MANSFIELD DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP, INC.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Mansfield Downtown Partnership Office
Tuesday, August 3, 2004
MINUTES
Present: Steve Bacon, Tom Callahan, Dale Dreyfuss, Mike Gergler, Al Hawkins, Philip Lodewick, Janet Jones, Fred Maryanski, Betsy Paterson, Caroline Redding, Steve Rogers, Frank Vasington, David Woods
Staff: C. van Zelm, L. Cole-Chu
1. Call to Order
Philip Lodewick called the meeting to order at 4:05 pm.
2. Welcome New Board Members – Caroline Redding and Fred Maryanski
Mr. Lodewick welcomed Fred Maryanski to the Board (Caroline Redding arrived later in the meeting).
3. Opportunity for Public to Comment
There was no Public Comment.
4. Approval of Minutes
Betsy Paterson made a motion to approve the May 4, 2004 minutes and the June 10, 2004 (Special Meeting) minutes. Dale Dreyfuss seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.
5. Election of Officers to Board of Directors for 2004-2005
Betsy Paterson made a motion to approve Philip Lodewick as President, Betsy Treiber as Vice President, Steve Rogers as Secretary, Dave Pepin as Treasurer, and Marty Berliner as Assistant Treasurer as officers for the Mansfield Downtown Partnership for 2004-2005. Mike Gergler seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.
6. Appointment of Committee Chairs and Members for 2004-2005
Ms. van Zelm noted that Caroline Redding should be added as a member of the Nominating Committee to the list of Committee members provided for consideration.
Steve Bacon made a motion to approve the list of Mansfield Downtown Partnership Committee Chairs and members (as attached) including Caroline Redding to the Nominating Committee. Mr. Gergler seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.
7. Review and Discussion of Development Agreement with Storrs Center Alliance
Tom Callahan noted that the Board had authorized the Finance and Administration Committee to enter into negotiations with Storrs Center Alliance on the development agreement between Storrs Center Alliance and the Partnership. (Storrs Center Alliance is a limited liability corporation formed for the development of the Storrs Center project that has one member currently – LeylandAlliance).
Mr. Callahan said two objectives needed to be met before the agreement could be recommended by the Finance Committee to the Board: reviewing LeylandAlliance’s finances related to their ability to put equity into the project, and the requirement that UConn agreement with Storrs Center Alliance to transfer portions of its land to Storrs Center Alliance was in place.
Dave Pepin and Mr. Lodewick met with the investors in LeylandAlliance and one of the proposed builders/sources of funding while Cynthia van Zelm met with one of the proposed builders/sources of funding. Mr. Callahan said their report was that the investors were prudent and patient, and undertaking responsible development in their projects.
Today, the UConn Board of Trustees met to consider the conveyance of land for the Storrs Center project to Storrs Center Alliance. Both Ms. Paterson and Mr. Lodewick spoke at the Board meeting. The Board of Trustees approved going ahead with the conveyance of land.
Mr. Callahan said the development agreement was essentially the same as the agreement initially approved by the Board in April when Marquette Property Investments was part of the team but with some significant changes related to timeline and guarantees. The development agreement calls for the preliminary Business Plan to be completed 30 days after it is signed and for the Municipal Development Plan (MDP) to be completed 120 days after the development agreement is signed. Permits will be secured subject to the approval of the MDP. The agreement includes a provision that construction would begin 60 days after a construction loan is approved. A special design district is contemplated that would in place 60 days after approval of the MDP. There are notification provisions if Storrs Center Alliance is in default and a guaranty agreement (guaranty of performance) from Storrs Center Alliance is included as part of the agreement.
Lee Cole-Chu added that the development agreement added some safeguards for the Partnership that the Finance and Administration Committee wanted including notification of claims against the developer, and payment of any Partnership legal fees related to financing by the developer.
Mr. Callahan said the Finance and Administration Committee unanimously recommended that the Board approve the development agreement with Storrs Center Alliance provided that UConn’s agreement with Storrs Center Alliance is in place, and that the Partnership’s attorney Lee Cole-Chu, had a chance to review the development agreement in full from the changes made by Storrs Center Alliance. As this has occurred, Mr. Callahan made a motion that the President of the Partnership be authorized to enter into a development agreement with Storrs Center Alliance. Ms. Paterson seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.
Mr. Callahan noted that a lot of progress has been made on the project. He thanked Ms. van Zelm, Dale Dreyfuss in his efforts to get the land conveyance agreement done quickly, the Finance and Administration Committee for their due diligence, and Mr. Cole-Chu for all his work, and thanks to Mr. Lodewick, and Ms. Paterson for speaking on behalf of the project at the Board of Trustees meeting.
Mr. Callahan said there would be a lot of work in the next few months to start engaging the public even more in the project.
Mr. Lodewick recognized Mr. Callahan for all his hard work.
8. Director’s Report
Ms. van Zelm said that earlier this week a group from the Board had met with Storrs Center Alliance to lay out the next steps including the public engagement process. There will be a meeting to introduce Storrs Center Alliance to the public in early Sept. and a meeting in October to review the design. She said that a weekly telephone call with the Storrs Center Alliance team is now taking place.
The Festival on the Green planning is going well with vendors being secured. She directed Board members to their volunteer assignments the day of the Festival, which had been previously e-mailed to them. She asked Board members to let her know if there are any changes.
With respect to grants, Ms. van Zelm said the Town of Mansfield on behalf of the Partnership had applied for another Small Town Economic Assistance Program grant for $500,000 that would focus on the town green. She said a decision should be made by the Office of Policy Management in September. The Town also has applied for a Small Cities grant from the Department of Economic and Community Development for streetscape improvements.
9. Report from Committee
Ms. Paterson reported that more artists were being secured for the Festival. She thanked Janet Jones for her work on food and Mr. Dreyfuss for helping out with art work on the back of Husky Blues. Ginny Walton, Town Recycling Coordinator, is making a big effort to have Festival participants recycle 90 percent of their waste. Kristin Schwab is preparing the map of the site.
The Festival on the Green Committee decided not to tie in fireworks after the Festival.
Mr. Gergler reported that the Business Development and Retention Committee had met with Steve Maun of Storrs Center Alliance, and Joanne Maislin of Intrawest. There was discussion about how Intrawest would work with the Partnership to choose tenants and work with the current businesses in Storrs Center. Mr. Gergler said the feedback he received from Committee members was very positive and they look forward to seeing Ms. Maislin’s further analysis of the market.
Planning and Design
Steve Bacon reported that the Planning and Design Committee was joined by Lou Marquet from Storrs Center Alliance, and Michael Klemens again at their meeting.
They gave an update of their analysis of the wetlands on the site and how some of the wetlands issues might be addressed. The Committee will meet again in September.
10. Adjourn
Mr. Callahan made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Frank Vasington seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 4:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia van Zelm
Executive Director, Mansfield Downtown Partnership