Economic Development Commission - Regular Meeting

call the meeting to order this is the EDC Economic Development Commission meeting taking place via all zoom on Wednesday February 19th at 7 pm uh welcome aboard everyone um I know we uh had a lot of back and forth and I'd like to uh we've got a a pretty good agenda here but we can keep things to the hourlong time um one thing that was left over from Les last time and um we also have Fiona Coughlin Town planner with us so Fiona thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to be with us um I hope everybody's been staying safe and warm with the crazy weather we've been having um so I'll just get to it the big action item that has been left over from our last meeting discussion was the open space and Recreation plan osrp as an action item we wanted to um vote to approve as drafted or approve with the edits as we discussed but Fiona maybe you can help us out a bit here mam chair just one one point of order my understanding with with remote remote only meetings is that you we must do a roll call of the of the committee to open us up make sure everyone is here and can hear you to make hear each other oh okay and then we do a roll call for any actual votes yeah that I yeah yeah that that I understand I wasn't aware that we needed the roll call for um as we open the meeting okay so with that said um I'll start I'm Laura Deo the EDC chair person um next person Nicole

here Justin wood here and Craig we didn't hear you yeah here okay so we we do have a quorum of four and as I said earlier um Fiona Coughlin who's our town planner has very graciously agreed to to join us um so as the osrp action item uh Fiona maybe you can um just give us a little refresher course here because this one sort of snuck up on us as you as you and I have had discussions about uh and we we discussed this at the last uh the January meeting yeah what is it exactly that the osrp and the town is looking for from the economic development commission yeah so um so yeah and I apologize for the confusion at the last meeting um and and the lack of context so the open space and Recreation committee um is charged with updating the um status of these action items um in in the open space and Recreation plan from 2020 and they're all assigned to different groups so um every year there's a request for an update from the um you know from the osr UHC to um just get a status update more more or less so I I took um when the materials that I had sent last time you know I took a a initial kind of stab uh at responding on behalf of the Eda because I do know that John Allen when he was working for the town um he was working out of my office and albeit he was very self-sufficient and you know I I wasn't kind of you know letting I was

letting him do his thing but um based on my knowledge in the planning department and from what I had discussed with John I I tried to you know fill this out on behalf of the EDC um and then present to you folks to see if there's anything that you want to change or you know Nix it entirely or you know consider the action item not applicable anymore or if it is you know you what what what would you like what would you like me to include and then I'll I'll just finalize that and send it off to um to the chair of the open space and R committees and and and be done with it it's just really more of a I I just I didn't want to I want the EDC to have an opportunity to include what they would like if they wanted any additional language or had any information about that particular action item and um yeah so and I'm just trying to pull up the um there was a lot things about uh the the Rec Space at a couple of the fields and also uh the trained thing it it seemed to be in a holding pattern essentially um that we were just going to vote on acknowledging that we would you know provide whatever support was needed when things started to happen it didn't seem that there were that there was any uh great need or you know it could be that simple honestly you know if it's something that the EDC wants to continue to be in be in charge of and work toward we'll we'll just keep it and we'll keep the the status as ongoing and we can go from there it's whatever whatever you folks want okay Justin let's start with you what do you think about this are you familiar with it yeah I'm

relatively familiar with with this um my general take is I think this you know what's what was in our draft from my last meeting aligns with you what I think makes sense for remarks I think though we not we don't have a direct situation with housing but the idea of having a you know some sort of connection whether it be a trolley WRTA whatever from the higher density housing projects and grafts into areas that have businesses would be something that would help the businesses get the customers to them so that would be a benefit for this I think still belongs with the EDC as something to for us to to look at I don't think we need to be the sole people looking at this but I think it does make sense for us to continue to have it on our radar I don't think there's that much we can do about this to move it forward in any way in the short term but I think it makes sense yep I agree um Nicole how about you yeah I mean that that makes sense to me okay Craig would you like to weigh in um yeah I mean I I guess I don't have a a huge objection to this I don't understand why we're weighing out on a on an open space and Recreation committee um we have we have the work of of supporting and promoting uh business in town so I don't I don't really see us playing a role in this this um certainly don't want to commit to more housing in town so um so I I guess I'm I'm kind of neutral on this and I don't really understand our role in this process but um and and what what the motivation behind that is maybe maybe Fiona can talk talk about that what the the goal is to get um EDC to to weigh in on on some of these

