MCC Adams Grant Task Force

Economic Development Council

Meeting: July 6, 2007, 10:00 am

Judge Welsh Room, Town Hall

 

Purpose: Streetscape project - Review of Icon Report dated Feb 27, 2007

 

Present: Kathryn Rafter facilitated a two and a half hour meeting with 13 attendees as follows: Michelle Jarusiewicz, Lisa Bowden, Bill Schneider, Steve Melamed, Chris McCarthy, Candy Collins-Boden, Jim Bakker, Cherie Mittenthal, Mike Carroll, Don Knuuttilia, Judy Cicero, Tanya Gabettie,  Bonnie Adams-Campbell.

 

Summary

 

The group formed a short term action plan to pursue the following goals: a date to begin the paving; identifying outside funding sources to pay for the paving; meeting with the Town Manager/BOS to discuss paving as a priority; signage committee will identify areas to improve signage and make recommendations to appropriate Town committees; Wi-fi hotspots (note: the EDC is working towards bringing wi-fi to Town and will be addressing the issue further at the next meeting on July 11th).

 

Introduction

 

All those seated at the table introduced themselves and the organizations they represent.  The ground rules were discussed:

  1. No sidebars/cross talk
  2. No beating a dead horse
  3. Get to the point
  4. Be direct/ be brief
  5. Allow conversation
  6. Stay on topic

 

Each person shared their expectations of the meeting:

 

Defining a Successful meeting:

  1. A couple of starting points for streetscape
  2. Start direction
  3. More tasks to move forward with
  4. Make street paving a reality
  5. Get everyone re-engaged in original objectives
  6. See hard work turn into something tangible
  7. Bring people together to make something happen
  8. Implementing coherent devises
  9. Starting points for streetscape –GLBT representation
  10. Viable plan – re-engage
  11. Build relationships/partnerships
  12. Knowledge of townspeople, year round, open process, funding sources besides the taxpayer’s money

 

Wayfinding and Story Telling:

 

Group discussion of the definition of each term:

Wayfinding – roadmap, how to get around

Storytelling – once you find where you are obtain additional information/significance about a location

Street improvements – physical – “getting there without breaking your neck”

Linkages – collaborative accessibility – going from place to place/ connections/ communication piece.

 

Group would like to see:

Wharf link

Street art

Welcome Center/trap shed

Good Signage

Wi-fi walking tour

Jitney loop connecting Commercial Street

Street paving

Established cultural facilities

 

Paving, wi-fi, signage – three top choices!

 

Street improvements –Definition for our purpose – paving, embedded art, signage, and lighting

  1. Review/revisit concept & proposals for physical design & improvements.
  2. Create “The Vision” – plan – timing (create “t – shirt size” vision – a small one, medium, large and extra large vision)
  3. Price/cost
  4. Funding possibilities
  5. Re-group

 

Group explored - What does this Task Force need to do?

 

Engage the Town Manager (Michelle)/BOS (public statements at next meeting/goals setting scheduled for July 30th); Signage; Art committee; funding sources – Chris and Steve will explore opportunities.

 

Our plan moving forward:

  1. Trap shed – development underway/ need materials from partners/ letter going out to recruit artists
  2. Wi-fi hotspots – EDC is reviewing options for installation at the next meeting July 11th
  3. Signage committee - will meet, discuss/review areas around Town and make recommendations (Candy, Don, Jim, Tanya and Lisa)
  4. Engage the BOS – go to the next two meetings July 16th and July 30th!
  5. Michelle will reach out to the Town Manager.

 

Next meeting:

Michelle J. will set the next meeting date in early August. Agenda will include a status report from meeting with BOS and progress report on committee work.  Task Force members will recruit more people to attend the meeting.