Economic Development Commission - Regular Meeting

I guess we can call to order. So, I'd like to call our meeting to order. I want to uh welcome our first select woman, Arthur, for coming. Thank you so much. And I know we have in the audience, Jack Posa. Yes, sir. Who's bringing a new business to town. And the other gentleman is My name's Tom McDonald. My wife and I just bought a house here a couple years ago, but I'm just trying to find out what what you guys are doing and things like that. follow. Oh, we appreciate that. I [clears throat] see another another member of the public coming. I'm trusting that this is Trent. Trenton, right? Yeah.

Oh, how do you do? Good. So, um Trenton is interested in joining the commission. So, my co-chair Jeff had suggested we maybe have him come sit at the table if you'd like to come up and sit with us.

This way, you get the full experience and you can confirm you can confirm your decision. And uh online we have Eileen Mueller and I don't think there's any other members of the public online. Eileen, you have fulfilled the requirement of one person at least logged in to make the system work. So you've already contributed to the meeting. [laughter] Excellent.

And also present uh besides myself, Joe Camian, uh we have Cheryl Puyer. We have our other committee members, Scott, Maline, Mona, and my co-chair, Jeff, and Wendy. Hi, welcome. I I didn't see an email saying you weren't coming. I know, right? It's amazing. It wasn't You've been living a far. Yes, I have. I know.

Okay. Um, public comment. Um, we have the new business. Uh Jack, you're on for the um if you will our discussion of new business because very appropriate for a new business guy, make you new business. Uh for the other member of the public, uh if there's any comment here to listen. Okay. Well, we'll try to be communic communicative [laughter] motion. If um the gentleman with the new business wanted to present early rather than waiting for the end of our meeting, can we give him that option? We could do that. Yeah. Would you like to go early? Not mind. Okay. To make this quick.

Great. I showered and shaved and I smell okay. So good. Where would you like me to go? Uh where is the appropriate place for me to seat? We've got You can sit down or we got a full Right here is fine. Whatever's comfortable. I don't mind sitting. Good evening. Good afternoon. My name is Jack Pragosa. I am the owner I'm sorry. Jack Pragosa, P as in Peter. R A G O SA. Thank you.

Thank you. Um I am the owner, operator, founder of EG Enterprises and Umbrella Corporation who owns several sub entity corporations underneath it. One of them being Epic Pizza LLC. Um, I am a new entrepreneur to the shoreline about five and a half years now. Um, I originally come from the Hartford area. Um, I was in the technology, security, telecommunications business for many, many, many years, 30 plus years. I retired from that industry in 2019. I was the global vice president of operations for Tel A and Niantic. I worked for the Pata family. I ran six offices. I had a half a billion dollar budget and about 147 employees that are me globally. So when I come to town, I come to town to do something the right way. I do things very professional. I address people professional. I act in professional format and I demand the same respect. I didn't receive that here. Okay? I received death threats. I received um text messages. I received drunken phone calls from selectments um and other people that got the news and the media and the attorney general's office involved um which was not the appropriate way to welcome me nor my son who's an airman from the air force who's arriving here in 3 weeks from Okinawa, Japan who's the going to be the runner, operator and owner of Epic Pizza. Okay. So, I came here to set the record. I came here to put a face and a name. I gave you guys all my personal card, my personal email. Um, I don't have anything to be afraid of because I don't cut corners, okay? I'm putting well a million dollars into this. I'm putting $1.6 million into my med spa that's going into Old Sabbrook. So, right now, simultaneously, I have $2.8 million invested into the shoreline be at 284 Shore Road and 725 Boston Post Road. I am also the owner, operator and founder

of Epic Real Estate Group Property Management in which I adhere to Charlie Pots directory, the church, all the businesses in the area. I do a lot of philanthropy in the area. I do a lot of leg work in the area for people and I help a lot of elderly people uh condition their homes for when they're conditioning into where they can't do things and we help. So very entrenched in the in community, very entrenched in Old Sabbrook, very entrenched all the way from Madison to Westerly. And my reviews speak for themselves online. So the purpose that I wanted to do today is I went ahead and had my staff and myself kind of give you guys an outline of what we're doing. I gave you guys visuals. Everything is brand new. Everything is to code. Not one piece of equipment is being reused. the oven. We went with the most top-of-the-line electric to the point where the electricity upgrade on the building is costing me more than the oven. Okay. Um, we have an architectural firm. We pulled the B 100. We had some changes earlier today. We are a alcohol-free establishment. I will not be supporting alcohol. Not in my lifetime. Not for any amount of money. So, don't think of it. Don't ask me for it. It will not happen. Okay? I have a son who's been sober now for 130 something days. I don't drink alcohol or consume alcohol, not because I have a problem. I just don't believe it has purpose in my life from a holistic approach. This business here is focused on energy, efficiency, and speed. And it's based on feeding the community on an efficient format, not a greed, of what pizza has become. No one should be paying $ 30ome dollars for a cheese pizza. I'm sorry. I've eaten in Sapor. I've eaten everywhere. And just because the economy is what it is does not mean you cannot put a cheese pizza for 17 18 bucks. Okay? There's no reason why I can't feed the community on an efficient manner. We are doing a twoman team with one part-time person. We're doing a seasonal, call it a tiki bar, but it's

not a tiki bar. It's swings. It's going to have protein shakes, coffee tails, mocktails, frozen drinks, and it's going to be a place for people to eat. And I might even be doing sushi. Not quite sure yet. But the point of the matter is is there's no flame, there's no fire, there's no grease. Everything is 100% clean health, clean fuel, no LP, clean burning, everything to the way it's supposed to be. And the purpose behind the project, we're opening five. So this is the first of five. And we're looking to do things on a small square foot basis with high efficiency and high volume. So that's why this thousand foot kitchen that you see in front of you has almost $200,000 of equipment in it, including a $65,000 European stove called the Moretti that's being imported right now as we speak that requires 90 amps of voltage just to operate clean power. So in saying all that, um, our goal, um, some of you guys might have saw me on the news, some of you guys might have not. I am aligned with Ann Nyberg in the Children's Hospital in Yale. I was on the news December 18th for doing the toy drive. I had two vans of toys at the Starbucks in Old Sabbrook. I donated two huge vans of toys to the old Shoreline community as well. And I'm big on philanthropy and children. So in saying that,

um I am going to be employing college kids, local kids. I'm going to be geared towards people with families who have kids who want to feed their families affordably. I want to be able to feed a family of four for $39.99. That's what I want to do. Okay? And I think the way I'm doing it and I don't need I don't I don't need money. Okay? I need to create a legacy, a lineage of what's going to be left when I'm behind. And that's my son, my family, and my name. So, my son's coming into the area. He's going to be the person that's going to be walking my shoes. He's military. He's active. He's coming out now. He's a good boy. He's a real good boy. He's 32 years old, so he's not a kid. And he's coming with his game on a face. and he's looking to do what dad's been doing for a long time, but he's looking to take it to the next level. And I think anybody in here as a parent, you couldn't be happier when your kid does something and bring forwards your energy. Okay? I have a lot of energy, but I also have 14 companies. So, I do everything from renovation to property management. I have $1.3 million owed to me right now in Old Lime. I'm the mortgage company that was on Five Swan. I was the mortgage company on 47 Hartford Avenue that they had that whole convoluted conversation where they thought I was coming into angle to buy the building when the building needed to be demolished and they owed me $300,000. That was a misconfusion with the town. So, there's been a lot of things that have been happening that I've been really filtering through and being positive and moving forward. And that's what I continue to do. That's why I'm glad that this gentleman here took the time to reach out to me. He linked me. He opened me up with open arms. And like I said, it's official. We're friends. So, moving forward, um, another thing too, so the my personal assistant that runs my household and my animals when I travel is Susan Fontinella. She runs your archives here in town. She lives over on um um Beaverbrook and uh she's also someone that's part of my organization as well. So, I have old line residents, seniors that also work

