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MONTVILLE TOWNSHIP
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF JUNE 17, 2009
8:00AM
ROLL CALL
Ron Cain, Jr. - present
Everett
Vreeland - absent
Ron Soussa -
present
Jennifer Horowitz - absent
Margaret Miller – Sanders - present
Mark Tabakin - absent
Deane Driscoll – present
Alexander Kachmar – Alt. #1 -
absent
Greg Milazzo – Alt #2 - absent
Liaisons:
Township Committee: Deb Nielson
& Tim Braden (alt)
Deb Nielson – Present
Tim Braden – Present
Township Officials: Linda White,
Land Use Administrator
Linda White - Present
Planning Board Liaison:
Gary Lewis & Tony Speciale
Gary Lewis
– present
Tony
Speciale – present
OLD BUSINESS
Website Development – update
Mrs. White indicated that there is a company that will be
posting video’s of the township, a free service that will use ads placed on our
web. Later in the meeting, Mrs. Nielson
elaborated on this program explaining how the company provides the service and what was
involved.
Concerns arose about the Township’s inability to change the
website to reflect EDC as its own
entity, having to go through land use to reach this website. It should be independent. Mr. Soussa noted this is two months now that
the EDC has requested this. Mrs. White
will again address this with Mr. Bastone, but he indicated he was not going to
do this at this time, but she would double check again. Ms. Neilson will discuss this issue at the
next Township Committee meeting.
Mrs. White indicated she is getting in PDF’s on some of the
projects we had approved, and that she already received one from Lowe’s, and
has asked Boiling Springs, Montville Office Plaza, LaSala, Heller Group to
participate. Mr. Lewis asked about Dr.
Keating’s site? This will also be
requested once complete.
Mr. Lewis felt this would be a good idea to have these
documents so that we can do a
slide presentation at our second meeting in September when we are inviting the
outside agencies, etc. to the Planning Board meeting.
Update: Pending BoA & Planning Board applications
Mrs. White noted Lowe’s has been approved.
Update: Master Plan
update – input by Master Plan subcommittee
Emery Road, Kokora, run down homes on Changebridge Road
Nothing has been done by the subcommittee whose members are
not present today. Concerns arose that
this be addressed especially since the Planning Board is forging ahead with Master Plan and this is something that
is important to the EDC.
Towaco Center Master plan will be incorporated into the
updated master plan. The only activity
in the area Mrs. White noted was the McDermott property listed for sale.
Mrs. Nielson voiced concerns that the Highlands will have on
our community, noting that at this time we are waiting on a matrix from our
township’s planner who was asked to list the pro’s and con’s of opting in/out
for the township to consider. These
items will continue to be heard, and the decision has to be made sometime this
year.
Mr. Braden voiced concerns, also noting that you have no
idea what will happen with
pending legislation if things change after Fall.
Mr. Lewis voiced concerns about making sure we work together
to plan for reasonable and smart growth.
Mr. Soussa asked if we were addressing alternate energy understanding a
new bill is introduced calling this an inherent benefit. Mrs. Nielson voiced concerns since we are not
sure what type of accessory structures, if not located on a roof, can be
installed in ground. The Planning Board
is investigating but is using caution on this issue.
Mr. Lewis indicated that we did, though, add the requirement
under goals and objectives to use substantial building practices.
Mr. Soussa felt the Planning Board should also look at the
current zones and sign regulations for office building development, noting
issue with his sign located in the
R27D zone. He also mentioned ‘loading
docks’ as being required. Mrs. White
indicated she would add to the list, but that one (sign) is a variance and the other
is a waiver under design standards, less stringent. But she will carry a running list of all
items.
Update: Grants
available
Mrs. White noted she researched the grants that Ms. Lim from
Parsippany received as per her
directive last meeting, but the grant she is working on is the same grant Montville received. No other grants were researched at this time.
NEW BUSINESS
Shop Local Campaign discussed.
