MANSFIELD DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Mansfield Downtown Partnership Office

1244 Storrs Road

 

4:00 PM

 

Minutes

 

Present:  Steve Bacon, Tom Callahan, Gregory Haddad, Matt Hart, Janet Jones, Frank McNabb, Betsy Paterson, Kristin Schwab, Phil Spak, Betsy Treiber, David Woods

 

Staff: Cynthia van Zelm

 

Guest: Macon Toledano

 

1.                  Call to Order

 

Board Vice President Betsy Treiber called the meeting to order at 4:05 pm, in Board President Philip Lodewick’s absence.

 

2.                  Opportunity for Public to Comment

 

Bob Miller with the NE Economic Alliance and Laura Webb with the University of Connecticut Alumni Association introduced themselves. 

 

3.                  Approval of Minutes

 

Betsy Paterson made a motion to approve the minutes.  Matt Hart seconded the motion.  The minutes were approved unanimously. 

 

4.         Director’s Report

 

Executive Director Cynthia van Zelm asked for assistance with the Partnership table at Know Your Towns Fair in September as well as the Partnership table at Festival on the Green.  Janet Jones said she could help with the Know Your Towns Fair table.

 

Ms. van Zelm said the next open house is this Thursday, August 7 at 5:30 pm.

 

Ms. van Zelm said she has been working with Board members and the UConn communications team on communications focused on milestones. 

 

Ms. Paterson reported on the meeting she, Ms. van Zelm, Town Manager Matt Hart, and LeylandAlliance project manager Macon Toledano had with Congressman Joe Courtney about Storrs Center.  There is currently a $3.7 million request pending for Storrs Center infrastructure improvements.  Congressman Courtney said the prospect of any movement on appropriations bills is unlikely before the presidential election.  It will be difficult this year to fund many appropriations requests.  Ms. van Zelm said the group briefly discussed the upcoming transportation authorization bill that is due to be considered by Congress next year.  There may be the opportunity for additional funding in that bill.

 

5.         Update on Storrs Center Project and Next Steps

 

Mr. Hart said the Town consultant ERA is continuing to review master developer LeylandAlliance’s fiscal analysis by phase.  ERA is also providing assistance on negotiation of a development agreement with LeylandAlliance.  Mr. Hart said he has been pleased with ERA’s work.

 

Tom Callahan emphasized that the number of people and organizations that must negotiate requires time and energy.  It will be important to continue to communicate next steps. Mr. Callahan emphasized that Leyland needs to reach several of its own milestones including construction financing, some leasing and pre-sales as part of any development agreement with the Town or the Partnership.

 

6.         Report from Committees

 

Advertising and Promotion

 

Dean Woods said the Committee discussed the fall newsletter at its last meeting. The focus will be on the Festival on the Green and it will be out on September 2 in the Chronicle and sent to Partnership members.

 

Dean Woods said the Committee also provided input into the future communications.

 

Festival on the Green

 

Ms. Paterson said there were new Committee members working on the parade (Tom Birkenholz and Barry Schreier) and have a lot of enthusiasm.  It is being expanded and renamed the “Celebrate Mansfield Parade.”

 

Ms. Paterson said there is the need to get out publicity on the parade especially so people know to watch it.  Ms. Paterson and UConn President Michael Hogan will lead the parade.  Ms. Paterson commended Dean Woods and UConn for its participation in the Festival.  Kristin Schwab suggested a sandwich board at Know Your Towns Fair to advertise the Festival.

 

Ms. van Zelm said a press release specifically about the parade will be sent to the Chronicle and the Reminder.

 

Ms. Paterson said that Brenda Sullivan who used to work for the Reminder is now working for the internet based “Mansfield Today” website.

 

Ms. Paterson said the Festival Committee is still looking for volunteers and for donations.  She reiterated that the Festival budget is covered entirely by sponsorships and donations. 

 

She said one of the new aspects of the Festival will be the street performers including the UConn Cordials, Irish step dancers, and a hip hop group.

 

Finance and Administration

 

Mr. Callahan said the Finance and Administration Committee reviewed the issue of adding additional hours to the Administrative Assistant position, to assist with the workload, with the Partnership’s current fund balance.  This change would be effective for one fiscal year and reviewed again next year.  Mr. Callahan made a motion to allocate $11,500 from fund balance to personnel to allow for the increase in hours to 40 hours for the Administrative Assistant position.  Janet Jones seconded the motion.  The motion was approved unanimously. 

 

7.         Review of Sustainability Guidelines

 

Planning and Design Committee Chair Steve Bacon said the Planning and Design Committee had taken a final review of the Storrs Center sustainability guidelines based on Board and Committee suggested changes.

 

Ms. van Zelm handed out additional changes from the Board’s first review that had inadvertently been left out of the Board packet.

 

Macon Toledano said that all the changes had been reviewed by the Planning and Design Committee and include the following changes:

 

Page 16 – with respect to light pollution control, the guidelines will follow the latest standards which include following LEED standards.

 

Page 17- as suggested by Board member Kristin Schwab, the language re: prohibiting invasive of noxious weed species was changed to reflect the LEED standards.

 

Mr. Toledano said the Leyland team felt it was important to have a micro irrigation system in the town square area due to traffic.

 

Page 21 – the Planning and Design Committee wanted to know why dish and clothes washers were excluded from the list of areas where there should be a 20 percent reduction in potable water use.  Mr. Toledano said those appliances are listed to be Energy Star certified, which actually requires a greater reduction of 30 to 40 percent.

 

Ms. Paterson asked if sub-contractors have to meet the guidelines.  Mr. Toledano said the guidelines apply to any contractor under their employ.

 

Page 21 – Mr. Toledano said a change was made to reflect Board member Tom Callahan’s question about whether the guidelines refer back to the most recent applicable guidelines, particularly related to the EPAct of 1992 and its water standards.

 

Page 24 – Mr. Toledano noted that Board member Frank McNabb has recommended installing a vapor barrier for slab to make it more difficult for radon to get through.  The LEED standards do not go this far.

 

Ms. Treiber and Ms. Paterson commended Mr. Bacon and the Planning and Design Committee, and Mr. Toledano for their good job on the guidelines.

 

Ms. Paterson made a motion to approve the guidelines.  Mr. Hart seconded the motion.  The motion was approved unanimously. 

 

Janet Jones said the approval was a very positive step and should be announced in the press.  Ms. van Zelm said a press release would be done.

 

9.         Adjourn

 

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

 

Minutes taken by Cynthia van Zelm.