MINUTES ADOPTED AS PRESENTED 06/21/2010
ENFIELD TOWN COUNCIL
ENFIELD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, INC.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
A meeting of the Enfield Community Development Corporation was called to order by President Scott Kaupin in the Enfield Room of the Enfield Town Hall, 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut on Monday, June 7, 2010. The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL – Present from the Community Development Corporation Board of Directors were Directors Bosco, Dumont, Edgar, Hall, Kaupin, Kiner, Lee and Mangini. Directors Crowley and Keller were absent. Director Nelson entered the meeting at 5:34 p.m.. Also present were Town Manager, Matthew Coppler; Town Clerk, Suzanne Olechnicki; Community Development Director, Peter Bryanton; Director of Economic Development, Ray Warren; Chairman of the Enfield Revitalization Strategy Committee, Darrin Lamore
MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETINGS
MOTION #003 by Director Lee, seconded by Director Dumont to accept the minutes of the April 13, 2009 meeting.
Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote being taken, President Kaupin declared MOTION #003 adopted 8-0-0.
NEW BUSINESS
ECDC TRANSITION PLAN BY THE REVITALIZATION STRATEGY COMMITTEE
Present for this discussion were Community Development Director, Peter Bryanton and Chairman of the Enfield Revitalization Strategy Committee, Darrin LaMore.
Mr. Bryanton stated the last time the Enfield Community Development Committee met regarding this issue was in October, 2009. He noted at that time, they had some loose ends to address. He explained they were a little behind updating the State, and this was addressed. He noted they were also behind in their IRS filings, and this also was addressed. He stated they hired Attorney Joseph Fallon to draft the documents for the revised corporation, and that document is before the Council.
Mr. Bryanton stated they put together a plan to develop a Transition Committee. He explained they’re changing the current Town Council organization to a community-based organization. He noted they would then have members of the community running the corporation. He stated the Transition Committee would come up with a way by which Enfield Community Development Committee members would be appointed.
President Kaupin stated his understanding that if the Corporation agrees, they would establish, by resolution, the Transition Committee and that Committee would flush out the bylaws. Mr. Bryanton responded that is correct.
Mr. Bryanton stated it’s being proposed that the Transition Committee be comprised of one member each from the Town Council, Planning & Zoning Commission, Revitalization Committee, Economic Development Commission, and the Loan Review Committee.
President Kaupin stated his understanding the Transition Committee would be staffed with Messrs. Bryanton, Warren and Attorney Fallon.
Director Mangini questioned where the funding will come from to pay for Attorney Fallon. Mr. Bryanton stated there’s a substantial amount of money ($220,000), due to loan payoffs and program income, and 20% of that can be used for administrative costs. He noted this would cover attorney costs and possibly a part-time person.
Director Mangini questioned how this transition will effect the work of the Loan Review Committee. Mr. Bryanton stated it wouldn’t have any effect. He noted CDBG can be used for a myriad of programs, one of which is to acquire and dispose of property in distressed areas. He noted the initial loan or grant to the CDC would be done through his office. He noted Loan Review wouldn’t have to have any input into that because it could be done strictly from his office to the CDC in what’s called a sub-recipient agreement.
Director Mangini questioned who will appoint and reappoint members of this group. Mr. Bryanton stated that’s a point that the Transition Committee will discuss. He noted initially it could be done through the Town Council, and once the initial members are on board, they would reappoint themselves or appoint new members as they go along.
Director Mangini stated this is where she has a concern. She noted the Revitalization Committee is an offshoot of the Town Council, and she would not want to see the Revitalization Committee or the other group not having some sort of bearing with government from the Town side.
Mr. Bryanton stated the Revitalization Committee would not go away and would still be under the auspices of the Town. He explained this would be a totally separate organization that would focus on things such as redevelopment, acquisition and disposition of land, much like a redevelopment authority in other towns and cities.
Director Mangini questioned if the Town Council will be presented with the bylaws at some point, and Mr. Bryanton responded yes.
Director Nelson questioned whether the Committee would reappoint its own members, and Mr. Bryanton responded yes, they would appoint and reappoint their own members going forward after the initial appointments, which would probably be done by the Town Council.
Director Lee pointed out the Transition Committee does not become the directors of the Corporation, and Mr. Bryanton responded that’s correct.
Director Nelson stated his impression that a committee that appoints itself seems untouchable. He noted he would be more comfortable if the Council approved recommendations for appointments. He stated someone has to have oversight over the Committee, especially with the amount of money involved.
Mr. Bryanton stated there are some organizations where the Council can appoint a third of the members. He noted there can’t be direct oversight by the Council over this corporation because it would then be another arm of the town, and it’s supposed to be a community-based organization.
Director Nelson pointed out the Town Manager appoints Inland/Wetlands members, and the Town Council has no oversight over that commission. He noted the Council appoints members to Planning & Zoning, but the Council has no oversight over P&Z.
Director Nelson stated he would be happy with the Town Council being able to appoint a third of the members.
Mr. LaMore stated this Committee wouldn’t be able to do things in a vacuum. He noted they have to go through the same processes as everyone else. He stated if they wish to do something along the riverfront, or not, they still have to go through P&Z and Wetlands. He pointed out they can’t make decisions on their own. He went on to note it’s a mixture between private and public.
Director Dumont questioned if this is a town-wide program. Mr. Bryanton stated it would primarily focus on Thompsonville, however, it could do projects outside of Thompsonville. He noted the reason they focus on Thompsonville is because of the low/mod designation in that area.
President Kaupin stated on June 21st, there will be a resolution to establish the Transition Committee.
Director Kiner suggested the Committee have two members from the Town Council and two members from P&Z. President Kaupin noted this would make the Committee a seven-member voting group. It was the consensus of the Council that this would be acceptable.
It was clarified that the Transition Committee is being formed only to form the new committee.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION #004 by Director Mangini, seconded by Director Nelson to adjourn.
Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote being taken, the Chair declared MOTION #004 adopted 9-0-0, and the meeting stood adjourned at 5:51 p.m. |