things sure yeah c um just a good point so I I I think that when this when the plan was originally drafted I think the EDC was the asse at that time and it's that's just kind of continued um but you know if this is something that the EDC uh you know it see it seems like from most of the comments like they want to be in the EDC wants to be involved in moving like an effort like this forward but not getting involved on um any housing related aspects which which is fine I the reason my my comment there uh regarding um recent work in the planning department is because there was efforts made you know there was some mitigation that was done from recent developments to try and help you know extend the Worcester Regional Transit Authority and they're adding a stop um for example across the street from the 124 Westboro Road warehousing um facility and there'll be a crosswalk installed there um that's just one example so I I just was kind of pulling things together from from things that I had you know tangerly related things um but I can chain you know I'm I'm I I really don't it's really the edc's preference um and I don't want to do anything that's not that the folks AR comfortable with so you know I think um yeah happy happy to change the remarks too yeah I mean certainly I would I would uh concur with Craig that we don't want to get involved in housing if and well if and when the situation arises that there's we are going forward with developing a Town Trolley and there are other business entities that will be weighing in on that then we could certainly provide you know an opinion or indirect support as needed but I would agree with

Justin and Craig that um at this point there's no rationale for Direct involvement because most of these things are not happening and we're not involved with the housing units at 8 Pine Street yeah I I that that one was a an enigma to me I think John did John Allen had done that one and um I was kind of R rolling with with that because at the time I thought that that was you know something that that the EDC wanted to be a breast of so yeah long story short is I got it I I think I I I have my marching orders I'll just reiterate that you know the Town Trolley concept is something that the EDC wants to see and we'll support in any way they can um and keep keep it going and and remove the the references to to the housing and we can we can go from there I think that that's that's all I need really yeah okay fine so there's nothing then that we really have to vote on or yes or no or I I don't think you need a formal vote I just kind of I just wanted to make sure that I understood so um you know obviously it's always good to have a vote yeah no well if we're kind of fuzzy it should be because well obviously Justin wasn't on the EDC last year neither was Craig um Nicole was Angela was not so um and Carl was but we had a big gap and as you say John was very John Allen was very self-sufficient so this was not clearly defined or enunciated ated and communicated to us so that when we got your action item for the 2024 report to the town it was came out of left field but okay so that's good so I don't want to belabor the point and I

think we Now understand where we're all at unless anybody else has anything that they want to add um we can move on to the next order of business Fiona which is uh you talking about the town planning report and that includes the 2024 annual report update yep talking about Survey Monkey conflict of interest training and solicitation letters so I'll let you so I'll keep it short I think most most of this in this is all just kind of perfunctory things that committees do so um the annual report you know I listened to the recording at the last meeting I made the changes that were requested um and I submitted that on behalf of the committee so it's an easy one um the next thing was so the survey the Survey Monkey update so I I think there was some confusion about that too so John Allen had he he B he purchased the Survey Monkey subscription for the business owner survey in 2023 and he did that with um arpa Economic Development funds which you know I know this committee is is obviously involved with with that so I I just didn't want to do you know if it I just wanted to make sure that this was something that we either wanted to continue or discontinue or have it live somewhere else or be the responsibility of somebody else because the annual sub it automatically renews and it's $495 yeah yeah right exactly so it just I I just didn't want to continue you know and then obviously the funding for that like we need to have a discussion about where that would come come from because the ARA funds for um that those types of things you know business recruitment retention strategies like that that's been all spent now so if it's going to be general fund or if we should just say you know do we even can

