed. Voting in favor of the motion were David Reed, Robert Schmidt, Louis Bachetti, Ron Elliott, Maura Gardiner, Richard Cheney.

Updates/ projects

Somers Business Steering Committee

A meeting was held with the Somers business steering committee at 5:30 p.m. in the lower level of Town Hall. This initial meeting was set to discuss the steering committee organization, networking strategies, ongoing networking meetings and other topics relevant to the steering committee. The EDC’s role in these initial meetings is to act as facilitator and to serve as an advisory group for the committee. The committee chose representatives to serve as co-chairs and have agreed to meet, as a group, prior to the regularly scheduled EDC monthly meetings.

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Business Directory

Jeanne Reed is in the final stages of completing the directory and coordinating all the ad placements. To date the funds received for ad placements will exceed the cost of printing and household mailing. The final product is scheduled to be delivered to the printers by the end of January with mailing to occur by the end of February.

Way finder sign project

Bob Schmidt reviewed the proposed plan for the introduction and utilization of way finder signs in the community. It was the consensus of the group to adopt the following criteria as the basis of the formal introduction of these signs:

-Retail business signs will be generically grouped i.e. restaurants, Shoppe’s

-Selected Somers tourist attractions i.e. recreation area, state parks, hiking trails, picnic areas

-Signs to be located on Route 190 east and west of the center, and Route 83 north and south of the center and at the intersection of Routes 190 and 186.

-Secondary sign locations will be considered

-Seasonal business will be excluded

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn was made by Maura Gardener seconded by David Reed and was unanimously approved. The meeting was officially adjourned at 8:27 p. m.

Respectfully submitted by,

Ronald L. Elliott, Acting Secretary of the EDC

Minutes are not official until approved at a subsequent meeting.