ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
DRAFT MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 14, 2019
Members: Scott McCaskill (Chair), Barbara Bridgewater, Stan Ovrevik, Laurie Colburn, Selectmen’s Rep Michael James and Matt Monahan (Central New Hampshire Regional Planning) were in attendance.
Jim Bibbo (Vice Chair) was absent.
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM.
- The Committee discussed their by-laws regarding a quorum which outlined a requirement of 5-member attendance to form a quorum.
Motion: Laurie Colburn motioned to update the by-laws to read a majority of members would constitute a quorum.
Second: Stan Ovrevik
Decision: 5-0 in favor
- Tracey Quigley was in attendance and would like to join the formal Committee.
Motion: Michael James motioned to add Tracy Quigley to the Committee as an Alternate.
Second: Scott McCaskill
Decision: 5-0 in favor
Motion: Michael James motioned seat Tracy Quigley in place of Jim Bibbo.
Second: Laurie Colburn
Decision: 5-0 in favor
- Michael asked whether the Committee would like to live stream their meetings. The Committee declined.
- Matt Monahan recapped the previous meeting where the Committee had reviewed various economic development tools and opportunities. He also discussed the Planning Board’s Master Plan objectives for the Naughton property which coincide with an Economic Development Committee initiative to request that the Select Board propose a Warrant Article to send out a Request for Proposal to “brownfield” developers to see if there is interest in developing the property. Michal outlined current trail development efforts underway on the property and a desire to expand that, eventually connecting all business in Town with trail access.
- The Committee reviewed the minutes from the previous meeting.
Motion: Michael James motioned to approve the minutes.
Second: Stan Ovrevik
Decision: 6-0 in favor
Michael also encouraged the Committee to focus on actionable items and “low hanging fruit”. This aligns with the objectives the Committee discussed at the previous meeting and all were in agreement.
- The Committee discussed developing action plans,
as well as assigning short-term, mid-term and long-term goals for:
- Encouraging the use of empty buildings/improving the street scape/façade as people travel through Bradford.
- Recreational Trails:
- Map all trails – short term
- Kearsarge Trail Association, Till Wheeler, Tall Pine, Rail Trail, Layfette Trail…
- Laurie to follow up with the Sunapee Snowmobile Club to see what they have for Bradford.
- Trail improvements and acquisitions – mid term.
- Addressing private easement and legal concerns – Matt will follow up with regional contact who has extensive experience.
- Signage/Clear Trail markings and Trail Head identification – Short term.
- Map all trails – short term
- Tax Incremental Finance – How do we leverage this? – long term.
- 79E Community Revitalization – Does the footprint expand in the future?
- Website development – Laurie hopes to have a sample policy draft available for the next meeting.
- Bradford Gateway – Corridor Study – short term, Matt will lead effort through NHRPC.
- Zoning – Evaluate whether Zoning is working in general.
- Economic Revitalization Tax Credit – State program, need to determine zone.
- Events – The Committee discussed several seasonal event ideas. In 2020 they plan to focus on expanding Halloween activities. Initial thoughts included creating a Haunted House, pumpkin displays, developing a maze, doing a Murder Mystery event, historical walks, etc. with a focus on stretching out the Halloween season and attracting folks to Bradford.
- Matt will put the objectives into a spreadsheet format with goals for the next meeting.
- Michael will send the Committee the latest Naughton property survey details.
- Tracy will get a map of the proposed Naughton property use from the Historical Society.
The meeting adjourned at 7:44pm.
The next meeting will be held at 6:30pm, December 12th, 2019 at the Bradford Area Community Center.
Draft minutes submitted by Laurie Colburn, Secretary