can we use the free version or what what have you so I just wanted this committee to be aware of of that this was a thing and just guide me accordingly and I'm happy to do whatever everyone's comfortable with I think from the last meeting from what I recall is that we just have the ta's office kind of make that executive decision going forward which I'm fine with yeah it was it was my understanding by the way um that we could spread This Out Among the different groups because when we did the survey the um Town administrator's office did piggy back off of that and use some of the things so it's not like the EDC would be the only only ones that could make use of this membership it does make sense for us to not just have the free version in terms of if we want to do a larger survey of the town the free version and I know this because uh I have Survey Monkey it's one of the tools that I use for my business so I have my own account with my company um the free version doesn't give you as many the option for as many responses and and you don't have all of the tools to slice and dice the data so $495 I would te I would submit is money well spent and other Town committees could also make use of this now what we'd have to look at is how many seats we get for that so um perhaps you know uh we might want two or three seats but I think the basic membership of $495 is fairly economical for what you

get for a year yeah I you know I think that that's that's fine I and you know I think just like from the from the perspective of where that 490 495 give or take is coming from you know I just um that that would be a determining factor for you know us um if it's general fund then yeah you know it'll be shared amongst everybody and the EDC can obviously still utilize the program um but we'll be sharing it with everyone so minor change no no biggie um just wanted to just just make sure everybody was okay with that so that's a big thing um and I was I'll just briefly say I know I said last meeting and I know lur you disagree with me strongly but that's but it's still the I still want to say it out loud is that I think for majority of needs I've seen the town use surveys for doing something that even as simple as Google forms which is to my understanding part of our Google Enterprise account that the town has already or maybe not Enterprise goog Town users is would would allow us to do the majority of things we would want with a survey now does it do all the fancy Survey Monkey does no is there other tools that Survey Monkey that could also meet the needs without being as expensive probably but I don't have a strong opinion against using using Survey Monkey either it's a especially if we're going to be sharing it amongst other committees and departments in the town so okay yeah I think that the town has moved no longer using Gmail just Microsoft now which I think you know there's just a comparable option you know but uh yeah okay great that's that's all I needed to hear um and I'll I'll just work with with Evan William on that um and then the other you know the last thing you know the conflict of interests training you know we um that's a a requirement for um Vol you know volunteer boards and committee members I'm sure you know

Craig and Justin are well aware of of this Laura probably is too and Nicole for for affordable housing trust so um I think this group in particular is probably already on top of it but um just a reminder we you know I had Natalya my assistant planner send out a the link sop ifia you know the the link to um either take the training or um get get your update if if you are if it's your time to do so I think it renews I think you have to renew it every couple years um and then just provide an annual update so again just a per perfunctory part of being a volunteer and just something that I thought I'd bring up just to make sure everybody is is good because I know the EDC is going through a restructuring it's all new folks um great great group of folks here and everyone's kind of capable but I just want to administratively make sure we're we're crossing all the te's and done the so um and I'm happy to you send out that link um if anyone needs it I think everyone is good yeah it's always it's always good to send it out just you know to ER on the side of caution in case somebody's looking for their email or they Purge their email or whatever so sure terrific and then the solicitation letters that was again an administrative kind of thing um so by the charge the EDC charge I was talking to William and approved in 2022 there's no term limits for anyone um which is just totally fine um I think the process in those instances is there's like a a solicitation letter sent out either by the clerk's office or the ta's office every three years so I think just it's more of an update that staff which particular staff person is to be determined who will be working on that but you might see you know a request to Bea email to with with a letter and and maybe some followup required there um we're trying to get get everything kind of on a consistent scheduling you know update the website

and make sure every you know term limits and everything are very clear and the town clerk's office has all of that you know what they need um I did submit lastly certificate of reorganization on behalf of the EDC it was basically just a list of all the members and their contact information and the fact that you have in definite term limit so now they officially have something on file at the clerks um and that was the last kind of thing that I noticed anyway um that needed to be addressed yeah I think from here on out um probably ta's office are going to just take control of of EDC Affairs um but you know planning is always here to help um you know we get applications for businesses who are seeking special permits and what have you so if the ADC ever wants to be involved and work with us on those types of applications we're here um we have an extra staff person in our office now so you know just kind of putting the offer out there that um we're around if you need us and um yeah I think that that that that's really all I had okay that's great by the way I uh just to let everyone know uh William Blake in Fiona's office did reach out to me today via email and I will be meeting with him uh sometime next week we're just GNA try and set up a time uh to meet in person uh just you know meet and greet hey get to know us but I I think what would be helpful and I'll send out a follow-up email for those who have not been on this call um to make the most efficient use of everyone's time um what all of us think we might how we most effectively make use

