MINUTES

WATERTOWN ECO= NOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

REGULAR MEETING<= /b>

&nb= sp;

TOWN HALL ANNEX<= /b>

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2008 – 7:= 30 P.M.

PRESENT:             = ;            &n= bsp;         Suzanne Church

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;        Joseph McGrail, Chairman

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;        Donato Orsini

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;        Jack Traver, Vice Chairman

ABSENT:           &nb= sp;            =              Carmine DiPietro

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;        Norman Marcoux

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;        Theodore Migliarese, Secretary

ALTERNATES PRESENT:        John Manno

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;        Patricia Pawlak

ALTERNATES ABSENT:          None

OTHERS PRESENT:            =       Joseph Seacrist, Economic Development Coordinator

1.&nb= sp;        Convene Regular Meeting - 7:30 P.M.

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Mr. McGrail, Chairman, Called the Meeting to O= rder at 7:30 p.m.

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2.&nb= sp;        Roll Call

Mr. McGrail, Chairman, executed the Roll Call.

Mr. McGrail, Chairman, asked Mr. Manno to sit in for Mr. DiPietro, in his absen= ce.

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Mr. McGrail, Chairman, asked Ms. Pawlak to sit in for Mr. Marcoux, in his absen= ce.

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3.&nb= sp;        Public Participation

            = Unidentified Person=

            = Unidentified Person discussed the status of Griffin School. A brief discussion ensued.

= Watertown Economic Development Commission=

Regular Meeting

June 19, 2008

Page 2

4.&nb= sp;        Minutes=

        &= nbsp;   A.        Regular Meeting – May 15, 2008

            =             M= OTION:       (Mr. Traver, sec. Ms. Pawlak) to Approve the Regular Meeting Minutes dated May 1= 5, 2008 as presented.

            =             D= iscussion:       None<= /p>

            =             M= OTION PASSED UNANIMOOUSLY

5.&nb= sp;        Correspondence

None

6.&nb= sp;        Economic Development Coordinator's Report

        &= nbsp;   Mr. Seacrist gave a report (attached). A lengthy discussion ensued.

7.&nb= sp;        New Business

A.&n= bsp;            = ;    New EDC Initiatives/Focus

=

Already discussed u= nder Economic Development Coordinator’s Report. Mr. McGrail reported this commissi= on was really looking to take some initiative and it would be nice for us to choose potential businesses to move into town instead of sitting back and settling= for things we might not really want, focusing hopefully on Straits Turnpike and clearly not going near the Route 262 area at this point.

C.        Main Street Redesign

            Mr. McGrail reported he’d like to try and do something with Main Street= , the trees are overgrown, they can’t be trimmed anymore, it’s well p= ast the intended use of those trees, maybe using gaslight looking lights, etc.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Maybe they can apply for a grant t= o do some redesign of Main Stre= et in both Oakville and Watertown. A brief discussion ensued.

8.&nb= sp;        Old and Unfinished Business

  &= nbsp;         A.        Website Update

  &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;         Mr. McGrail reported this is almost complete, however he hopes they can build a= nd enhance this further. A brief discussion ensued.

= Watertown Economic Development Commission=

Regular Meeting

June 19, 2008

Page 3

  &= nbsp;         B.         = Business Meet and Greet

  &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;         Already discussed under Economic Development Coordinator’s Report.

MOTION:       (Ms. Pawlak, sec. Ms. Church) to send a letter to the Police Department/Commissi= on regarding speeding on Main= Street.

Discussion:       None<= /p>

MOTION PASSED UNANI= MOUSLY

  &= nbsp;         C.        Griffin School Update

  &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;         Already discussed under Public Participation. Mr. McGrail discussed the possible uses for this building again. A lengthy discussion ensued.

  &= nbsp;         D.        Post Office Update

  &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;         Mr. Seacrist reported that he spoke with a woman from Congressman Murphy’s office today regarding this Commission’s concerns. They are meeting tomorrow with the= Post Office and Watertown/Oakville will be on the agenda. They also spoke to the realtor for= the post office. They were suppos= ed to re-advertise for a location, but that hasn’t happened. They had a number of properties th= ey were looking at as well. The funding expires in September of 2008. A brief discussion ensued.

  &= nbsp;         E.         = Sealy Property Update

  &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;         Mr. Seacrist reported that John Joseph made an offer that was not accepted beca= use it was pending pollution issues and the lawyers cannot come to agreement. A brief discussion ensued.

  &= nbsp;         F.         = Bus Facility Update

  &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;         Already discussed under Economic Development Coordinator’s Report.

  &= nbsp;         G.        Business Park Update

  &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;         Mr. McGrail reported he hasn’t heard back from Representative Williams or Senator Kane regarding any potential funding.

H.=         Connecticut Main Street Update

  &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;         Already discussed under Economic Development Coordinator’s Report.

= Watertown Economic Development Commission=

Regular Meeting

June 19, 2008

Page 4

I.&nbs= p;         Route 8 Signage Update

  &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;         Mr. McGrail reported they are still waiting for Representative Williams. He’d like to take that off t= he Agenda.

  &= nbsp;         J.        &= nbsp; Monthly News Article related to EDC Efforts

  &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;         Mr. Seacrist reported there is a potential of having a monthly column for this Commission’s efforts, not a laundry list, but selecting one or two it= ems and the Commission has agreed to do that, so it will probably appear the we= ek after this meeting. The Commi= ssion should probably choose what topics will be highlighted.

=         &= nbsp;   Mr. McGrail reported as of the last budget go around, Mr. Seacrist’s potential full time status was still in there, but they’re not quite = sure what will happen with this go around. At the very least Mr. Seacrist will maintain his part time status, w= hich is critical, because the economic development in this Town would slide backwards dramatically without Mr. Seacrist.

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=         &= nbsp;   Mr. Seacrist reported he is meeting with the Tamarac people tomorrow.

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=         &= nbsp;   Mr. Traver discussed the upcoming referendum and how if they don’t pass t= his budget, next year will be even worse. A lengthy discussion ensued.

MOTION:         (Ms. Pawlak, sec. Mr. Traver) to Add Agenda Item 7B, Main Street Redesign.

Discussion:         = None

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

9.&nb= sp;        Adjournment=

MOTION:       (Ms. Church, sec. Mr. Orsini= ) to Adjourn the Regular Meeting at 9:36 p.m.

Discussion:       None<= /p>

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

Regular Meeting Adjourned at 9:36 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Joseph McGrail, Chairman

Watertown Economic Development Commission

Approved: _______________________________

      Lynn M. LaF= orme, Clerk