Sharon Economic Development Committee                                                                                                  25 June 2009

In Attendance

 

Nancy Fyler

nsfyler@comcast.net

Alan Lurie

Alury@yahoo.com

Pasqualino “Pat” Pannone

pannone@pannart.com

Eli Hauser

Elimhauser@yahoo.com

Rob Maidman

romarintl3@comcast.net

Suzie Peck

peckrsdh@speakeasy.org

Thelma Hirsch

Tzirlahirsch@prodigy.com

Ben Pinkowitz

benpink@comcast.net

Susan Price

robert.price4@comcast.net

Bill Heitin

Wheitin@mit.edu

Ben Puritz

bpuritz@Townofsharon.org

Roni Thaler

rthaler@Townofsharon.org

Barbara Nadler

 

Lisa Jacobson

observer

Diane Sher

New Arts Center

 

7:30        Agenda review

Review of meeting notes from previous meeting. Meeting notes reviewed and accepted.

Larry Koff contract

Funding for traffic and zoning study

Upcoming meeting for Owners

Library meeting update

Diane Sher – New Arts Center on Pond Street to discuss kick-off “arts in the square” during Square Jam

7:40        Roni – reset the monies from the grant for the permitting guide – fired Kathy McCabe and now hired Larry Koff to do the work she was supposed to do. We’ve asked him to complete the project by September 1st.

Susan – planning board approved funding for traffic study and rezoning for PO Square study from Kendall Funds. Sent Land Strategies the email today to proceed and set up discussions and so on. Perhaps move traffic study in September.

Upcoming meeting with owners – thinking about how to get them into the door. Have 2 meetings? One with tenant and one with owners. Or, one with local v. out-of-town. Rob – we need an agenda; we need content. We want them to state their needs. Roni suggests we start with 5 key owners; and get them on-board, and then pull in the others. Target the end of July or the beginning of August.

Lisa – input - when we do the traffic study – important to incorporate the parking regulations and locations and access. Part of the reasons to limit the parking in the town center is to stop people using the square for commuter parking.

We reviewed the results from our meeting with the Library Trustees. They have now scheduled a follow on meeting for July 7 – on how to rebuild if / when / how to do that. Discussion ensued on how to proceed with either land acquisition or developing the scenarios. Having 2 buildings does not work for cost and redundancy; and even use patterns in the case of a children’s library v. adult library.

Diane Sher – New Arts Center. Thelma spoke with Dianne about reenergizing the Sharon square – and wanted to include Pond Street as part of the square from Chestnut St. to the Library. Dianne’s ideas included thoughts about how to increase community involvement. Relating to Square Jam – will have a pottery wheel outside –the kids love that – and perhaps to use the hidden parking lot back there with food and balloons – popcorn machine and so on. What happens if we move the band from Billings & Main to the center of Pond Street maybe near the Sharon Credit Union.

9:00        Next Meeting: Target last week of July (Thursday), 7.30 pm, Town Hall
– perhaps the owner’s meeting

 

9:00        Adjourn