Town of Gray
Community Economic Development Committee
Stimson Hall
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Notes
Members present: Lance Tlumac, Tom Delaney, Don Hutchings, Lew Mancini, Jeanne Carpentier, Dick Barter, Ed Libby, Jack Goosetrey, Tracy Scheckel and Council Liaison Peter Gellerson.
Absent: None
Guest: George Thebarge, Gray Economic Development Director
Jeanne brought the meeting to order at 6:35 pm and she offered to take notes.
Jeanne began the meeting with a review of the proposed goals/projects for 2010 that were brought to the Council at a special workshop in January. At that time, it was decided to prioritize the ideas into A, B and C priorities. Jeanne received the rankings by e-mail and gave an “A” priority 60 points, “B” 30 points and a “C” 10 points. She also broke it down between Council and CEDC. The end result, which was shared at this meeting, was that the Council and CEDC agree on 3 goals. They are as follows:
1) Prepare a Monument Square Master Plan to Stimulate Redevelopment
2) Develop a Master Plan for Area 3 near the Bypass
3) Continue Improvement of the Town Web Site.
George offered that there are 3 steps that need to take place in regards to the Monument Square Master Plan. They are an engineering assessment, an architecture assessment and finally public input once the first two steps have been completed. He emphasized that our group will help set priorities as we move forward, act as public advocates, provide public support at public meetings and encourage public input. Members of the committee expressed frustration with this process as it doesn’t utilize the group immediately and members spoke up that we need to be taking action steps in regards to economic development over the next few months and not wait until these assessments are completed. Much discussion took place regarding actual activities of the committee over the next few months.
It was decided that Ed, Jeanne and Tracy will create a sub-committee for the website and review the idea of collecting e-mails of those interested in economic development and the idea of creating a survey from the website. Also look into a “What’s going on in Gray . . . “ within the website.
Jeanne will reach out to her contacts at Pineland to offer a joint meeting with the Gray CEDC, NG CEDC and representatives from Pineland in hopes of collaborating on economic development.
Tracy is working with the Gray Community Endowment and will update us on a meeting she is holding with interested citizens this week at our next meeting in March.
All committee members will bring any information that have about Area 3 near the bypass to the next meeting to begin laying the groundwork on that goal for 2010. George emphasized that the Monument Square Master Plan is the first goal but that education regarding Area 3 can be started right away.
More discussion took place regarding Manny Motors and the eyesore it represents as one enters the town. Nothing finalized.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 17 at 6:30 pm at Stimson Hall.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jeanne Carpentier
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