MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Location: file:///C:/CE621D93/061908EDCJS.htm Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR’S REPORT JULY 17, 2008

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR’S REPORT JULY 17, 2008

Submitted b= y: Joe Seacrist

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  1. The first Watertown Farmers Market was a = huge success with an estimated 2,000-5,000 shoppers in attendance.  A total of 8 vendors sold the= ir wares.  Three farms were = represented, Young’s, Tara Farm, and March’s farm from Bethlehem. In addition there was a= Watertown based company called the Olive Oil Co= mpany which sells wholesale and retail herb infused olive oils, a Watertown ba= sed natural soaps vendor, and a vendor of “green” household cleaning products as well as an arts and crafts vendor and the library’s book nook. 

 

  1. Final offers on the Oster property on Frost Bridge road were presented la= st week,  There were at leas= t two serious bidders and at least one more who was interested, but missed t= he deadline for bidding.  The unsuccessful bidders have all been contacted by me, and we are attempt= ing to find alternate locations for them in Watertown. Joe McGrail and I met w= ith one of the potential owners of the Oster building to discuss possible financial incentives the Town might offer him or anyone coming to town.  McGrail and I are putting together several suggestions for incentives the town might consider offering.

 

  1. The former KX building at 400 Park Road has been sold to= a Thomaston Eyelet manufacturer.  Sou= rces indicate that the new buyer is in the final process of doing its due diligence before formal papers are signed.

 

  1. Griffin School LLC, owner of the former <= st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Griffin School<= /st1:PlaceType> in Oakville is interested in pursuing the option of removing the former school, as= king the Town Council and P&Z for a zone change to Commercial and erect= ing a completely new commercial building on the site.  Their next step is to put into writing to the EDC, Town Council and P&Z their intentions.

 

  1. Reviewed plans for 26 acres of industrial= land coming on the market in the Business park at the corner of Seemar and = Park Roads.  Paul Rodia of Dru= bner is handling the transaction.  Plans are to subdivide it into six smaller industrial lots.

 

  1. As Chairman of the Watertown/Oakville Cha= mber of Commerce, acted as master of ceremonies in the awarding of the outstanding citizen of the year award to Bill Dunbar, President and ow= ner of Copes Rubbish Removal.  Chuck Frigon gave the keynote speech and provided a very compre= hensive overview of town happenings including strong support for the EDC and o= ur endeavors.  Many thanks to Chuck for a job very well done.
  2. Discussed with a representative of Fuss a= nd O’Neil the possible use of the current Baille property on Frost Bridge Road for a building debris recycling center.

 

  1. Have agreed to be the keynote speaker for= the Annual Dinner of the Watertown Foundation this fall.=

 

  1. Met with a local developer to discuss his preliminary plans to buy a downtown Watertown building and install a new restaurant.  Promised to help him find his= way through the regulatory processes of the town.

 

  1. Stephanie Podewell of Congressman Murphy’s office tells the EDC that the Watertown Post Office is still in the federal budget for FY 2008, so she thinks the chances of construction this year are good.