for me. Um, so in saying that, the pizza business is just one thing. It's going to get up the right way. It's going to work the right way. It's going to stand up the right way. But the bigger picture here is the community. Okay? I can't stress enough that a community needs to communicate effectively. A community needs to talk effectively and it needs to be open doored effectively, not emotional. Okay? Because there's been a lot of emotion on Portland Avenue and Hartford Avenue and stuff that I've been dealing with that I don't think needs to be emotional. So, in saying that, my background as as you are aware, I'm a technology security telecommunications specialist. I've designed telecommunications, proauudio, all this stuff that you guys paid a lot of money for, I would have donated my time to help you. So, in saying that, from an economic uh development perspective as a business owner, I do have time to help. I designed the police department in O line. I've done work I mean, excuse me, in old Sabbrook. I've done work for the DOJ, the DoD. There's not much that I can't do, especially looking at your two telecommunications cabinets with your wireless right there that you pay to have done. Knock on my door. Email me. I can help. I can help any way I can. It's a community. I'm here. I'm staying. My grandkids are going to be here. My son's going to be here. He's going to be living on the on the second floor above the pizza place. That's going to be his residence until he finds a girlfriend and then he's going somewhere in O line. Um and I might be leaving Old Sabbrook and coming to O line to be honest. So, in saying that, I appreciate everybody bringing me in. I hope that you understand that I'm above board. No cut corners. I think my presentation, the drawings, my professionalism, my wallet has spoken that. I apologize for the big sign. I was under the impression that a sign on a trailer registered mimicked a box truck and unfortunately old lime has different signage rules. So, I did adapt to the the temporary sign permit. Mr. Knap did approve that and the trailer has been vacated and I am in compliance with that. That was a hiccup. I apologize for that. That was something

that an employee did not shut off when I was out of country, but it's been addressed and the permits have been pulled and everything has been pulled as of yesterday. Everything is in queue now. So, in saying that, I'm here. I'm part of the community. Lean on me. Ask me a question. Send me an email. I'll give it to you straight. No filtering, transparency, honesty. I'll open the books. I have nothing to hide. I just want to be accepted fairly as a businessman, an entrepreneur, and someone that's willing to do philanthropy in the community. That's cool with you guys. That's cool with me. That's it. That's all I ask for. I ask for fairness. Right. Well, thank you for making in our town. Thank you for investing.

And one of the thing that you guys can talk about, um, I will go ahead and donate $1,000 today. You can put it on record. In free pizza to any youth activity that would generate youth sports or youth something. So, the minute that I'm open, the minute that my pies are coming out, you guys have $1,000 where you guys can do a pizza party or something, charge a buck a slice. I don't care. Do something with the money. It makes no difference to me because I need more write offs than I need anything else this year. So, not an issue. Yes, ma'am.

Oh, I'm sorry. I thought I'm sorry. I apologize. I have a couple of questions, but I would say it would be more appropriate for you to directly give your pizza donation to the little league or whatever. We before ethics reasons, we can't have money come in and go out.

No. And I wasn't looking as cash. I was looking as uh something of substance that would generate something like a donation. Like for example, I was in Miami three weeks ago. I bought a Romero Breurto. I don't know if you guys know who Romero is. He's a worldrenown artist. I have a huge painting call on track. I'm doing a a silent auction with a couple of friends of mine who are donating planes and yachts and all that stuff. We're donating all the money to children's health and mental health. So, in this situation, if you guys come up with something or send something my way is fine, but I'll do it any way you want.

Your generosity is very clear. I I want to make sure you understand that. That is very clear and very appreciated. But just on that one point, we can give you the names of contacts at the youth leagues like the little league and I don't know, spring soccer or whatever the case might be and you can connect with them directly. I'm sure they would love your offer. I would love to do that. Sponsor a team too as well. Yeah. Oh, they would love that. Um, Little League just opened May 1st or something like that. So, perfect.

Um, question is about the pizza place. What is your expected open date? We were aggressive. No, we were aggressively trying to be open for like the second week of June. And unfortunately, you know, you just can't rush perfection. You're just not going to do it. There's too many things going on with fuel search charges, design work, people doing all these things. Um, the biggest expense that I'm enduring right now is my med spot. So, that for me is priority. So, that is opening in 6 weeks guaranteed. the pizza place. I'm now shooting probably for July 4th weekend. Okay.

Yeah. So, I'm probably a month behind right now. At the end of the day, it's just a house. If you look at it, it's just a three-bedroom apartment with a small kitchen. Really, what makes the girth of the building is the equipment that's going in it, not the building. Uh because we're not doing any open flame. We're not doing any LP. We're not doing any kind of hood. The septic and the grease trap is already there in compliance. Everything we're doing is electrical. We were even doing a cadence on Monday with Eversource because we're bringing in 400 amp service, which is it makes sense. I mean, if you're going to run clean power and you're going to do something at that high level and draw that kind of amperage, especially in a in a season, you want to make sure you're clean. So, that's happening. So, we're clean burning, clean all of the way, and it's going to be as as um as productive as possible. So, just a sidebar, if you need any help as a liaison talking to the fire, you know, making sure the fire marshall building, whatever, it seems like you know how to do that. Well, so, but I'm going to just leave that. Um,

I can touch on that real quick. So, Mr. Robage, Mr. Knap, uh, Julie, everybody in the town, Mr. Whan, Benetti, everybody has been on a on a threemonth email trajectory of copying. So everybody's very well involved with what happened, what's been going on, the misconfusion and everything. So everything's been cleared up through email. So that's

perfect. Okay. But we're here for that kind of assistance. If you have to go before zoning, come visit us again and perhaps we uh, you know, decide together on a letter of support or to go to a public hearing. That's the kind of thing, one of the kind of things. don't think that's the case here because my understandings from my lawyers and the accountants and everybody in the architects is it was a pre-existing business that closed in 2022. So it went per the 22 NFPA 59 standards and what happened is the standards changed in anel and fire protection and boundaries. So the way that the kitchen was set up is if you look at the building there's only 2 ft of boundary on the left side but then there's 30 ft between the Dmitri building and my building. I had to completely shift the kitchen from the left to where it was to put it all the way to the right. And in doing that, I already made an agreement to buy Dimmitri's building. So, I already knew that my kitchen was going that way. So, everything has been done taking in the NFPA these 79 because Mr. Robage um when we first had the initial discussion of me buying the building, he made it very clear um exactly what was going to be required and that's all been met through the plans and specs that's been submitted. Excellent. And if anybody wants a copy, I have them all in DWG or P PDF. I can email them to anybody who wants them, but the town does have them.

So, other ways that this commission can help you is that we do have a um a website, Explore Old Lime, and we list restaurants on there and visitors can look at that and find and they link straight through to your website, which I assume is right here. It is. Yes, ma'am. So, um we're going to pay attention for when you go live and we'll put you on for that. We also have these little trifolds and it's by part of town in Sound View area. We'll make sure you're on there for the season um once, you know, you're ready to go.

