PORTLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
December 19, 2007

1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Chairman Fred Knous called the EDC meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

2. ROLL CALL
Members present: Michael Elliott, Fred Knous, Peter LaMalfa, and David Rintoul.
Others present: Deanna Rhodes and Mary Dickerson

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of the October 17, 2007 EDC meeting were reviewed.
MOTION BY David Rintoul to accept the minutes of October 17, 2007 as written. SECONDED by Michael Elliott and UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED, MOTION CARRIED.

Minutes of the November 20, 2007 EDC meeting were reviewed.
MOTION BY David Rintoul to accept the minutes of November 20, 2007 as written. SECONDED by Michael Elliott and UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED, MOTION CARRIED.

4. GUEST SPEAKER: Deanna Rhodes, Planning & Land Use Administrator

• Mixed Use Development at Elmcrest.
  Town staff had met with Attorney Peter Alter and his team regarding the Elmcrest site and the timeframe for text amendment. The Elmcrest team will request a text change to the height regulation for the tower building, with redesign to 30% of the first floor, reduction in retail space, and underneath parking which would be heard by the Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) in public hearing. The EDC will offer comment for the public hearing in February.
• Town Center Village District & Design Consultant
  Members of the sub committee of the PZC had interviewed seven applicants (landscape architects, architects and planners). The PZC will discuss scope of services, such as developing guidelines and fee structure for the Town Center Village District.
• Streetscape
  Town staff had met with the design consultants and landscape architect to discuss the Streetscape Project, which includes enhancement of a 750-foot span from the bridge. The group is presently considering design elements for the area.
• The EDC will look into plans for development of Route 66 and North on Main Street. Deanna Rhodes will send the Carolar Johnson Report to the EDC and Ann Faust for consideration.
• EDC Budget
  Budget items for 2008 were discussed with Deanna Rhodes. The Economic Development Commission will request additional funding for the new consultants, marketing, supplies, Main Street events, and grants development.
• The EDC suggested the Board of Selectman consider a Portland website upgrade; i.e., streamlining, more user friendly and professional.
• Small Business Loan Program/Business Tax Incentive Program
  Through the Town Finance Department, business loans can be requested. Additional funding and oversight would be needed to continue the program. The EDC requested more information.
• In an effort to attract, retain, and expand businesses, the Town of Portland has adopted a tax assessment incentive policy. It allows the Town to enter into tax agreements with owners or lessees of real or personal properties in manufacturing, office or retail storage, etc. in order to fix tax assessments of real or personal property. The EDC requested more information.
• Regulations.
  
  • P&Z regulations changes will be reviewed in public hearing on a quarterly basis.
    
  • A regulation change is proposed by Concord Equity Group to add hotels and motels as a permitted use in the Industrial Zone (Table 6.1) by site plan. EDC will make a recommendation to regulate the request through site plan or special permit and submit to Deanna Rhodes by January 10.

5. CORRESPONDENCE

Correspondence received was discussed:

• Paulette Buchanan, of the Farmer's Market, contributed $75.00 received from the December Senior Center event. The EDC discussed setting up an account to access for special events.
  
• Ms. Kenney and Ms. DeBurry will solicit funding for banners for Main Street.

6. DISCUSSION

A. Consultants' Job Description.

• Consultants will be involved in the grants programs.
  
• Ms. Dickerson would like to complete the list of parcels. It could be used as part of a marketing plan for economic development in Portland, along with strategies for improvement within the Village district, properties for sale or lease, and Brownfield areas available for grants.

B. Grants

• The EDC will seek additional funding for grant writing aspect of the "consultant" line item.
  
• Mary Dickerson designated the most favorable and promising grants for application:
  
  • Steap Grant. The current program will expire in 2009; therefore, first priority would be to reapply.
    
  • Block Grant. This grant can be used to fund expansion of the streetscape program or another area in Town. The Town is eligible to reapply for this program.
    
  • Liberty Bank Foundation offers an entrepreneurs program for small businesses. Dickerson suggested developing a program to encourage and support our businesses and to look at this grant by summer.
    
  • Find other grants for foundation funding to develop the downtown arts program with features such as a historical interactive museum and community orchestra.
    
  • There are not many grants for economic development available. The Principal Financial group foundation offers generic grants, which are very small.
    
  • Bank North gives sponsorships for activities such as "Passport to Portland, " which could be used as a marketing tool.
    
• The EDC directed Ms. Dickerson to apply for the Steap Grant for funding the development of Route 66 and North on Main Street. The first task is to find out specifics on required and permitted matches for the Steap Grant, such as Town contribution and other grant money.
  
• State discretionary funds that are available. Line items in the last budget for Portland specifically targeted sidewalks, High Street water program, etc. Oversight is needed to explore those possibilities for funding.

C. Approval of the 2008 EDC Calendar

MOTION BY Michael Elliott to accept the EDC 2008 Calendar. SECONDED by David Rintoul. MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED, MOTION CARRIED.

7. OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business to discuss.

8. NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business to discuss.

9. PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.

10. ADJOURNMENT

MOTION BY Peter LaMalfa to adjourn the Economic Development Commission meeting at 9:35 p.m. SECONDED by David Rintoul. MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED, MOTION CARRIED.

Respectfully Submitted,

Linda Edwards, Board Clerk
12/26/2007