Mrs. Nielson indicated that the Township will be involved in
this project, noting that there is a
small lead in article in the most recent issue of the Montville Messenger
and the town will run a larger announcement indicating that the Chamber and the Township are
supporting a “Buy Montville” campaign in the Fall
Issue, Mrs. White indicated she understand that the Township Committee will be
handling this at their level. Later in
the meeting, Mrs. Nielson indicated that the Township will make sure that it is
on our web, that there is a resolution acknowledging same.
Mr. Speciale indicated that the Chamber is working on this
project, trying to develop some type of ‘tag line’. Various ideas for promoting this
offered: what about a kid’s poster
campaign (Gary Lewis); what about banners promoting it along main corridors?
Mrs. Nielson indicated that the Township will be involved in
this project, noting that there are the
leads in the Fall Issue, and that more ideas and concepts will come as activity progresses. Different ideas discussed on how to involve promotion of our merchants, and how
it would benefit them. Mrs. Nielson indicated that there are three heavily
travelled roads in community, and that perhaps it may be a good idea for EDC to
check with police to get those areas that have the most traffic to promote Shop
Local to our residents.
Discussion evolved to Montville Day
Different concepts and ideas discussed for this event (what
about ‘taste of’ using all
retailers to sell their food at this event’.
Mr. Nielson indicated that the theme will be Fall Harvest for autumn
theme. This event is first Sunday in
October. No rain day planned at this
time.
Water Rates
Mrs. Nielson indicated that the township will be reviewing
water rates for its residents noting that the surplus that generally existed is
not longer there, and that all should anticipate a raise in the water rate
sometime next year.
Money Magazine
Mrs. Nielson and Ms. Sanders indicated that Money Magazine
had conducted intensive interviews and photographers were in the community for
several days last week taking 1,000’s of photos since we are being
considered again. We will not know how Montville fared until the
issue is released, August 09. Mrs. Nielson indicated she contacted
the professional photographers from NYC and asked if we can have the photos
taken for our town. They indicated a 3-month
period existed where Money Magazine owned them. She will continue to review
this for future use.
Mr. Cain went around table for further discussion items.
Quorum Issues:
Concerns noted as it relates to those members that are not
attending, raising a possible issue as to quorum problems. Members not attended should be obligated to inform the Chairman if they will not
be able to attend meetings. We shouldn't have to wonder if we'll have a
quorum.
Recording Secretary
Mr. Driscoll asked for a Motion to appoint Mr. Vreeland
Recording Secretary, recognizing there is no pay involved, but noting that Mr.
Vreeland has a lot of time to devote to the function of the EDC and would
probably be able to follow up on a lot of the EDC business that we have been
unable to do. He could update the
vacancy list, follow articles, read other website, work on business inventory updates,
and get us information on programs we may not be aware of. Mrs. White indicated
that would be a good idea.
Comments by Mr. Soussa indicated that the website still has
an outdated vacancy list. Mrs. White indicated this is updated
regularly by her office and that she gives it to the webmaster to update on the
web. She is not empowered to put this on
the web, but does have ability to post all of the Board agenda, meetings, updates.
Mr. Braden suggested that vacant properties be indicated on
a map so that we could visualize the areas in need of economic development.
Mrs. White will discuss this with Mark to see if this can be accomplished. Once that is accomplished then Mr. Vreeland
can work on keeping this document timely.
Mrs. White suggested putting
this on the web site.
Motion made to have Mr. Vreeland act as Recording Secretary by:
Deane Driscoll
Seconded: Ron Soussa
Roll call unanimous.
Mr. Lewis asked if Mrs. White was still going to attend in
view of areas of land use that both representatives from Planning Board may not
be privy to. Mr. Cain would appreciate
that.
MINUTES
Adoption of EDC minutes of 5-20-09 – Eligible: Mr. Cain, Mr.
Driscoll, Ms. Sanders, Mr. Kachmar, Mr. Vreeland, Mr. Soussa, Mr. Milazzo, Mr.
Tabakin
Minutes adopted unanimously in a Motion made by: Deane Driscoll, seconded by Ms. Sanders.
Meeting adjourned
Respectfully submitted,
Linda M. White
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