And um we do support ribbon cutings and that sort of celebration. So if you, you know, want to pursue that, you have your friend Jeff get in touch with him and we'll figure that out. I was out of town last week, so I had people attend a meeting at the community center on Thursday and some people were in there, including Miss Pearson, Mr. Morad, and a couple of other people. And they did explain that as soon as we get to that, there was going to be a collective thing to do a ribbon coming, which is which I know it doesn't make a lot of sense, but when you're starting and standing up a business and you're trying to market and dial in to everybody and every audience, you need everything you can get. You need Instagram, Facebook, Trajectory, old print, anything you can get to get your name out there. So, I appreciate it.

And it's one of the few ways that we can call out an individual business by having an event surrounding your opening. So,

nice have like a business liaison that you offer to anybody coming in that has 30 plus years of mechanical, electrical, plumbing that could help them in a two-hour audit of what they plan on doing to put them on the right track. Have you ever had that offer to any of your people? Cuz I would love to be that person. If you guys feel my credentials are needed and if you guys ever want to pass my info on to someone, I have 30 plus years of building hospitals, casinos. I've done everything from civil to plumbing and I know my way around construction. So, you have some of these people that want to open up a little coffee shop and they're cute and they're great and they know coffee, but then they get into the minutia of real estate and they're lost and they're freaking out and they're going, "Oh my god, I'm offering that." I I have no problem if you guys ever have a client that comes in here and because I'm gonna tell you the story. A lot of people on the other side of the state want to come here. They do. There's a lot of people with a lot of money wanting to come to the shore. They're afraid. A lot of people are afraid because the shore has this stigma that it's so difficult to do business as a small entrepreneur that unless you're someone of larger caliber big real estate firm architectural firms like an auto parts or a hospital, no one wants to play in the arena. And I can guarantee you that I know at least a half a dozen people from that area that have come down here and literally have ran back the other way. That's the truth. And that's why I think from an economic development standpoint and someone who's been chasing business on a global level and not only here who's expanding and done a lot of different things, that little girl with the coffee shop, the person with the hair salon, we need more of that. We want more of that, but we want to make it easier for them to adapt to technology and what's needed because let's face it, at the end of the day, they're good at cutting hair. They're not good at building offices or buildings. So someone free as a liaison that I wouldn't charge just to help the community. It generates pass, you know, it generates foot traffic. It generates

more consistency in tax revenue, sales tax. It generates more foot traffic. It generates jobs. I would love to help. Just saying. And I'll put that in writing. I I I don't have any what I'm saying here is 100 verbatim on camera. If I'm saying it, I'm willing to do it. And trust me when I tell you, I work seven night days a week and I only sleep four hours a night and I always can take on a good project. So, if you have something, say something, let me know. And I'll get I'll get them to the right people. I guarantee it. If I don't have the answer for them, and to me, it's not about the work. It's just about eliminating the confusion and the anxiety of what it is to do something because a lot of people think that the municipalities are so they're not. You're there to help. You just got to find your way through the whole thing. And I think a lot of municipalities right now are adapting to technology and adapting to the permitting process. and they're learning it at the same time that the new people are learning it, which is kind of what happened this weekend with me. So again, any way I could help, I'd love to.

So, and another piece of information for you to pay it pay

look keep a lookout for is that the zoning commission is working on updating the regulations and they're entering the public phase. They are working on a survey that all business owners, residents, property owners are going to be invited to take and then you have an opportunity to be part of a workshop. I think they're calling it like a focus group or something to give further feedback on what's hard or not hard, what's you know different doing business here. So um I think the kind of feedback based on what you have done is um would be valuable to that process. I appreciate that. I think it'd be valuable to everybody in some way or form. Long-term longevity for sure.

Yeah. Jack, as someone who is quite dynamic. Uh, one of the concerns that that we've talked about is the methodology of welcoming new businesses to town. if there's any thoughts you have and I I don't ask for a lengthy, you know, prosaic work, but some kind of like a bullet point list of things that should be, you know, like like what should be our welcome methodology for a business proposing to come to town.

Small networking group, coffee and cookies, and you just bring all the real estate agents, the commercial people, you bring everybody to have a cadence and just talk about how to grow the community. It's really what it comes down to because for example, the real estate agents know the spaces that are available. They're the ones that are going to be talking to the people who are coming in wanting to build. So, that's a good resource to start with because if an agent is versed, I'm a real estate agent, by the way. Um, so like if an agent's first and he has the ability to speak intelligently on what a client may or may not need, that's enough information to convince that person to engage forward because now you've done the preliminary of what that person can get into. So, there's a lot of things, but I will have no problem. Um, I will send an email to this gentleman here because I have it. I know. Lucky, you're at the end of the table. What do you want? You're sitting at the end of the table like like you know this dinner like he's the you know, but I will get you something that I think could be creative based on my experiences in other areas like New Kanan, Southport, and Westport that I've worked very much with. So, I can give up some ideas.

Just Yeah, just hold it to bullet points. Short and sweet. One pager. Good. Thank you. I'm curious why you had such a negative reception. Let's just say what what do you think you want the truth? I'm cur I just want to

There's a lot of people in town that aren't from town who have big wallets, big companies, and like to be the king of the hill. Okay. And I'm not going to say who those names are, but they live in the front row by Cookamos. It's all those certain people, the lawsuit guys, the guys who just get to do what they want to do and throw money around. And the problem is is if it's not their idea, if it's not their family doing it, they're not going to support it. So, for example, three years ago, I walked up and I bought 47 Harford Avenue. That is the old post office, the old candy shop that I paid $160,000 for it. Okay? I bought it from four people, four deeds, four family members were fighting. I spent $30,000 cleaning the building out. I painted some front stuff on it. I called the Yildo Beach Shop and I was off and running to becoming a small boutique hotel that was going to be sort of like a Buffet world. Well, after six months of hearing all the communication and the controversy of the neighbors of how they were in opposition to it, it was enough to say to myself that that's not the way that I want to go. I would rather do something subtle like a four-bedroom condo and do it at that point. When that happened, I put it on the market and that's when I sold it. when I sold it, I did okay. I financed it. I made eight and a half% for three years and I ended up getting what I ended up getting. So, in essence, because I had that opportunity because I jumped in and because I was able to benefit from it, there's going to be haters and those people weren't supportive of that and they're still not supportive of it till I'm getting drunk text messages right now. I mean, you want to hear one, I'll let you hear it.

You know what? We're in a public forum and this is going on.

No, I understand this, but this isn't there's no swearing or anything. you guys wanted to address it. She asked a question and you're asking kind of what happened. And I'll tell you that at 2:30 in the morning, I got someone on Portland Avenue that owns Mueller Property Management telling me that I'm never going to open and that you guys are going to hold me back. I have it in black and white in writing. It's it's nothing that I'm making up. This is exactly what happened. And this is been happening when I bought Swan Avenue. I own Swan Five Swan. I worked with Wendy from Ledge, put a $60,000 septic system in and sold it to a doctor that works for Lawrence Memorial. pays me every month. So, I'm not a stranger to the community. I'm not a stranger to anybody here. It's just that certain people want things done their way and not other way. And not everybody wants to play in the same sandbox. And I'm sorry. The sandbox is made for everybody to play in. Any color, any race, any walk, any I don't care what it is. Everybody should have an equal opportunity to do and deem business anywhere that they please if they could so meet the criteria of what the town and the public requires. And a lot of people don't believe in that. Okay? And those are the people that are suing the town right now. They're suing Miami. They're suing the Miami project for the sewers. I hate to say it. There's just no need for that. And another thing that I feel that's happening, it's not just here, it's in any town. We need to be kinder to everybody. We used to say hi to our neighbors every morning regardless of color, flag, religion. None of us even do that anymore. I want to go back to how are you, good afternoon, open the door. That's why I traveled 475 hours this year and went to almost 14 countries and went to the backwoods of Malaysia and Manila knowing what real life is about because people there value life. People here value conflict and confusion. I don't get it. That needs to change in a big way. We need to be a more of a community. We need to be more focused on religion, God, and standing up, not the negativity that everybody wants to push. Tik Tok, Instagram, that nonsense. I'm good. Sorry. went on a tangent there. I apologize.

