Town of Gray
Community Economic Development Committee
Stimson Hall
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Notes
Members present: Lance Tlumac, Tom Delaney, Don Hutchings, Lew Mancini, Jeanne Carpentier and Dick Barter.
Absent: Council Liaison Peter Gellerson, Jack Goosetrey and Tracy Sheckel
Guest: Nathan Tsukroff
Jeanne brought the meeting to order at 6:35 pm and she offered to take notes.
Jeanne began the meeting with the update from the GNGBA annual meeting of the previous Friday where the vote was made to dissolve the association and merge with the Sebago Lakes Regional Chamber. Monies from the GNGBA were voted to move $6,000.00 to the chamber to use towards future scholarships and the remaining $10,000.00 to the Gray Community Endowment. The intention is to keep the money in the Gray-New Gloucester area to promote economic development. The GNGBA is meeting over the next few weeks to finalize all matters.
Website update – Ed and Brian continue to make updates to the site. Brian has taken a full time position at Maine Medical Center but is hopeful he may continue to work for a few hours per week for the town in a similar capacity as he has been doing. Ed’s wife is expecting their second child and his time will not be as available to work on the site as in the past. Discussion revolved around our request to the Town Council for a media manager and website committee. The Town Manager has currently placed in the 2010/2011 budget a request for an additional 10 hours per week in this department. The CEDC will work to create a sub-committee of a web site committee that will continue to help with updates until the budget has been approved. Other ideas were promoted about using our current
IT provider for assistance. Jeanne reported that Virtual Town Hall charges the town $4145.00 annually for hosting services.
Review of meeting with New Gloucester CEDC from January 11. Don, Lew and Tracy attended and found the group to be extremely welcoming and friendly. The group felt the idea of developing some type of brochure of existing businesses in town with a map and description of these businesses would be beneficial as the cornerstone of a sales effort to promote these businesses. It was also agreed by both groups that both economic development directors of the towns, Paul First and George Thebarge, should meet and be aware of each other’s efforts in order to collaborate whenever possible.
A discussion of Pineland and opportunities to work with them to promote expansion of their services took place. A suggestion was made that perhaps the GCE could help coordinate a meeting with the EDC’s of both towns, the Economic Development Directors and Pineland. No action taken at this time, however.
George provided updates on the grant programs he’s been working on. All are moving forward. He continues to work with Dunkin’ Donuts on the septic system updates, adding parking spaces and working with MDOT to change the median on Shaker road. He is also working on a grant to develop a master plan to sell Stimson, the old post office and the old town office along with the CN Brown gas station. This process requires citizen involvement which George would look to the CEDC for assistance.
Discussion took place regarding the Fire Barn which now houses the Gray Historical Society. Frustration was expressed that the Fire Barn is not included in the Clark Block improvements as well as concern for a lack of committed funding to properly maintain it. George explained that he is incorporating consideration of the Fire Barn septic and parking needs into the upcoming Clark Block project.
Goals 2010 discussion – The CEDC would like to request a workshop with the Council to help understand the town’s overall goals for 2010 into 2011 which will help the CEDC set their direction for 2010. Jeanne is to request this from Peter Gellerson, chair of the Town Council.
Meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 17 at 6:30 pm at Stimson Hall.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jeanne Carpentier
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