MANSFIELD DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP, INC.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

Mansfield Downtown Partnership Office

Tuesday, May 3, 2005

 

MINUTES

 

Present: Steve Bacon, Martin Berliner, Dale Dreyfuss, Mike Gergler, Al Hawkins, Janet Jones, Betsy Paterson, Dave Pepin, Caroline Redding, Steve Rogers, Phil Spak, Betsy Treiber, Frank Vasington, David Woods

 

Staff:   Cynthia van Zelm

 

1.                  Call to Order

 

Betsy Treiber called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm.

 

2.                  Opportunity for Public to Comment

 

There was no public comment.

 

3.                  Approval of Minutes

 

Dave Pepin provided corrections to the minutes.  He noted on page one under 5. Review and Approval of Proposed Bylaws Changes that “attorney” needed to be added in front of Lee Cole-Chu.  On page 2, paragraph 3, “business” needs to be made plural.  Al Hawkins made a motion to approve the April 5, 2005 minutes.  Janet Jones seconded the motion.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

4.         Update on Status of DRAFT Municipal Development Plan (MDP)

 

Cynthia van Zelm discussed an updated timeline of the MDP and pre-construction phases of the Storrs Center project.  She said the goal was still to get through some of the local approvals in the summer (with August being an off month) with Town Council review in September.  The schedule will be determined once the Partnership receives comments from the relevant state agencies through the Department of Economic and Community Development.

 

A joint meeting with the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Town Council will be held soon to update them on the MDP process.

 

5.                  Update on Relocation Plan and Request for Proposal for Relocation Consultant

 

Mike Gergler said the Partnership has drafted a relocation plan led by Partnership Attorney Lee Cole-Chu.  He said the Business and Development Committee has been briefed at its last two meetings about the relocation plan and had an opportunity to ask Mr. Cole-Chu questions.  Most of the discussion revolved around what type of relocation assistance might be available.

 

Mr. Gergler read the motion: To authorize the Executive Director to finalize, and to publicize and issue as the Executive Director sees fit a Request for Proposal (RFP) for relocation consulting services; and to authorize a committee consisting of the Chairmen of the Finance and Administration and the Business Development and Retention Committees, the Town Manager, and the Executive Director to review the RFP responses, apply the RFP evaluation criteria, select consulting candidates for interviews and/or oral presentations as they see fit, conduct and evaluate such interviews and presentations, and recommend a candidate or candidates to the Partnership Board for consideration as to retention and contract negotiation.

 

Mr. Dreyfuss made the motion.  Betsy Paterson seconded the motion.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

6.                  Director’s Report

 

Ms. van Zelm noted that a press conference was held at the new Mansfield kiosk with the Chronicle covering the story.

 

She reminded Board members about the Annual Meeting on June 7 at 7 pm at the Greek Center.

 

Caroline Redding arrived.

 

7.                  Committee Reports

 

Business Development and Retention

 

Mr. Gergler reported that the Committee most likely would be shifting some of its efforts toward development as much work has been done on soliciting a relocation consultant.  He said the Committee hopes to meet with Intrawest-The Village People in June or July to discuss the programming and phasing of the project.  The Committee is very interested in reviewing what types of businesses that The Village People are looking to cast into the project.

 

Festival on the Green

 

Betsy Paterson said that fireworks and a picnic (bring your own) in Mansfield Hollow State Park would be held on Saturday night before the Festival.  Several bands have contacted Music Chair Wendi Richardson to appear at the Festival and now those bands can play at the fireworks.  Ms. Paterson said the Committee is still looking for sponsors, as well as food and art vendors.  There is a small fee to be a vendor.

 

Ms. Paterson said that one of the new events is the sponsorship of an “M” for Mansfield, which people/organizations/businesses can decorate as part of a way to beautify the Festival grounds.  The Ms will be judged as well.

 

The School of Fine Arts will be participating with puppets either in the parade, showing an exhibit, or doing a small performance.  Puppets will be put in the Community Center case as well.

 

Ms. Paterson added that there would be a pie-baking contest as well.  And, volunteers for all events are always welcome.

 

Finance and Administration

 

In Tom Callahan’s absence, Martin Berliner reported that the Committee had reviewed attorney fees and discussed different options for funding.  The Partnership Work Plan was also briefly reviewed.

 

Mr. Berliner said the Town would be applying for a grant for street trees in front of Town Hall as part of the pedestrian connection from downtown to the Community Center.  The grant will go before the Town Council for review on Monday night.

 

Ms. Paterson said that during the dedication of the Mansfield kiosk, Mark Paquette with the Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage Corridor encouraged the Town to apply for a grant related to the town square.

 

Membership

 

Betsy Treiber reported that there had been a very good response on membership renewals.  The Committee is working on re-doing the membership brochure.  There are currently 261 members with dues received in excess of $15,000, which is approximately $5,000 over the goal.

 

Planning and Design

 

Steve Bacon reported that LeylandAlliance and LRK have put together a draft of the architectural guidelines as part of the design guidelines, which the Committee has reviewed and provided feedback.  At the meeting in May, the Committee will review further work on the design and sustainability guidelines.

 

8.                  Communications

 

Ms. van Zelm referenced the grant request to the CT Commission on Culture and Tourism for $3,000 for the Partnership and the Jorgensen to work on a weekend getaway package in celebration of Jorgensen’s 50^th anniversary.  David Woods said the School of Fine Arts was looking forward to working with the Partnership and the businesses on the weekend packages.  He passed out the Jorgensen 50^th Anniversary brochure, hot off the press.

 

He also referenced a Greater Hartford Arts Council study on the economic benefits of the arts in the Hartford area.  He will pass it along to Ms. van Zelm, to be passed on to the development team.

 

9.                  Adjourn

 

Mr. Hawkins made a motion to adjourn.  Dale Dreyfuss seconded the motion.  The meeting adjourned at 5:00 pm.

 

Meeting notes taken by Cynthia van Zelm.