Town of Somers

Economic Development Commission

P.O. Box 308

Somers, Connecticut 06071

 

EDC Minutes

April 7, 2008

Selectmen’s Conference Room

Town Hall

 

Call to Order

 

Chairman Lou Bachetti called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.

 

Attendance

 

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

 

Approval of Minutes

 

Motion by Maura Gardiner and seconded by David Reed that the minutes of the January meeting be approved without change. All members present voted in favor of the motion.

 

Correspondence

 

Lou referenced the following items as correspondence:

1)     That there was a party interested in renting space and asked the members if they knew of any availability.

2)     That there was a party interested in talking to the commission about a Shakespearean function.

3)     That all town budgets are frozen as of February 2008

4)     That All Season Service Inc is out of business and had sent in a letter advising same.

5)      

 

 

 

Somers Business Association

 

Ron Elliott updated the group concerning the activities of the Somers business steering committee. The committee has scheduled a Business and Merchant Expo to be held on May 3, 2008 from 10:00 to 2:00 at the Somersville Grammar School. There will be a number of venders displaying their goods and services at the Expo. Communication concerning the Expo will be promoted via flyers and published notices in surrounding papers.

 

Business Survey

 

Rick Cheney noted that the surveys were sent out on Friday April 4, 2008.

 

Status of the of Somersville Mill

 

David Reed commented that the mill had been quit claimed to a third party and delinquent taxes had been paid. Discussion followed noting that the mill has been put on the market by said third party. Lou also mentioned that he had been contacted by an interested party from Mass. and that he will inform the selectmen concerning the contact and offer to the interested party an opportunity to meet with the EDC. The commission also directed the secretary to issue a letter to the selectmen requesting that an inventory of violations be sent to the new owner of the mill as the commission has concerns about the safety of the mill and the safety of the citizens in the community.

 

Somerville Streetscape Update

 

David Reed updated the commission that the original oversight committee has been reengaged to begin to proceed with a plan of implementation of the approved proposal presented to the town last summer.

 

Updating EDC website 

 

It was noted that the town has allotted $6,000 for examination of a new town web site. Lou requested David Reed to update the current town web site with some very basic details concerning the EDC.

 

Other Business

 

Rick Cheney advised the group that he had attended an Enfield Chamber meeting recently and was impressed with a brochure including a town map that was circulating at the meeting. He asked the group if there was any interest in having the vender speak to our group and the answer was a no.

Reference was made that Dan Roulier had opened a train store in town and that Country Lady has changed location.

 

 

Adjournment

 

Motion to adjourn was made by Maura Gardiner seconded by David Reed and was approved. The meeting was officially adjourned at 8.44 p. m.

 

Respectfully submitted by,

 

Ronald L. Elliott, Secretary for the EDC

 

Minutes are not official until approved at a subsequent meeting.