So, you know, we thank you for your comments, Jack. And thank you. We we stand available to help you succeed in your business and I appreciate that and I appreciate you guys hearing me out. I do know it's a small platform. I did get a lot of information out. I do talk a mile a minute. I apologize for that. But I just want everybody to understand it's good intention. It's it's positive. It's professional. I'm a man of my word. I stand behind my word and I'm here for the long term. It's that simple. So, thank you for your time. Thanks for coming much. And I'll leave everything for everybody and I will send you that email. Have a good evening. Thank you. Thank you very much. Nice meeting you, sir.

Okay. [clears throat] Um, our next order on the agenda is our board of select persons input on our strategic plan. You certainly considered the table. You own it. I give it a glass. So I read through this uh with great interest. Um so I just if I can kind of go page by page some of the things that I saw.

Um the only thing on the vision statement I didn't know if you had any thought of adding anything about our access to Amtrak and Shoreline East because I didn't see that but I didn't know if it was just possibly pulling in too much of possibly from Old Saber. though that was on page two as part of the vision.

Yeah. And you had mentioned um when we talk about um our housing market and um I just was I I've got to go back Cheryl. I just wrote it down on page thoughts of adding anything about access to easy abstract to access in Shoreline East. That was just one thought under under you know under vision number three old line is positioned you maybe leave that in there.

Well probably I would say it's not on our vision because we are don't have a vision as far as Amtrak. It's more like one of our benefits instead of our vision maybe. I'm just saying that people who are reading this might want to know that they can I'm just having a comment that they can just a comment that we can get on the train in nearby. Yeah. From where we are.

Um on the second on page five, which is your first promotion in marketing. Um I love that. Um you want to review and update ctvvisit.com. I think that's [clears throat] possible. I think that's definitely a positive. Um, I also just want you to know that Rivercog has recently uh begun a calendar of events that it's called their community calendar. It's also a great resource for us where you can add things to theirs so that more people are seeing it from the various areas nearby. And Katie has the information from uh Riveraga on how to get to that. Um, I love that you're going to update Explore Lime um, annually. Um, you mentioned doing printing. I just like to you to know to remind you to use utilize CCM for printing because they give us some extreme a discount. Um, loved everything you had to say under social media. Um and then I do have a question at the end where we talk about um where does the greater Sabbrook of chamber fit in at the bottom? I mean as far as marketing ideas, attracting visitors, our businesses, where does that fit into our plan? Um do we have anything about collab?

Oh it's just collaboration I guess. I mean we collaborate with a number of organizations I would think. Well are we a member of the greater saber of ch greater saber. Well, then I mean I don't know. Just thought that if we pay a yearly fee to them that maybe we let people know that that's part of what we do because we don't have our own chamber. Can I can I ask you a question on a social media? What's the town's position on having an Instagram page to promote the town? We have Facebook um is is

we do have a social media um policy um which we worked really hard on because um in the past some groups have gone off to create their own things. Um we'd like it to stay under town hall.

Um if you'd like us to perhaps connect our Facebook and Instagram pages, that's something that we certainly can do. I know that Cheryl does a great job of adding things to our Town of Old Lime page. Um, but one of the things that we do um sort of firm we stand firm no comments on our pages. So, we always click the no comment unless we mention somebody like emergency management or the old line fire department. They can say something.

Your office have time to add Instagram to your social media? um the I believe that most of our things on Facebook it now clicks you can click to an Instagram account at the same time that you click to Facebook. So anything you paste to f Facebook can go to Instagram but we do not have an Instagram account which would mean that we would have to create it and click twice versus once. Okay.

So I mean I know anything on my Facebook page automatically goes to my Instagram. So I I think we can do it if it's done. Um then um we talked about just um and I want you to know that for your branding signage and everything yesterday I had to go over to Chester for something and I got off the highway in Chester at exit 8 and that beautiful sign that you get when you land off Chester which tells you where to go and it's just so beautifully done and I thought this is what they mean by having signage that represents our town so well.

Exactly. Um so I thought that was great. I do note to remind you that anything that you post along the historic district that you'll of course need um approval and I would certainly suggest that you start the conversation before you get to a Ca to get some ideas of what exact they like. Um, let's see. The other I I mean I have stars and things where I think I think um website plugins, things like that. And then the only thing at the new business mentorship program on page seven. I just wondered if you talked to the mentoring for at all to have any conversations with them. Um [clears throat] the uh the mentoring core I have not I I've talked with the high schools school to career people.

So mentoring core meets here every other Friday. They're here every Friday morning from like 9 to 11. I think that if you wanted to get on one of their agendas and just talk to them, they're a wonderful group of people um who volunteer their time for many types of purposes in the line. But um I'm not sure who the chair is at the moment. Sure. It's we've talked about them before. They're like score, you know. Yeah. Um they tried to help us in the past with a project three or four years ago, but yeah, that is on the list to definitely talk to them. Um do they meet on Fridays? What time?

Usually between 9 and 11. It sometimes changes. It used to be every week. They've tended to go more every other week now. Um but it and then sometimes a lot of people in summer take breaks so you have to check um the on page eight. Um I'd love it if the new Slooway was the picture versus the old one. [laughter] Um

what the new Slleway? This is the old Slleway. I'd love it if the new one went up and was on there instead of the old one because we just be a better representation of what we can do. Um and um I love that you'll support applications um at public hearings and PNZ. Um then also when you um talk about on page nine building actionable plans um please remember the sidewalk committee for hall is up and running. Tim Griswald is the chair if you wanted to um do that. And then I just also thought that perhaps those pictures I'm not sure where I'm sure the historic house is somewhere here in old line or actually I know it's the old lman. Um but again maybe a picture if it's commercial district maybe we could have a picture of either Sound View or Halls Road on that.

So we have a photographer in June and August taking business photography to replace them. Great. And then I just noticed on page 10, and I know this was done in December, but I believe I needs to be added to your list of people. Yes. Um, other than that, I loved everything. I didn't What? There you go. I'm sorry. I was updating quickly.

So, do you have any questions for me? And I guess the the big question is the issue of you know does the town and you know I have to look to you Martha and the select person's board. Does the town want us to be a bedroom community or does the town want us to bring commercial you know employers to town? It's kind of the big question.

