TOWN/UNIVERSITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday, January 13, 2003
Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building
Council Chambers
Present: A. Barberet, P. Barry, M. Berliner, T. Callahan, E. Daniels, R. Hudd, AJ Pappanikou, E. Paterson, W. Simpson
Absent: B. Clouette, J. Gauthier, C. Henry, R. Miller, D. Pendrys, L. Schilling,
Staff: M. Hart, Assistant
toC. van Zelm
1. Opportunity for Public to Address the Committee
None
2. December 9, 2003 Meeting Minutes
The minutes will be distributed for the next meeting.
3. Update re: Mansfield Downtown Partnership
Cynthia van Zelm reported that the Partnership has negotiated a draft agreement with the master developer, Storrs Center Alliance, LLC. The Partnership is also working on its Mansfield brochure, as well as a festival on the green for next fall. Membership is up to 272 members.
[Pappanikou] Continues to hear good things about the Partnership, which is a positive sign. [Barry] What will the fall event involve? [Paterson] The event will involve a festival on the green for the Sunday afternoon following Labor Day, and will feature live music and food. The event will have a family emphasis, but the planning committee is also trying to attract UConn students.
Tom Callahan explained that the Partnership’s operating budget expires in June, and that Cynthia and the finance committee are working on a new budget to present to the board. He is comfortable that the town and the university will continue to support the Partnership, as the organization has accomplished a great deal in a relatively short amount of time.
4. Substance Abuse Workgroup
Tom Callahan reported that the workgroup has made good progress. Tom commended the town council for the adoption of the ordinance regulating the possession of alcohol by minors, which was supported by President Austin’s task force. The workgroup is also working to increase communication between the police and the dean of students. The workgroup plans to finish its work by early February and report back to the Town/University Relations Committee. Martin Berliner added that the town and the university both have recently submitted applications to receive funding to increase DUI enforcement around campus.
5. UConn Spring Weekend
Tom Callahan stated that spring weekend is tentatively scheduled for April 22-24, 2004. [Paterson] Are there ongoing meetings yet? [Hudd] The UConn police department will begin its operational meetings in March. [Daniels] The planning committee has a proposal to hold a concert on Saturday night featuring a hip-hop group.
6. Other Business
AJ Pappanikou asked if a code orange or red is called for the shoreline, do we serve as an evacuation point? [Hudd] Mansfield and the University do serve as a host community for a couple of shoreline communities, and we have completed some training over the years. [Berliner] Civil preparedness and emergency services personnel would establish a federal registration point in this instance.
Greg Padick asked Rich Miller for an update on the scoping meeting for the proposed football complex and athletic facility. [Miller] The University will conduct a scooping meeting on January 27, 2004 at the Bishop Center to review the project.
[Paterson] Will the project involve two facilities or one? [Miller] One complex. [Berliner] Will Memorial Stadium continue to be used? [Miller] Yes, but the bleachers may be modified. [Barry] What will the impact be on Stadium Road? [Callahan] The environmental impact evaluation will determine the impact, but the university does not plan to close off Stadium Road. There still is a long way to go with the planning for this project. [Pappanikou] He is confused because he initially thought the stadium was planned to come down. Will you present any plans on January 27? [Miller] Yes.
The committee adjourned the meeting at 4:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Matthew Hart