of William obviously we don't have him full-time but where we each think that he could be helpful like Nicole as we go forward on trying to set up the event for May you know perhaps he could lend you some support there um Etc if anybody has any other ideas I'm certainly you know open to it William also did ask that he be included Ed on the on all of the EDC future email trails and you know I think that's smart he couldn't make it tonight but um perhaps he could be on our next meeting as well and we could hash this out as a group one one thing that's in my mind that could be useful for staff to do since we are getting some staff support and William could hand it to someone else so to speak but having staff write our minutes Angel Angela was doing that yep Angela might say it's not it's really easy for her and not a not a problem I don't I don't know I'm not going to speak for her but generally if staff is helping for two minutes it takes some bur enough our volunteer time basically yeah well I was just by the way as far as that goes I was sort of typing in background so I can type up the minutes for this one since Angela is not here um but yeah so I guess just think about it and if you have any thoughts in mind shoot me an email and I will present some of these ideas to William and then hopefully he can join our March 19th meeting and uh I think we just want to streamline the process and be very

focused on what he's comfortable in terms of his other duties what he thinks he could practically do where we think he could be most effective in helping us you know so we have this resource we should use it you know one my one point to that lur about us emailing you ideas I think if a quorum or three members email you with ideas on how to utilize William to me that does signal it would be a open meeting violation because we're discussing the thing I would suggest emailing probably William directly if we're going to email ahead of the meeting yes well I can do that and I'll um as I said hopefully I'll meet with him sometime in the next week and we can jot some of this stuff down and ideally William might be available to speak at our you know to be on the next you know meeting and we can hash this out as a group okay I don't want to be in violation of any rules here so okay so that was that was the um the thought not didn't drop if if edc's all set with me I I'll I'll jump off unless you need anything else no this is good thank you for thank you for being here sure yep no problem and if you need anything you know you know where to find me so thank you geez okay all right sorry I'm Gonna Make You The Host Laura and then okay yeah sorry about that no that's okay I was about to I was tempted to say something when you were dropping that to sign the host but I I thought that was going to zoom usually prompts you and I was like oh yeah sorry about that so Laura are you all set I think I made you the host okay great all right sorry no problem I

was like looking for the the phone to see who I could call um no it's okay um anyway uh I think the the big topic here is uh see about moving forward with the May event and getting a budget Craig have you had a chance at all to talk to Evan about this I talked to Evan a while ago about it so um Talk talked about a $2,500 budget he did not seemed to think that that was an issue so I think we'll be be all right with that um I did reach out to the tavern townhouse Tavern and I reached out to um to reunion tap and table so they both have um venues that I think would work um there was a little bit of a price difference there but nothing um you know insurmountable um I think um the townhouse Tavern wanted like um like a $250 fee just for Staffing um and into open um the uh reunion wanted uh 500 and then um I think 254 staff and then we'd have to buy food so we'd have to buy food at both so reunion could could provide the food and then um I haven't reached out to uh to bushel andek they're next door I know they could do some catering they do catering right out of that um you know right out of their business on whistle street right next to the tavern so I think we could do both of them for you know comfortably 1,500 bucks um I don't think it'll be any more than that it'll be a cash bar at both so um I think we'll we'll be fine with either venue um I did talk about parking because it was

concerns about that um they do um they do trivia I believe on Wednesday nights at um at Reunion I know we had talked about it a Wednesday or a Thursday night I think right so reunion does uh trivia one of those nights so we'd want to stay away from there and then the other night he thinks would be okay and there's additional parking down by graft and Pete so that they have an agreement with them to allow some extra parking and then the tavern is is just parking you know um all around the common and and uh some parking across the street at the old fire station so um and there's there's some big events there and people find a place to park so I don't I don't think that's a problem so either venue will work I think we'll be within our budget we just have to uh to decide what we want to do and where we want to do it and and move on it I want to confirm the the trivia night again with with Sargon but if we we decide to do it at Reunion but you know both places are are available and willing to host so we've narrowed it down to just these two places um yeah I didn't go to I didn't go to uh High Fields because you know um that that I think Nicole had mentioned that they was was a pretty steep number up there yeah and we wanted to do something different than the pub we wanted to share share the event with you know get some people to see some other venues in town um support some other businesses so that's kind of where I left it so I okay um welcome uh Sean good to see you I I apologize I knew hot drive on the computer and I did not realize how long I was going to take to install the the Zoom app anyway sorry um