Martha maybe I can add maybe I can add to that. I don't know if you guys can hear me. It probably I'll take responsibility for this because when I joined the commission I Cheryl was great and everybody's been great and sending me information and I'm trying to absorb information for what what are we trying to achieve? How is it aligned with what the vision is that's coming from our selectmen, the leadership and the town's people? because clearly there are some projects that uh get kicked around and they uh can generate a lot of energy from the town's people whether or not they want it or they don't want the project. And then we were talking about the fact that there was encouragement based on some uh budget numbers for the economic development commission to try and help grow the commercial tax base. So I just started asking questions like what is the vision that the leaders have for our town? And when you go back and you read the the planning commission um document, it basically says um maintain a small town character while providing for limited growth consistent with the need to preserve natural culture and historic resources. So I guess I was looking for some direction from the leaders to say what are the hopes or expectations that you'd like to see for the town itself and is that aligned with the town's people so that the commission can help to materialize or realize that. So I think that there are some commercial areas for um light industrial or manufacturing like Vista Drive

um Hatchets Hill. And I think that unless you drive in the you go to those areas for a doctor's appointment or um because you have a reason to go up in that area, you don't realize what is there. you don't realize the amount of vacant buildings um that are could be generating some tax dollars. When I see people um concerned about taxes online, I think, well, our Melinda, our assessor, will tell you our commercial properties are paying less and less because they're not filled. There's no one there, and we need to fill those spaces. These were vibrant spaces. When I years and years ago, Project Learn had the entire first and second floor of 10 Vista Drive and they were it was extremely active in there and then they built their own facility over on Hatchel Hill which was fine. Um I worked for a small company over on Vista Drive. They're still there and there were other companies that came in. It was a kayak company and things doing light manufacturing, nothing heavy duty, nothing environmentally wrong. In fact, they used to contribute all their plastic to me to take to the Trex people in in at Big Y. Um, so I think that it would be wonderful if we could fill some of those spaces. I think it's extremely important that we bring that back because it's jobs creation. It help will help with our tax base. Um, some of the buildings might need to be updated a little bit, but they're there and a great for a startup. Great parking, great lighting. Um, it's a safe environment. I think it has some real positives. Um, and I think it's

important that we push to encourage that uh in those spaces. And I can tell you that um people on planning and zoning are both constantly watching. Um Northeast Capital Realy still has that the uh hideway marketplace is still under contract, although we know no s real information, but it says it's under contract. Um what changes are going to be done there? We know that the building needs upgrades. um a facelift whether it can be saved but there have been people that have mailed us pictures that of safety concerns there at Mark Wayland and Dave Rober go over and check if there's anything serious. So we want to encourage businesses to stay in our area. We certainly I don't I know we don't want a warehouse. We're not going to look for an Amazon warehouse. We're not going to look for any of that. That's not what we are. There are startup companies that we could be a great home to to start them up and they don't have to be employing 200 people. If they employed 20 people, um it would be wonderful. And um you know, we have kids that are getting out of college. Some would like to come home to stay, but there's really no options here unless you're a teacher or you want to be an engineer at EB. I mean there but if we could offer some things in IT or get some startups and and I've had people come in developers who've come in and said you know we'd like to build a project for a company such a company and then they said they'd like all glass walls. I said you can do

anything you want inside but I want it to look colonial. I want it to look New England on the outside. Do a facade that looks New England. then put all the glass inside and they're like, "Okay, we'll figure it out." So, so do they go before zoning that sort of scenario?

Lots of times they just have some ideas and they have a potential spot and they more come in to say, "What do you think?" And they sit down with Eric and I and we kind of bat it around. Um, they don't always have a signed contract, but they have an idea and I know they already have their financing. I'm not going to wait, but I know that they're solid people that would like to do something. Um, and some have have gone other places. We we lack things like um walk walkability because if they bring someone into their business for a meeting or something, there's no how we don't have we have the old lime in. Um, so they could house someone there, but if somebody wants to walk from there to go to dinner or whatever, there's there isn't a lot of choices. And I know um so there they they get frustrated there. How do we encourage people to come here when they can't get from here to there? Um, so we don't have we don't even have like a Airbnb, not an Airbnb, but a B&B. We don't have a B&B anymore. Used to be thistle.

Um, so it's just those little things that could be done that might give us some more opportunities. It doesn't have to change the way we look. It just means we create opportunities within our framework. And people get scared of change here especially. Um I don't think it has to be a bad thing. It just has to be guided with some parameters in place. I think you've answered my question. Yeah. Thank you for coming. [clears throat]

That was the what I was looking for. Thanks Martha. Is there a priority? Would you say there is what would be your some of the things that you talked about the walkability. Okay. There's there are some projects ongoing. The sidewalk project um will certainly help with that. Um is there um is there a priority to say focus on small businesses that might be on Hall's Road versus um you know businesses in the light industrial area? I mean I'm not saying that we can't cast a broader net but Um, I think

putting together a package of also, um, here is old line, here's what our demographics are, here's what foot traffic to the area would look like, here's what, um, I don't even know if we have any kinds of incentives that we can offer. Well, that's a good thing that we could talk about, but I will tell you it's I've always been impressed and it was many years ago and I'm sure it's pretty much the same. But on my first visit ever to Hilton Head, where they have a sign, no signs are over. I think it's 5 and a half ft. They're all made of natural wood. Um, they all sort of much have the same light things. They have same colors. Uh, even McDonald's has no golden arches and is just a wooden sign with the word McDonald's written with their gold paint that they chose for colors. It really looks nice. Now, you're never probably going to get Hall's Road to look like that, which is really our commercial district, but it would be so nice if there were more restrictions on signage, how high, how bright, um, and and those things. I mean, we've all been on the highway and you get off at a highway stop and you see all the gas stations or whatever and you know, it's not welcoming. I mean, we don't if we're traveling to Florida or DC and you're on the highway, it's those aren't the welcoming committee communities that you want to go into. We want ours to look welcoming. We want them to go shop at the Bower Bird or get off at Big Y to do shopping if they're going to their beach house at the shoreline that they've rented for a week. So, we want to encourage people to shop here, eat here, etc. And it certainly I've heard it every single time I've campaigned and

this that's three times. Will you please do everything in your power to find a restaurant that doesn't serve pizza? No offense, but we have a lot of pizza in this town. Um, and nothing against our epic new person, but we need to create another type of restaurant that's not and and encourage someone to come. And I know it's find hard to find help, too. So, whatever.

Martha, I have a question for you. [clears throat] Um, we have looked at the tax revenue that comes from the different business areas and and I know that the industrial spaces are fairly comparable to Halls Road, but you're saying that they've decreased over the years. How would we know what's open, what's available? I drive that area fairly often and I don't even see any big for lease, for sale, for rent sign. So, I didn't even know. I thought all of that space was potentially full. How did we know that? I'm pretty sure that if you get off exit 71 and you go right, Vista Drive is right there on the left. Yep.

I'm pretty sure there's a Fly sign up on it. It was there. That's kind of there like always. So, I just figured it was So, the whole building is for

And they used to have WVM Mason was there that rented space. There used to be um they just recently got a tutoring service. They they moved in to an upper space on one of the buildings. Um we have you know a doctor's unit there. Pepperage Farm has a warehouse there but there is empty spaces. Um I think building number six is pretty much completely vacant. That's where WB B Mason was. um and how to work with that owner to encourage someone to go there. Maybe it would be nice if the EDC took a tour. Is that the RICO? The Okay.

