MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Location: file:///C:/A379CA37/062107.htm Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR’S REPORT 6/21/07

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR’S REPORT 6/21/07

SUBMITTED B= Y JOE SEACRIST

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  1. Met with Chuck Frigon, Sean Williams, Mic= hael Scorrano-VP of Development for Pareto Energy-and Gary Hale of Halloran= and Sage Government Affairs specialists, to discuss the recently passed legislation concerning Energy Improvement Districts. Arranged for these parties to make a presentation on the Districts at tonight’s EDC meeting.

 

  1. Met with Gary O’Brien, Managing par= tner for Drubner Legal, for a tour of Watertown commercial industrial areas.  He represents many national developers, and is the attorney representing Lowes for the proposed building in = Waterbury.  He was very interested in the Straits Turnpike properties.  He is also Chairman of the Economic Development and Public Affa= irs Committees of the Waterbury Chamber of Commerce.

 

  1. Attended the P&Z pre-application meet= ing with the Town and Tamarack Energy, the builders of the wood chip burni= ng plant for Watertown. They presented preliminary site plan projections for the property, and inquired about necessary wetlands and other building permits.

 

  1. The EDC’s backing of the Davis Stre= et Square project of Lou Longo he feels was essential in the unanimous vo= te by the P&Z to approve his project.  He is now moving on to firmin= g up financing, and hopes to begin construction in the Spring at the latest.  He asked that I = convey his sincere thanks for all the help the EDC gave him in support of his project.

 

  1. Met with Paul Rodia of Drubner real estat= e to get details of the costs and specifications for the sale of the medical building on Hemingway= Park Road.&nb= sp; The town might be interested in the property if Hemingway Scho= ol appears to be the site for a new Town Hall.

 

  1. Attended a meeting with mostly First Sele= ctmen and Mayors of CNVCOG communities at the Waterbury Development Commissi= on to hear Stephen P. Grady of the US Dept. of Commerce present ways municipalities could gave access to Federal Funds for Economic Development.  Grady is ba= sed in Philadelphia and handles all of New England for the US DOC.  He provided good information, particularly if a large employer decides to leave town.

 

  1. Had several meetings with Chuck Frigon regarding my involvement in the sale of Baldwin= school, after the Town Council suggested I might be useful in making contacts for the sale. Several potential buyers have contacted me after seeing the reference in the Town Times, that I might be involved in the sale.
  2. Sent letters to each homeowner in the industrial park, indicating I could put them in touch with the appropr= iate people if they were interested in selling their properties.  This was in direct response t= o the request of the EDC at our last meeting that this be done.  Two of the 11 property owners contacted me with interest in selling.

 

  1. I have been selected to be the Keynote Sp= eaker at the annual meeting of the Watertown/Oakville Chamber of Commerce meeting on July 26 @ noon until 2:00 pm at the Grand Oak Villa in Oakville.  I sent, via e-mail, copies of= my proposed remarks to EDC members.  I propose that EDC appropriate funds for EDC members who would = like to attend.

 

  1. Work continues on preparations for the Farmers’ market to hopefully open in the spring of 2008.   I’ve had several conversations with the CT Department of Agriculture concerning procedu= res.  I suspect the market will pro= bably be a joint effort between the EDC and Parks and Recreation. I will be working with Steve Sasala and the Waterbury Chamber to prepare a reque= st for shared funding from the State Agriculture Department.

 

  1. Talked with Konover concerning their rece= nt testing of the property on Echo Lake Road.

 

  1. Put Tom Hill in touch with Dave Jackson of Henlopen, since Tom has a potential client interested in the building.  Jackson told Hill what he has been telling me, that soil remediation is continuing on the site.

 

  1. Received a copy of a Cease and Desist ord= er issued to the Baille Company concerning their site preparation work at their approved site for a 100,000sf building at the former Watertown Drive-in Theater.

 

  1. Talked with Tom Hill concerning some of h= is client’s properties in Watertown, and progress he might be making toward getting them sold.

 

  1. Talked with John Hannigan of Choyce-Peter= son, the Stamford based property management firm who had been interested in 100,000sf in= the industrial park.  He said= his client, who was interested in a potential move by December 1, has cool= ed on moving anywhere right now.  He is still interested in Watertown as potential sites, however, and we will keep in touch.

 

  1. Had a conversation with Doug Calcagni abo= ut his concerns about the EDC position on the Stop and Shop properties in Str= aits Turnpike.

 

 

  1. Jim Davenport of American Country barns l= ooked at several properties in Watertown, a= nd chose to locate in Bethle= hem since he felt it was more rural, property on the main street was more affordable, and the town will let him display barns in front of his location.

 

  1. Attended Waterbury Chamber Economic Devel= opment Committee meeting at the Chamber offices.

 

  1. Have arranged a tour of the Fitchburg, Mass. wood chip burning plant for the EDC on Tuesday June 26.

 

  1. Working with Sandy Alves of Engineered Sinterings to help with the possible re-zoning of his property at the corner of Middlebury = Road and Commercial Street= from I-80 to SBC.  <= /o:p>

 

  1. Plans for the hotel at the corner of Buck= ingham and 262 are still on track, with the developer currently lining up financing.