no no problem we're glad we're glad you're here um so um the other item on the EDC spring events discussion is the flyer advertising you know business owners Chamber of Commerce um what does everybody think about about that I think we should do it but I don't I'm not a graphic person at all like I would not be to make o fire but if we get one made up I'm more than happy to help distribute we can get some if business owners are not typically at their establishments we could also mail it out to them you know that kind of thing if we need to yeah I think last year we did like an email drro and then also talked to individual business owners so probably do the same thing maybe the flyer is something that um William could work on yeah I was just thinking I was just thinking that yeah I mean and it doesn't really take uh we don't have to get too fancy schmancy with the graphics for the flyer there are all sorts of templates you know that we can do and uh we can also work with um the ta's office to get the list of invitees Etc we didn't seem to have a problem last January when we did this so um I don't think we'll have a an issue this year um now last time I think we discussed doing this the first or second week of May so as to start as to not be in head-to-head conflicts with school

graduations and Memorial Day yeah Memorial Day those things of May would be best bet yeah so I'm just looking at um probably Wednesday or Thursday yeah either one of those two nights would work um and if we keep to so if we looked so we're either looking at um the 7eventh or eth of May or the 14th or 15th of May so I guess the next thing is and do we want to get a hold of Evan and invite him to speak at our next meeting to so we can hash this out or Craig is that something that you want to uh discuss with him it looks like that the money is not a huge impediment here no and I'll Circle back with EV one more time but I think we're we're gonna be fine um I think it's a good idea to talk to when you talk to will tomorrow ask him to if we give him you know the venue the date the time you know just a short statement about what what the event is about um he can certainly put that together and then they should have a pretty good um list of of local businesses and then we can you know we had talked about maybe just going door too each grabbing 10 or something like that inviting some people and just making a connection with them so ask Will to do that and then I can follow up with him in a few days to to uh to make sure that he's on board with that um so and then I can let me um let me

confirm I guess let me confirm the day with with the reunion as far as what day of the week um does the I guess we got to decide um on a venue yeah I was gonna ask that Greg do do we have the the runway so to speak between choosing the venues and letting them know for our next meeting to decide then or is it something we need to decide roughly now to kind of get that set aside for the venues to your conversations yeah if we decide on a date or or or a week you know whether we're going to do it Wednesday or Thursday I can Circle back and make sure that those um those dates they're open um I think for for for the tavern it would have to be a a Wednesday because Thursday they're open to the public right so I think if we wanted to do it at the tavern we'd have to do it on a Wednesday and then let me just I was looking for my notes I know I made some notes when I talked to to both of them and I can't find them so um I'd want to Circle back with Sargon and see what day he has trivia night and pick you know pick another day um so that you know that um the parking there was some more parking available um like I said I think they're both within our range I think the reunion is going to be a little bit more uh money but you know Sargon said if that was a hardship to to let him know and you know he would he would help out too so yeah yeah well not to make too fine a point about it but I would think that they'd want us there this is the you know because it draws it draws people in yeah too so it's it's good it's good for the it's good for their business

either one of them yep it is now does do they have a room at Reunion I haven't been there in a while yeah they have a separate room yeah okay great and and they have a bar in that room so unlike the pub it'll be nice they'll be you know you won't have to have a runner and um and we can order food there and and you know they can I'm sure set up some an area to uh so people can help themselves and then Pria nights every Wednesday at Reunion what's that Nicole trivia nights um Wednesdays at at Reunion okay so we would have to do with so it' be a Wednesday at the tavern or a Thursday at Reunion okay and uh just to put my two cents on this I think reunion is a little bit more attractive to me as a venue for at least this year where the the food will be you know right there and that's you know what their business actually does you serve as well and you don't have to have a runner like you just mentioned Craig for the for that and you so that's my site preference but I think both venues are totally valid and be great choices yeah I mean you won't have to have a runner at re at the tavern because there's one big room there there's a bar there true oh yeah that's and and you have um you have um you know um Michael butter sh's business um next door um to to for the food but either one were I don't like doesn't matter to me they're both local businesses I'm good with with either one so yeah when you order bash and P catering they deliver it so it's they come and like set it up for you and all that good stuff so that's easy enough well I I know that people in the town like both places so I don't think I mean I don't think either one is you know I think both are winners as far as we're you know they're both great choices