Rico under Mary um was the property manager. Um and then I believe too that the building on the opposite side on the corner of Hatchets Hill when you are across from Colton Lane if up on the hill that glass building part [clears throat] of that is rented right now I believe to Amtrak while they have the bridge project here but the other part of the building there's lease availabilities there as well. Um and it's a that's a beautiful more modern building but again available space. What's there? How can we put that out there? Um I'm not a realager, so um I don't know. Uh there are, you know, I you're surprised, right? You go down, um Hatchet's Hill, and if you take rights and lefts, you find all these businesses that are there that you didn't even know were there. Um and many of us don't take the time to travel those little obscure streets and inlets to see what's there. One one piece of information that might be helpful is what is the split between commercial tax revenue and residential tax revenue in town and what was it for example if there everything there was occupied how would that impact

yeah what was it precoid versus today I was not prepared for that SAT question but you can get back to us we're we're not a hostile audience I can get back to But I would have Melinda Melinda Melinda would be able to probably answer that in two and a half seconds. Exactly. But it is not on the tip of my tongue. It's just something that Yeah. If we could find that out, I think it would be helpful.

Um, so in this blue sky world and you could do one thing to change the business climate, what would you do? You had control to do it. What what would you do to fill the gaps in just the drive and and I guess what I would try to do is maybe try to come up with an incentive plan for small businesses that want to start out in a small community easy on easy off to 95

um and try to work with them for job fairs etc that would like because that's finding people to come is one of the most important thing to come and work is most important But I think that anything that the board of finance or the board of selectmen could do that could help, you know, for a number of years to get you off the ground and going, what can we do to help them come here? Um, instead of I mean, the Crystal Mall is gone, so there's no place to go there anymore. Well, I guess I I would mention to the board of finance and the board of selectmen that, you know, if they have any ideas, you know, who want to come to our future meetings, we would welcome them to come tribute.

Yeah, I think that would be we'll put our heads together in our spare time. So Martha, when you hear about new businesses that want to come to town, do you automatically put them in touch with Jeff and Joe or No, she's called us. I've called a couple of times that you should follow their true on this. Um if I think it's some if you know I know it's got potential. Um there are some that I know that talking to other CEOs in every town, I know they're basically making the rounds. So,

um I don't know where they're going to land, but we we're at a lot of Riverco meetings together, so we and we talk. Um but yes, I do. I Well, I've sent emails to Joe and Jeff and said, "This person needs to come and talk to you." Yes. I called. We have called you have

and uh Yeah. or send things that you know groups that are having meetings and and conferences and send them to both Jeff and John and anybody if you want to go because I think it's important that you I think it's also important that our EDC shows their face at some of these meetings so that we're represented so that we know we have skin in this game. So, we try to get I mean, I try to get to as much as I can out of this building. Um, but there are some days it's just not possible.

I mean, I guess I don't even know about any of these things. So, I guess if maybe if there was a way to find out about these events that you want people to participate in because I don't hear about them. So what we usually do is if it's any type of a program through Rivercog or uh CCM we I send to chairs of various committees depending on what it's about um whether it's it or or uh and send it out to the chair of those committees and say this is an opportunity for you or your committee and I would ask that those chairs forward it on to their committee members.

That's kind of what I'm trying to do. Yeah. What what I'd like what I'm even going to try to do more so is get a calendar going because having advanced notice is the best thing. So if we can sort of that would be helpful if we could and you know Joe it is good but I'll tell you I just got a legislative update meeting and it came in today at like 3:20. We're meeting tomorrow at 11 o'clock. They sometimes they don't give you a lot of notice, but um they they try their best, but they're pulling stuff together as well. Um everybody's working hard in this climate.

Okay. Anything else? Questions? Well, thank you so much. We're we're sorry that uh your other two select persons didn't participate. Okay. We appreciate you coming. Thank you so much. Thank you all for your time. Thank you. And you're the only people who believe on the new budget. So, no pressure on you. No pressure on us. We have to provide a return on that. We will. All right. We will.

Okay. So, our next agenda item is approval of our April 1st meeting minutes. Is anybody able to make a motion to approve the minutes? I would like to make a motion to approve the minutes of April 1st, 2026. Second. Okay, I need seconds. Any discussion? Discussion. What's the vote? Everybody says I I unanimous. I have to abstain. Oh, Scott abain. Yeah, it wasn't. I just Wendy, are you in abstain? Excuse we have two abstensions.

Great.

Um the chair's report. Um I've been away and you know for a couple of weeks or more and I appreciate the teamwork of the EDC to maintain continuity. Uh, I am especially thankful to Jeff for responding to the new business gentleman that was just came on board. And uh, also Mattaline, your work on the zoning regulations is tremendous. You know, Cheryl, I know you're always the dynamo of uh, keeping things rolling. So, appreciate all of that. Um, all right. I guess we can move into our we we've been uh well we've run an hour which is longer than I normally like our meetings to go. Um so regarding the strategic plan progress u guess I'm going to just put it out there who can report progress please do. If there's no progress, well, no report

on promotion and marketing. I'm just letting you know this is supposed to be printed. [laughter] Supposed to be printed. My good arm. I'll put it out. I don't know where it is. Right there. Um, it's supposed to be printed May 10th, but I am still waiting to find out about a couple of summer businesses if they're reopening or not. Okay. Um,

along those lines, Cheryl, the the uh I was going to report this in my commercial district support. Black Hall Outfitters, the new owners rebranded it as Black Hole Marina. It was acquired by uh a company out of Portland, Maine. Dillo's Yacht Sales in Portland, Maine took over Blackfall Outfitters Old Lime and uh they're rebranding it as Blackfall Marina now. So, probably should help them continue to prosper. Um, yeah, they uh

it into a marine. Well, it's been a marina. So, they've just renamed it. Instead of going I can see it now. Instead of going by outfitters, it's Blackpal Marina and Paddle Sports. Oh, and Paddle Sports. But they are still selling accessories. Okay. It's got a whole new logo. Thank you, Joe. [clears throat]

So, on the second initiative, uh Eileen and I um did some research on signage, font sizes, state highways, local highways, and we're still working on. So, hopefully we'll have something soon to come forward at the next meeting. Business resource Cheryl and Scott, hold on. I gotta get there. Yeah, I don't have anything to report for that one, unfortunately. I have been talking to Craig upstairs and he um and Eric are starting to work on the permit process.

Okay.

Um you know, like how to lay that out for people. And Maline, I want to thank you in your document, which I hope we're spending a little time on tonight because you had some additional ideas to put into that as well. Um, also I was going to report at the end that I was on a panel on the Connecticut Economic Development Association, but one thing um that West Hartford, no, Mansfield, Connecticut, so Yukon, Mansfield, Connecticut reported is that they have something called the PAL program, which is a project advocate liaison. So, someone in economic development or another part of town hall um kind of buddies up with a new business and they just make sure that they walk through the permit process. Um and they got the idea from another town, but he's he used the person's first name and not the town name. So, I don't know what town it was, but um project advocate liaison. So I thought that was kind of interesting if you know we I mean you two are kind of playing that role um to some extent but they talked a lot about how it's really important to help walk.

So do they they have volunteers or is it a is it a town employee guess like commissioners that sort of thing really I'm going to get some more information on that. Okay. Thank you. All right. Economic development and land use processes. Mona and Meline, I honestly haven't had a chance to look over your 11page review. So, if you'd like to cover it, I can only tell you the basics from the meeting.

I don't have the meeting stuff, but um that would be helpful. Um really, it's just a I think two meetings ago, we talked about like here's the kind of themes that I had seen in it. And so this report takes those themes and then says like okay if we were going to make some suggestions here's what those suggestions could be based on like what's in the market right now and that balances that competing priority with having a you know community that feels like old wine. So there's a lot in there. I think my thought is like we should probably pick a handful of items in there that we feel really strongly about um so that we can kind of zone in on those and really advocate for those. And I think the last one, so there's a bunch of stuff. I think the first I want to say six points is all about like, okay, here's a regulation and here's the impact that it's having if we don't change it. And then I think point seven is here's a bunch of more proactive stuff we can put in place for business that is from a growth perspective.

