Governance, Policy & Economic Development Subcommittee - Regular Meeting

And oh, let me put my on mute. Sorry, guys. Uh, sorry, my audio. I'm getting a that on mute. Sorry about that. It is June 2nd. It is 6:00 on the dot. We have a quorum present and accounted for. And who's missing? Councelor Roy. He's on my Oh, councelor Cooper. Got it. Got it. Got it. Got it. Um, councelor Cooper is the last member, but he should join us later. But we're just going to move in right into new business. First item is discussion and possible action regarding the town center economic development community investment uh grant application. Uh, do I have a motion to sub finalize and submit a community fund application roughly in the amount of I believe $22 million as laid out in our town center economic development urban plan. There was a motion by the deputy mayor, seconded by the councelor Merritt. Uh, any discussion on this item? Why are we asking for 22 million? Does it make it hard to harder to get if you ask for more than less than? So we need, right? So, I think the the full grant I believe is 85 million roughly or the town center economic development plan is roughly 85 million. I do not I don't think we're leaning in the direction of asking for 85 million given that this is one of the last rounds of community investment fund and we're a smaller community in the state of Connecticut. So, I think that's kind of like a maybe a quarter of what Yeah. Yeah. I was wondering if 21 million a little bit. Yeah. and and I believe there is flexibility as it relates to discussing this with the the state as we get into the process then I think that could be amended with some paperwork and some amendments filed accordingly. No,

that's a great question, sir. Question. Is it possible for us to say um up to because I assume Gorman New York is putting this application five. Hold on. Wait. Go New York is putting this put. Okay. The budget is set. is the line. And does this include housing or this is to take Oh, it's up to the mayor through you, Mr. Madam Chair. I I'm not ask I'm was directing the questions to you. just I believe this includes acquisition, infrastructure cost, and demolition as well as some of the public projects laid out in the community and um the urban plan. Thank you. Such as enhanced lighting, road work, enhancements around the town, green, enhancement in front of town hall. Um, so everything laid out, please refer to the town center urban plan and um, we'll see, you know, um, I spoke with the state, they are expecting this and they are excited for this transformative project, but you know, it's it's a it's, you know, it's we get it, we don't get it. So there's always some uncertainty when you u apply, but we want to always apply. They encourage us to apply and go big or go home. Yes, sir. Oh, your mic. Your mic. Uh when is the application date? June 5th is the deadline to submit applications for this round of community investment funds. And my understanding is there's a lot of competitive applications around the state that's getting submitted giving um you know the the in state session and and budget. So do we already have the supportive documentation from our legislators? We I asked Senator Slap. uh we need to ask the rest of our legislators, but Senator McCrory because he sits on the investment fund board, he typically can't provide a letter of support because he sits he's one of the decision

makers because he knows how important it is. Yes, he is excited about this. I talked to him in depth about this. Uh Senator McCory knows this is coming and Senator Slap as well. So, if you wanna uh Senator, excuse me, Representative Bobby Gibson has been typically unresponsive when we ask, but we are putting it out to all of our state delegates as is standard for the municipality. Sound good? This is exciting. Cross your fingers. It is what it is. Um hopefully we get something. Um but again, the state is expecting this. So, this is a really great uh opportunity. Councelor Cooper, did you have a question? There it goes. Oh, the mic. Thanks, Madam Mayor. Um, quick question and I sorry for being late. Number one, but number two, is this the maximum amount that town of Blowfield can request? No, we can request a generous amount, but this is uh the full urban plan is roughly $85 million. We are asking for $22 million because of construction timing. um there's nothing we we can't do if we get every 85 million. There's nothing we can do in like the next year, right? So, it's years out um for the entire urban plan. This gets us going. This gets some demolition. This gets some municipal public projects going. Um we can enhance kind of the town center around the private areas and within the private areas as per state chapter 132. Okay. Thank you so much. You know, we're coming back then. Yep. And so again, this motion is to kick it up to the full council for approval to finalize and submit a grant of uh up to 22 million and some change around or about $22 million, whatever that number comes out to. Say up to 22865490. Okay. Any further

discussion? All those in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? is unanimously kicked up to the full body um following this meeting. Uh the next item is another community investment fund application letter of support. Uh this is a standard letter of support that the Rahobath Church of God has asked us to submit along with their planning grant application of $250,000 for housing. Uh, and so, uh, I would put a motion to apply the standard language that we apply to most of our support letters from the municipality, um, from the town council for, uh, support of Rahobit Church of God. So, move. Moved by council mayor, seconded by the deputy mayor and councelor Cooper. Any further discussion on this letter of support to move to the full council for consideration? All set. All those in favor, please say I. Any opposed? Any extensions? The motion passes. Moving into public comment. If you are in the room and would like to speak, please come right up to the podium. You have three minutes. Would you like to speak? Person in the back. This crowd is it's such so crowded in here. The chair. They're running up to to talk. Uh last call for public comments. Last call for public comments. Last call for public comments. You sure, John? Just kidding. All right, moving on. Uh, motion to adjurnn. So move. Moved by the deputy mayor, seconded by councelor Merritt. Thank you. And please join our 7 o'clock special meeting to take up the same exact items. Thanks so much.