so whatever anybody decides yeah I know at Thursday and I'm not I love Sargon too but Thursday nights at the tavern you know parking is you know that's that's probably a busy night for them um not that either place has has great parking but it's they they're both somewhat limited I guess so um but who know I mean who knows what we're going to get right we had what about 50 or 60 last year is that what you ended up having yeah I think so did we I thought it was more more than that because people were coming in and out I mean I you know yeah so I think at any given time there were 50 or 60 but we might have had closer to 80 or 100 nobody really took attendance but I know people did stay for a while and seem to enjoy it you know um once we get the venue nailed down then we should really begin to talk at the next meeting about what we want to do in structuring this because I think that we spoke about not just doing a meet and Greek but really put something be behind it where we can you know throw these people in and see how they Envision the EDC helping them how they can help us Etc so yeah when is our next meeting uh March 19th okay oh so it's a month a month from now yeah and I think for the next meeting um we can we can take a vote on this but um we'd want at least a hybrid

or you know the option of remote maybe not allil zoom just depending upon how the weather's going because we've had an extraordinary run of weather events shall we say yeah so one thought I just had I forget if we talked about this last meeting or that was done last year it might be good to invite a representative from the planning department and even the building department to our night in explicitly to if they want to hang out talk to people that might be interested in expanding the business building it getting a business and and Etc to have that as a venue for someone to talk to the town staff in those departments yeah no that that I think that I think that's a great idea Justin also we might want to invite you know somebody like Dave madian yes um we should have both him and Mike Moore there we did we had them both there last year and I'd love I'd love it if Jim McGovern could come if he's in town we could send an invite to all three of their offices and yeah yeah that's what we could put on the um on the flyer that picture I took of Nicole of you and Mike more that would get in um great Sugg Sean did you want to say something I know you were so I I think for for for tonight we should try to lean more strong strongly towards reunion just because of I I think a little bit the ease of of a few few of the uh Logistics on this thing and so we're looking at you said Thursday night I I I guess what I'm

trying to say is for now today we should just say all right this is what we're going to focus on as I said reunion Thursday night be at the the 8th or the 15th you know whatever would work best at that venue and then just go go forward from there I think the only the only way we would not do that is if for some reason reunion has a conflict then we would have to focus obviously on on the tavern but for right now so that we can save some time let's just focus our efforts on going to the going to reunion and then I know it's not my only question conc would be if there are enough tables not that people do a lot of sitting but you know we decide on say a menu because you're not going to be you know ordering a burger in an event like this even though they have good burgers uh so we decided what we would like to do you know uh cheese and crackers uh I don't know about the wine and the wine to go with the cheese but you know is it going to be cheese and crackers salad you know that type of thing so maybe a few of those things we we discussed that tonight get that out of the way so that when Craig does go back to them uh at our next meeting we just we have a list to say yes I like this or you know and just do it as so that we're not talking about this stuff in March and now we're a month late later yeah no that's a good point Sean why don't we I mean unless the uh the committee doesn't want me to do this I'll say I'll make a motion that we do Thursday May 15 that'll give us a little bit more time with a with a back update of the eth if reunion is is uh is booked with another venue on the 15th and I can talk to Sargon about um

