MANSFIELD DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Mansfield Downtown Partnership Office

1244 Storrs Road

4:00 PM

Minutes

Present: Chair: Philip Lodewick, Steve Bacon, Tom Callahan, Bruce Clouette, Gregory Haddad, Matt Hart, Janet Jones, Frank McNabb, Betsy Paterson, Kristin Schwab, Phil Spak, David Woods

Staff: Cynthia van Zelm, Kathleen Paterson

1. Call to Order

Philip Lodewick called the meeting to order at 4:04 pm.

2. Opportunity for Public to Comment

There were no comments from the public.

3. Approval of Minutes

Betsy Paterson made a motion to approve the minutes. Dean David Woods seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously.

4. Director’s Report

Cynthia van Zelm thanked Ms. Paterson for helping to start the process to try and find a work study student to help in the office. She said there is no cost to the Partnership.

Ms. van Zelm pointed to the flyer on the Town and Partnership’s Earth Day event on April 26. She said that Administrative Assistant Kathleen Paterson had taken the lead from the Partnership office. Ginny Walton, the Town’s recycling coordinator, has the lead from the Town. There will be many events including the popular energy efficient light bulb sale.

She then referred to the spring newsletter at everyone’s places. She said Ms. K. Paterson had done an excellent job putting it together. There were more ads than in the past. She said the newsletter will be mailed out to the membership in the next few days. It ran in the Chronicle today that is received by subscribers and will be in the Thursday shopper that goes to non-subscribers. There will be copies in the office as well and it will be used as part of the Partnership’s marketing materials.

Ms. van Zelm said a federal appropriations request has gone in for $3.8 million for infrastructure for the Storrs Center project, mainly concentrated in the Village Street area. This is a cost that would be captured by the master developer if not received at the federal level. Ms. van Zelm asked Board members to sign letters of support to Senators Dodd and Lieberman and Congressman Courtney if they had not done so yet.

Philip Lodewick said that funding for the parking garage is critically important to go along with the private funding for the project. He referred to a letter and resolution addressed to Governor Rell requesting that she include the funding request for the parking garage on the Bond Commission agenda. It had been approved as part of last fall’s bonding bill. Ms. Paterson made a motion to send the letter to the Governor with the attached resolution. Dean Woods seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

The Board discussed seeking other letters and voices of support for the parking garage.

5. Report from Committees

Advertising and Promotion

Dean Woods said the Storrs Center DVD will be put on the School of Fine Arts web page. It will be linked to the Town website.

Ms. K. Paterson said that Winter Fun Day had been successful with the wacky hat contest, ice sculptures, and the UConn Chordials signing. There was no ice skating due to earlier days of warm weather.

Dean Woods discussed a work day to set up space in the old Bruce’s Novelties space to showcase Partnership events and plans, and to clean up the Marketplace building. It will be a Saturday in the spring. Janet Jones noted that all Board members are welcome to help.

Business Development and Retention

Speaking for Chair Mike Gergler, Ms. van Zelm said they had e-mailed the Committee to update the Committee on the Partnership and the Storrs Center project and ask if they wanted to meet. She said she had not heard back from any Committee members.

Festival on the Green

Ms. Paterson said the UConn Marching Band will appear at the Festival again this year. There will again be the musical acts of Aztec Two Step and the Mohegan Sun All Stars, the juried art show, and the pie eating contest. She said Ms. K. Paterson is working on getting new and more volunteers.

Ms. van Zelm pointed to the Save the Date flyer for the Festival and asked for help on distribution.

Finance and Administration

Tom Callahan said that Town Manager Matt Hart is reviewing the Town issues related to agreements with master developer LeylandAlliance. Ms. van Zelm said that the Partnership designated team has been working on the agreements as its major priority.

Ms. van Zelm said the updated economic benefits analysis by Leyland’s consultant HR&A is being finalized and will be peer reviewed. Town staff has met with the HR&A staff to provide input.

One of the next steps is the presentation to the Town Council on the project. The presentation will be reviewed by the Board of Directors before then.

Membership Development

Ms. van Zelm reported, on behalf of Committee chair Betsy Treiber, that current paid membership is 368 with over $20,000 in dues which is slightly greater than income budgeted.

Nominating

Mr. Lodewick said that Dean Woods will be on the ballot at the Annual Meeting to be voted on by the membership for a Board of Director position.

Ms. van Zelm noted that UConn President Michael Hogan will be the speaker at the Annual Meeting.

Planning and Design

Steve Bacon said the Planning and Design Committee met on March 18 and approved a motion to send the final draft of the sustainability guidelines to the full Board in May for its review.

Ms. van Zelm said she would have the guidelines mailed to the Board members for review ahead of time (since changed to pick-up/notified Board via e-mail/Ms. K. Paterson will send follow-up e-mail).

6. May and June Meeting Dates

Mr. Lodewick recommended May 8 as the next Board meeting date as Ms. van Zelm will be out of town on the regular meeting date of May 6. Bruce Clouette made a motion to change the Board meeting date from Tuesday, May 6 at 4 pm to Thursday, May 8 at 4 pm. Mr. Callahan seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.

Mr. Lodewick said the Annual Meeting is set for Tuesday, June 3 at 6 pm at the Greek Center.

7. Adjourn

Mr. Callahan made a motion to adjourn. Matt Hart seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 5:00 pm.

Meeting notes taken by Cynthia van Zelm.