Gardiner Economic Development Committee
Gardiner City Hall Council Chambers
Tuesday, March 11th, 2003, 8:00 a.m.
Minutes
Attending: Randy Clark, Rebecca Colwell, Norman Gardner, Kim Greenleaf, Andrew MacLean, Glenna Nowell, Patricia Rideout, Geri Robbins-Doyle, Norman Temple, Francis Grey, Chris Paszyc
1) Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting
The committee requested that in the future the minutes be kept simpler than they have been in the past. Chris and Francis agreed to honor that request.
2) Loan Applications
The committee discussed the City Council’s suggestion to require a balloon payment on the loans after five years. If we are going to change the rules, we should announce it to all our potential new applicants. The loan application package should be revised.
a) Tilbury’s Water Street Grille
Mr. Farris plans to renovate 218 Water Street, move the restaurant and tavern, and expand his law offices into an annex there. All three floors will be renovated. The “Inn” concept that has been discussed for the adjoining buildings is not included in this project. Andrew Maclean said to have a restaurant of that caliber in town is a huge plus. Their catering business also is going well. Andrew Maclean moved, Geri Robbins-Doyle seconded, to recommend the loan for 4% for 15 years with a balloon payment after five years, with terms to be negotiated by the Economic Development Director. The motion to recommend the loan was approved by a unanimous loan of members present.
3) Regular Review of RLF Accounts
All accounts were current.
4) Other Business
a) Sewer Rate Incentive Program
Chris said this new program, suggested by our Wastewater Superintendent Chuck Applebee, is aimed at marketing our current excess wastewater treatment capacity. It costs a given amount to run the wastewater treatment system regardless of the number of people that are using it. If we can get more people to use the sewer system, we can spread that cost over a greater number of ratepayers, thus reducing the future burden on each individual ratepayer. Depending on how many equivalent users you add to the system, you would receive a discount. Over five or so years, you would gradually get ramped up to the full rate. For example, you could get 75% of the minimum charge rebated back to you the first year, then less each consecutive year. It’s not going to cost the Wastewater Treatment
Plant any more for the new users to hook-up. Their operating costs are fixed. A great example would be for a laundromat. The program might be just as much about public relations as it is about money. It would provide one more tool in the toolbox for economic development.
The Wastewater Advisory Committee will have to approve the program as well before it goes forward.
5) Economic Development Director’s Report
Chris said we expect to know the outcome of the State Office Building bid decision on Thursday.
We expect to get the news on our Housing Grant Application on Friday. We are very optimistic. They received 25 applications, and they can fund five.
All signs are pointing to “yes” on Pine State’s project.
6) Schedule Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8th at 8:00 am.
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