about a uh a menu and and bring it back to the committee I know they have pizzas there so it might be something you know looking for for finger food for folks and I know he's got a lot of stuff in the menu for that but we can put together a catering menu m that fits our budget that gives something you know for people to snack on yeah maybe he could even do like some sliders and you know since they have Burgers they could do sliders and pizza and some greens yeah and they had I mean we had a pretty good variety at uh the Post Office Pub and that seemed to work well I mean they had some of the pot stickers and um other things so I'll I'll second Craig's motion and thank you I was going to make a similar motion I'll just kind of repeat what I understand you're saying Craig just to be clear the 15th the Thursday in may we will engage reunion you'll spearhead that engagement so to speak talk to talk to Mrs Mr Hannah and his staff along with the time administrator to make sure that we have the te's crossed that we need to to make this happen and then come back to us at our next meeting with menu options and or even inviting Mr Hannah or someone to this meeting yep we'll do the 15th with a backup on the eth and then we do uh what are we doing we doing six to eight or what did you uh what was last year what was the um the time frame the window I think it might have been like 530 we might have started it a little earlier because it was in January and it might have been 5:30 I think it was 5:30 to 8 or 8:30 all right so my I'll let my motion will include 5:30 to 8 o'clock it's two

and a half hours that's plenty for folks to come and come and go and people that want to come early if people want to stay um okay um 15th with a backup date of May 8th correct and I'll I'll talk to Sargon um tomorrow I'll try and get a hold of him and see if he uh can confirm the 15th with us and when I do I'll I'll let everybody know that the 15th is a good working date and that way um you can add that to your list with uh with Will for the flyer okay now um if that goes then we can invite him to the next meeting now uh should we invite Evan to this or are you just going to go to Evan directly Craig uh Evan to to what to the uh to the to the 15th yeah to the next I mean should we budget I think she means to speak to the next to us at the next meeting in terms of the budget or can you oh yeah I'll he's off this week but I'll certainly talk to him early next week and make sure that um we're good to go with that so I'll confirm that for everybody okay yes Sean I I don't think that we need to invite the Evan to the meeting I think between now and our next meeting we will have a budget number yes or or not not so much a budget an amount and we simply present that to to Evan and we get the yes or no on on that particular dollar amount okay and then U the second point I was going to make when we look at our list of in invitees other than the politicians and some I would as he's as

Justin said some of the other members of other departments or committees possibly someone from local Chamber of Commerce that might have some you just either just show up just to be there and network with folks or maybe they can just give a little Spiel of something sure yeah I can call Jeanie Hebert I mean I'm a member of the Black Snow Valley Chamber which covers Grafton and I think I told the commission you know she they're willing to she's she's willing to play any role we want her to in this event I think we should keep it in house as much as we can we don't want it to be a chamber event we want it to be a Grafton business event but I can certainly see if she can come and if and if we want anything else and I'll open it up to the floor whatever anybody wants you know um I just don't want it to to you know become a chamber event that's all y yeah I agree I think it's good to have her there for you know people that have questions about the bbcc but I don't want it to turn into a an event for the chamber okay I agree as well um so we're at 7:53 p.m. so we've got seven minutes uh I will ask does anybody have any other business that they'd like to do oh did you want to say something Justin Mr doin has made a motion about for us to officially vote for him to engage reunion as we discussed to and I and I seconded it do we want to vote on it yes we can uh Nicole do you w to hi i s a i would I hey John I okay that motion

passes okay so the last item does anybody else have any other business that they'd like to discuss right now okay is there any anybody that we think we might want to invite to speak at the next meeting not off the top of my head okay other than those that we already discussed like to to invite as optional and like if Evan wants to come I'd still welcome him I just don't necessarily think we he needs to be like an explicit please come like Sean said um well no at um at our January meeting you me like businesses right yeah well we were we were talking December and January about having reps from other towns come to speak to us and I know that uh Craig had spoken to somebody but they had to cancel so I wasn't sure if Craig or anybody else had someone else in mind yeah I um I get a follow up we we're still trying to reschedule that meeting with Craig Blaze and and when I met with him um at his office in Wester um he had mentioned wanting to come in and speak with us so I can certainly um follow up with him um to see if he's available for March 19th right it's March 19th okay let let me uh let me see if he's he would be great if we could get him in he's a wealth of knowledge and Incredibly connected so um in the city of wer and with with the business community so um so let me let me call his uh his office and see if um that would work for him hey

terrific um does anyone have anything else that they'd like to discuss okay if not I will entertain a motion to adjourn the moot second third okay well thanks for being here everyone