So I I think this is the single most important thing that we can do. Yes. Because of what Martha just said and and then playing a role. So I appreciate you and Mona taking leadership on this. But I think this is very important and somehow we should carve out some meaningful time to review this and make edits and changes. When do we need to submit the comments by? Well, the answer to the Well, that was the interesting thing because they ended up having a whole bunch of permits going on at the last meeting and I'm glad that Limeline did that story and thank you for sharing that story about one part of the meeting about the building down on Route 6, the driving

because they didn't have any of those notes in their meeting minutes, which was really interesting. They skipped that in the meeting minutes, but they had a lot of other things going on. So, they never fully addressed setting the dates for the community outreach, which was supposed to be part of their agenda. I can answer that question. Go ahead.

Okay. So, they're running late on the whole process because the phase one took longer than expected. right now they are working on this survey that I mentioned to this gentleman um that their consultant is putting together for them that would be for anyone in Old Vine to answer how do you feel about certain residential and certain commercial um ordinances and regulations that sort of thing. Um, I think they want that survey to go out the end of May and then they're starting to talk about how to one have like kind of focus groups and workshops for anyone that, you know, they feel should be there, but also one-on-one time. So, the nonprofits have reached out and have said, "We want to have time with you because we want to talk about things like temporary signs and stuff like that." Um so they know that we want to talk to them but at the same time there are some commissions like flooding um historic district and I think there's another one wetlands I think um who have proactively submitted their comments

kind of like what you got and I would suggest Meline I think everything you've got is very important on here. Um, but I think if we were to have a special meeting sometime during this month to go through each one because I don't know who has read it or hasn't read it, but there's something in there about drive-thrus. Yeah,

we have to decide as an EDC, do we really want drive-throughs or not? Like people have strong feelings about that. So, um, and then there were some things that didn't come up, like I had mentioned in the email to you, EV charging stations. I don't even know if that's on their radar, but I know it was a big deal like eight or 10 years ago when they told the U, marketplace they could not have Tesla charging stations. Um, so sense to me. Yeah. Yeah. It's I I thought that what you um shared was a fantastic piece of work and I so appreciated someone

putting that level of detail and looking at all of those rules [clears throat] and regulations because it was way I I couldn't possibly have gone through all of that. So, thank you so much. I I I guess like um everybody has said, I think we should dedicate find some time and dedicate to it in the short term for the committee to get together when everybody's had a chance to, you know, really read through it and think about it and come together and then just go through and say, "What's our thoughts on this? What's our thoughts on that?" And we don't have to come up with the final recommendation. We just want to be able to bring to the zoning committee. Here's what we think would be most advantageous from the perspective of commercial and you know growth in our town or what [clears throat] are the things that are actually barriers to

growth and retention of commercial in town. And I I would be very supportive of us sending something to the zoning um group for them to think about even before they invite us for it and then having a conversation. They may not take all of our suggestions, but they should understand what the impact will be to change or not to change the current um regulations.

Yeah. I E I E I E I E I E I E I E I E I E I E I will say that I have put forward to zoning for example updating exterior lighting regulations and I've basically written suggested regulations to to use I get no feedback multiple attempts so something's broken in the process so I I suggest with the u you know the very valuable summary that uh Maline has put together we review all of those prioritize And I I'm prepared to even write a letter from the commission, you know, to zoning saying we see this as important to advancing the economic interest of the town. Feel that strongly because something's drastically wrong when it's moving this slow.

Well, it's a very heavy and complex lift. It is. It is. I reviewed the survey draft and It's complex. So, and I I think you know they're trying to develop a process. So, you know, the proc the funnel is going to be this upcoming process. And that's where we do things like the lighting and um you know, other suggestions.

Yeah. And I love if people have things that they as they're reading through that and they see that it's not included, if you could just shoot me a message. I'll kind of try to accumulate everything into one document as people have ideas. That way we can review everything like holistically in whatever meeting we decide. All right. And I think at [clears throat] our next meeting, I'd like to be able that we could sit down and prioritize. That's too late. I mean, it really is too late. We have to have a I'm going to make a motion that we have a special meeting. I don't have time for an extra meeting this month like all of you, but we're running out of time. They're going to throw this on us the first week of June and or whenever and we're not going to be ready.

So, I'm making a motion. I'll second the motion. Uh, can we have can we talk about it? Yeah. Um, we've done this in the past, done meetings through email communications with each other. Would that be something? Do you think that could work for this situation? if Maline to this I prefer to meet face tof face with anybody that can um because I do think there are some things in there that I was like oh I like that idea but I don't think that would go over well in the township right

so yeah we just need to talk that through and maybe there's a different way to accomplish the same outcome or to um also think about how we're positioning whatever we recommend and as having the zoning commission understand here's what happens here's how this can be advantageous to change and here are how it is disadvantageous if we do not change this that may be what they need to almost drive more change to some of these regulations but if people want to try and do it by emailing we can we can try What do people want to do?

I like face to face. I'd be willing to come to another meeting. It would be helpful for me to have it in person face to face. Uh or even if we decide to do it via Zoom, um maybe that's a good compromise, too. Um [clears throat] I think going through section by section like section six, restaurants and drive-thru restrictions. Do we want to make a recommendation that, you know, we have drive-throughs? We've got to decide as a group. And I love that you have the starting statement and then we can work with it.

Um, but if this is a document you're going to love, I know I know your style, you're going to enjoy this a lot. Well, no. I mean, I can tell I was just making that suggestion if there was a concern that people don't have time to get together because we have done that in the past. We've been very busy. That's something that we have done in the past. Some of you guys have weren't possibly on the commission when we've done that. So, I was just throwing it out there. I'm not opposed to getting together again in person at all. All right. Um, sooner rather than later seems to be the order of day. What's the earliest availability for everyone?

Next Wednesday. Next Wednesday works for me. I can't. Maline, you're probably among the most important people. What What dates work for the two? Not May. Wednesdays are the best. Wednesdays are okay. And Mondays are no Monday for May. All right. What time is I can't do the 13th, but I could do the following Wednesday. Um, the following Wednesday 20th, if everything works for everybody else on the 13th, go for it and I'll find a way to catch up. 15th is bus. Yeah, that's a good day for me.

Yeah, 13th works for me. The 20th doesn't work for me. Mean either of those for me. I'm just [clears throat] looking up the town calendar. 13th meeting. We could have the VFW room on the 13th. Jenny, you know, if you and then Eileen, if you can't make that, like I've Sounds like you and I'll send your

comments. Zoom. I'm still out of Yeah, I'll if there's a Zoom, I'll see what I can connect even if it's not for the whole meeting for a portion of it. Um, and what I'll probably do then is I'll circulate um a link to a document so it's a um an editable document. That way people can add comments for anybody who isn't able to. That way I'm we're not just version controlling issues. What time works for everyone? Do 5:30. 5:30.

Okay. Do you want email Michelle right now for the room while we're talking? Yes. You can keep going.

Yeah. Okay. All right. Uh Okay. So, uh yeah, excuse me. Joe is a commercial district support. Um, you know, the biggest things that have happened since we've last met was the Blackwell Outfitters new ownership and also the Heritage Holdings development, which is the proposed multifamily housing on Shore Road where the driving range sits, which which unfortunately leaves the Cherry Stone Megalith abandoned and sitting there, [laughter] you know, it's like could they cut a deal to like make that so Um, I think it's probably appropriate for us to reach out to David McCarthy, who is the heritage holding proprietor

there. I they're I what I heard they're coming back to the zoning committee this month and uh yeah, I listen yeah, see what they have. We'll wait to see what happens.

