Meeting Minutes

FALMOUTH EDIC OPEN MEETING:  August 13, 2019

Falmouth Town Hall
Selectmens Meeting Room, 59 Town Hall Sq. Falmouth, MA 02540

PRESENT
Christopher Land (C), Christopher Simmler (Ck), Paul Burke (T), Michael Galasso

ABSENT
Susan Moran (VC), Patti Haney

8:33 am
CALL TO ORDER
Having established a quorum, the Chairman called the meeting to order. 

8:33 am PUBLIC COMMENT
Alison Leschen – Asked the FEDIC Board to revisit the Liberty Green project – to consider and discuss the idea of eminent domain. Galasso requested that this subject be added to the EDIC meeting agenda for next month.

8:35 am EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
Mike DiGiano

Three of the major initiatives are in launch stage 1. Completed financing arrangements between Open Cape, Mass Development and FEDIC 2. Co-working Feasibility Study was issued, and 4 proposals were received and 3. Fiber Optic Community Network RFP was issued, and 9 proposals were received. Sub-committees will be reporting on these subjects in the next meeting.

8:42 am COMMITTEE REPORTS

TECH PARK
Patti Haney, Paul Burke

Burke advised that he meet with Dan Webb when he returns from vacation in September.

MIXED USE / CO-WORKING SPACE UPDATE
Michael DiGiano, Michael Galasso, Chris Simmler, Patti Haney

DiGiano advised that the RFP for the Feasibility Study for a Co-working Space was issued and 4 proposals were received. They were experienced in this subject and all were within budget range. Next steps will before the sub-committee group to review the proposals and select the best ones for interviews. The sub-committee will make a recommendation for a Firm for the Board to vote upon.

FALMOUTH STATION
Chris Simmler, Lynne Broderick

  • Simmler advised the air-conditioning was installed and is working. Galasso advised that the compressor on the roof is very visible and not attractive.

  • Simmler advised that he sent a letter to MassDOT to see if they can assist the EDIC with tree removal and trimming of the over-hanging branches.

  • Prevailing wage issue has been resolved for the Falmouth Station. Alterations and additions do fall under prevailing wage. Services would not fall within prevailing wage i.e. cleaning, minor repairs, etc.

  • The FEDIC signed a 10-year lease with Peter Pan with escalating rent. Working on a new lease for the Falmouth Grill.

  • Galasso mentioned a painting done by a local artist that he found. Requested that the EDIC contact the artist to see if we could obtain the artwork for future use. Broderick to research.

LANDFILL SOLAR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT – PHASE 2
Michael DiGiano, Susan Moran, Michael Galasso

  • Galasso advised that BCK Law, Atty. Frank Duffy and Susan Moran are working on a legal technicality – the rights to Citizens Energy to build out Phase 2 expired in December. They are determining whether a new RFP has to be issued for the Phase 2 work.

  • Another issue was that the State solar program was being revised during the end of Phase 1 and no one new for certain what the program would look like financially for Phase 2. Those changes caused delays.

FINANCE
Paul Burke

  • Burke advised of an accounting situation – rent revenues, etc. were being added to the Falmouth Station checking bank account, but none of the expenses were being taken out of it. It was agreed by the Board to reduce the Falmouth Station bank account by the expense amount identified during the last year.

  • The balance in the Open Cape Main Street Account is $80,141.

  • Burke stated it was a good that the $250K was moved into a higher interest CD account, as rates from Federal Reserve have dropped significantly recently.

  • Burke advised that after speaking with the EDIC accounting firm, there was no reason or benefit to capitalizing the AC expense for the Falmouth Station. The Board agreed.

  • Burke presented the August 13th, 2019 warrant in the amount of $21,448. and requested the Board to approve it for payment.

  • MOTION: Simmler made a motion to approve the August 13th warrant in the amount of $21,448. Burke 2nd. All in favor. Approved.

OPEN CAPE / MAIN STREET HIGH SPEED INTERNET PROJECT
Mike DiGiano

  • DiGiano advised that the loan docs will be closed soon. The project is estimated to start in the next 2-3 weeks. He advised that the first 60 businesses that sign up will be connected for free. Monthly fees will replenish the connection fund, so others may also receive a discount going forward.

  • Burke questioned how customer remittance would be handled. Galasso advised all payments will go to Open Cape.

COMMUNITY BASED FIBER OPTIC FEASIBILITY STUDY
Chris Simmler, Mike DiGiano

  • Simmler advised that the sub-committee review the bids, set up interviews for the finalists and submit a recommendation to the Board.

  • Courtney Bird spoke for a few minutes expressing his pleasure over receiving 9 proposals. After the study is done, he advised the next goal will be to communicate this project to the general community to build a base of support.

  • Land inquired as to what are the two/three things this project will bring to the Falmouth community. The response from the sub-committee was that retail pricing will be equivalent to the commercial offers, as well the money will stay within the Town of Falmouth and be used to repay the financing of the project. Lastly, customer support will be local, and the network architecture will be more reliable and faster. Over time it will be more of an investment and less of an expense. Galasso said that once the current provider learns about the project, they typically become more competitive with service and pricing.

  • Galasso asked what the path forward and timeline looks like. Bird advised the goal was to go to Town Meeting in the springtime 2019, however, if this is not possible, it will be the fall of 2020. It was also said that next steps will be dependent on the feasibility study results and recommendations.

RECRUITMENT OF NEW BOARD MEMBER
Susan Moran
No Update

9:20 am
EDIC ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
July 9th Meeting Minutes were not voted on as a board quorum was not met.

9:21 am FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS / GUEST SPEAKERS
Liberty Green – Eminent Domain
EDIC Real Estate – Developable Lots
Mike Faloon, Neighborly

9:22am EXECUTIVE SESSION DEFERRED UNTIL SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING

9:23 am
ADJOURNMENT

MOTON: Simmler made a motion to adjourn the meeting session. Burke 2nd. All in favor. Approved.

NEXT MEETING
September 10, 2019,  8:30 am, Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Falmouth Town Hall

 
 

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