I thought it was nice that they offered to draft the legislation for the junk zoning process to make the project fit. So, I thought that was generous of them to do that. Um, so we should go to the to see what they're doing. Keep on top of it. Okay. Um, okay. Um, regional events and updates. Well, America 250th again with great appreciation for Cheryl being a workaholic and leading the charge. Uh, I trust that that is progressing well. Yes.

In community resource management, this consultant on call services, has anyone got any thoughts on how we can best deploy that assistance? This is in the order of like 12 hours of consultants time. I think Jeff and I are going to put our heads together and figure out what we're going to do in a minute right now. No, exactly. We got to put our heads together and worry. Is there an expiration date? Ah, good question, Mona. Uh, don't know. Have to look into that real quick. Make myself a little to follow up. But it's it's free, right?

It's free. Yeah. It's it's through our membership in the river. We should probably try to take advantage of the question. We have a question. It's an agenda topic, a specific agenda topic for the next meeting to say, let's brainstorm and come up with what we think that could be. Not for the special meeting, for the next monthly meeting. Right. Right. Right. Can we take a question from our guest? Yes, please.

Oh, I I don't have I do have a question. Um, you guys can talk about some reports. Matt and did a little a write up of the first leg was reading off some sort of drag thing. Are those online or Yeah, that's our that's our strategic plan. It's online. If you go to economic development, it's on the top left. It's the 2025 strategic plan. So that complete document for select there. I'm sorry. That's a great question. But I love Deb Madden and she would just put me on her her list also was so

so typically draft documents working documents of commissions aren't public until they're approved by the commission and so the strat plan is on there because we've approved it yeah you know I don't want to break any rules but uh you know I've listened to you here you know I can make some recommend commendations to you. I'm not going to do that tonight, but uh you know, I just like to know what you guys are talking about a little further. Very good. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

And regarding this community resource management consultant, Jeff might put our heads together. We'll come up with maybe a suggested deployment and we can discuss that at the next meeting and decide and sound reasonable.

Yeah. um retention of in town talent. Uh I can tell you there I am I I have been looking hard. I I'm still uh I've retained my membership in the American Society for Engineering Education from my days as an engineering professor and the AI revolution that is happening is going to be a tremendous impact on employment on economy and I I'm thinking more and more that that is an area that we might have a good shot at you gaining economic benefit from in town activity in that industry that's emerging now. And it's gonna it's going to take an amazing toll on a lot of the intellectual type work that gets done whether it's engineering, legal. Um I just read the approval of a new nuclear power plant. This just as an example, the the new the federal government's nuclear regulatory commission reviews and approves nuclear power plants. Obviously for all for obvious reasons, right? It's very high high risk type technology. The review process measured in years. with AI equivalent review process. They're talking about being able to reduce it down to six months because all these whatif scenarios the computer can play the whatif scenarios a lot faster than any body of people. So I I I think that there's an opportunity to buy this, you know, as as much as there would be in like light manufacturing. Uh we happen to have a gene pool in our town that is pretty damn good. you know, we've got lots of scientists, lots of

engineers, lots of attorneys, lots of business people, and I think that, you know, the high school might be able to provide a segue into this opportunity on call. So, that's my retention of in town talent. We got to keep the small kids in town and get them working on how to deploy AI. Uh, new and other business. Anybody have anything for new or older business? What about that? The budget approval. It's not approval.

There's a we're on schedule to get a 10-hour a week analyst and that would be effective July 1st. So, Eileen, I'll email that to you later. So, there's a draft there's a draft job description that we would like you to review. we would like to edit, comment, approve at the ne at the June meeting so we can get the job posted so we can have that resource available on July 1st around July, you know. So, um, so this is just for you to review and comment, maybe bring comments to the to the June meeting and we'll try to finalize that at the meeting. I think it um aligns with our strategic plan, what we're trying to do, you know, based on maybe what we do in zoning midmon next week. Maybe there's some modifications on there, but it's a it's a working draft.

Jeff did the heavy lifting of preparing this and I acted purely as the editor. [clears throat] AI job. Claude, I bet Claude contributed Uh but no, but I I uh I I see this as a very valuable asset for continuity. You know, we set out to do things and then we run out of steam because there's only so much that we're going to do as volunteers and this is sort of a way of keeping things rolling.

Yeah. So, I think it's 10 out, you know, the way the budget goes, it's 10 hours a week, $19 an hour part-time and it's just to supplement our followup what we need to do. We have a a part-time economic development person in the in town of Brford and he's [clears throat] very active with the EDC. Does a great job. Really smart. We can poach him. Yeah. Well, I talked to him about coming and talking to us. He would he'd be willing to do that. Okay. Somebody like to work 10 hours a week for old buy. I don't know. I don't know how many hours he works for. He already knows a job. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I hate to say this, but Bransford's an easy sell if you've ever seen their main street.

Oh, yeah. So, it's an easy cell. Like, well, this would be good. You can get a challenge. There you go. Right. No, he's a good guy. I could ask him. Um, I was a This week is economic development week. So um they can economic development association had a series of forums and I was on a panel small business is big business on a webinar I guess that's what it was called. Um so also on the panel was the economic development coordinator of West Hartford

and the gentleman from Mansfield. Um so just a couple of small points. Um some small businesses said their biggest challenges, this won't be surprising to you, are electric costs and insurance costs, not just medical but business and commercial insurance. Um and I talked about that project advocate um liaison West Hartford. Um they've started this thing almost like signing day for athletes but it's for trade jobs. So this goes to your

um so um they have a job fair with different companies that are looking for you know kids coming right out of high school who are looking for jobs and then they do a whole signing. It's the first year they're doing it so I don't know all the exact things but they make a big deal out of it like you know I'm getting a job with whatever local company construction firm or something. So I thought that was very cool. And then the last question was what opportunities do you see? And um I talked about how AI was changing the nature of small business that you can you know have it look over your whole website and you know give you how to fix it broken links things like that. You can have it crunch numbers and do data analysis for you. But it is going to change.

It's gonna change the job market because a lot of people um are being replaced and not needed smaller staffs. It's it's most devastating is going to be the code writers, people doing like AI, you know, doing it, whatever code work it's going to devastate that population. I was teaching programming and kids were coming to me with finished products with code in it that we didn't even talk about. Yeah. So, yeah, it's easy to write code now with AI.

Yeah. I think the interesting thing about the people signing up for the trades again this is through the ASCE that I I follow you know kind of like a daily newsletter that comes out and something like only 50% of the you know the coming of age young adults bless you the coming of coming of age young adults

going into let's say you know school to career like going directly into a trade type work or a technical more that the attrition is like 50%. They change direction. So that's also something that I I'm paying some thought to. I'm like, okay, how do you how do you improve make things you improves that they need a better idea of what they're getting into uh to to you know, I don't know if the fact that they're getting a different, you know, they're getting an experience base and then they go to something else. What is the path? Is it is it you know is it working favorably or not? Or should there be a better alignment with what they might stay with?

Okay, that's all I have. Um do you have anything else? Do I hear a motion to adjurnn? Okay, I will have motions. Any discussion? Hearing none, go to a vote. All in favor? I extension. No, we have no explanations. [laughter] Okay, just a copy of description. Thank you.