Meeting Minutes

FALMOUTH EDIC OPEN MEETING:  September 10, 2019

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

PRESENT
Christopher Land (C), Susan Moran (VC), Christopher Simmler (Ck), Michael Galasso, Patti Haney

ABSENT
Paul Burke

8:38 am
CALL TO ORDER
Having established a quorum, the Vice-Chair called the meeting to order. 

8:38 am PUBLIC COMMENT
None.

8:38 am FALMOUTH STATION RAILROAD HISTORY BOARD
Barbara Weyend, Falmouth Preservation Alliance

  • Weyand advised they have all the photos and the copy is written and reviewed.

  • The roadblock is that they lost the funding for the project because production could not be done within a 12-month period.

  • Sign will cost $2K for a finished product – ready to be installed. Barbara advised that either the EDIC agrees to fund it, or she can reach out to several local entities for funding, however production cannot be done until the end of the year. Cannot move forward with production until funding is established.

  • Moran stated she thinks it important to the FEDIC legacy with the Falmouth Station, that they fund this project.

  • MOTION: Moran made a motion for the FEDIC to fund the full expense for Falmouth Station Railroad History Board, in the amount of $2,000. Simmler 2nd. All in favor. Approved.

  • Weyand suggested an outdoor installation and location would be optimal. A specific location will be determined at a later date.

  • Weyand advised the $2,000 does not include installation. She advised the Town typically will assist with installing the sign.

8:49 am EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
Mike DiGiano
Deferred to report during Committee Reports.

8:42 am COMMITTEE REPORTS

TECH PARK
Patti Haney, Paul Burke
No update.

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

Galasso advised that the first round of interviews will be held today for those businesses selected from the RFP responders. They are hopeful to have a candidate selected for approval by the Board at the next board meeting in October.

FALMOUTH STATION
Chris Simmler, Lynne Broderick

  • Simmler advised he is looking into Non-Commuter paid for parking opportunities. The Steamship Authority has been contacted to see if they would have any interest in partnering with the FEDIC.

  • Tree cutting and trimming around the parking perimeter needs to be done, and quotes are being gathered.

  • In the process of relocating the foyer TV Monitor to inside the Falmouth Station, and adjusting the alarms, alarm keypad and locks accordingly so that the public can stand in the foyer in the inclement weather.

  • Simmler advised it is time to begin thinking of the Christmas Stroll in December.

  • Broderick shared the Falmouth Station survey results and comments.

  • Moran cited that the Chamber should be contacted regarding the interest of local businesses for the vacant lot / parking opportunity at the Falmouth Station.

  • Galasso stated the Board should remain open minded to other developable opportunities such as a Mixed-Use facility.

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

  • Galasso advised discussions are still taking place between the Town Attorney and the FEDIC Attorney regarding if the Citizen Energy Contract has expired. If it has expired it will mean reissuing the RFP.

  • Fox advised Citizen’s Energy is waiting for a definitive from the Attorneys, before the project and proceed. At some point their capital cycle will default, and the money to do the project will moved to another. It is important that a decision on the contract expiration and the reissuing of the RFP is made.

  • Jim Fox stated that approximately $60- $80K a year in revenue will be generated for the Town of Falmouth – for the next 25 years.

FINANCE
Susan Moran

  • Moran presented the September 10th, 2019 financial statement and the warrant in the amount of $14,648.86.

  • MOTION: Simmler made a motion to approve the September 10th, 2019 warrant in the amount of $14,648,86. Galasso 2nd. All in favor. Approved.

OPEN CAPE / MAIN STREET HIGH SPEED INTERNET PROJECT
Mike DiGiano

  • DiGiano distributed the current schedule from Open Cape. Open Cape is a little behind schedule due to the delay of the Loan Closing. They will complete all business connections for the estimated 60 free connection clients by mid-November.

  • The EDIC Loan Guarantee has been signed.

  • The EDIC and Open Cape are still working thru the details of the revolving fund – a fund generated by current customer fees, that will allow additional businesses in the future to connect at no charge.

  • The launch is scheduled to start within the next 1-2 weeks.

  • The backbone of the project will start once the business clients sign up for the service.

  • DiGiano advised the marketing will primarily be done by the Chamber of Commerce: emails as well as in person visits.

  • The first 60-62 will receive free installation.

COMMUNITY BASED FIBER OPTIC FEASIBILITY STUDY
Chris Simmler, Patti Haney, Mike DiGiano

  • Simmler advised there was an impressive assortment of proposals to the RFP request – 9 in total.

  • The proposals have been narrowed down to 3 potential candidates to be interviewed later in the month.

  • Hopeful to have a recommendation of a vendor for the next board meeting.

RECRUITMENT OF NEW BOARD MEMBER
Susan Moran

  • Because the EDIC Board has statutory membership requirements, the Town Counsel was asked to provide an opinion on if the entire membership was restricted to the statutory list. It was determined by Asst. Town Counsel that as long there is an element of each of the statutory requirements on the Board, then other skill sets and experiences could be added to the board membership.

  • There has been some interest. The process will be that the interested candidates will attend an EDIC Board meeting for an interview. Then the EDIC will send a report providing feedback from the meeting to the Board of Selectmen for review. The Selectmen will make a decision and an appointment.

EMINENT DOMAIN
Michael Galasso

  • Galasso reminded the Board of prior discussions of 2 years ago regarding the location of Liberty Green, and his proposal that the EDIC consider using the power of eminent domain to acquire the property for appropriate development for the community.

  • The steps would require an EDIC Board vote and then presentation at the Town Meeting for approval.

  • Galasso understood the Town was involved at some level of negotiations and appraisal of the property.

  • Haney supported the Galasso’s thoughts on this matter and offered to work on the development of this project in terms of community feedback on the property development.

  • Moran said the first step is to determine if eminent domain is an option.

  • Moran to request that this issue be added to the Selectmen Meeting agenda to obtain current information about eminent domain law. Galasso offered to attend to speak to this subject.

UPDATE ON PROPERTY LOTS: TECHNOLOGY PARK AND RAYMOND PARK
Michael DiGiano

  • DiGiano distributed pictures of the property lots to the Board.

  • Two of the Tech Park lots are very narrow strips of land on either side of Langdon G Burwell Drive – a road into the Landfill. Both lots combined are 78,000 sq. ft. (20K sq. ft plus 58K sq. ft.) The lots are zoned LIB. DiGiano does not see a lot of opportunities for use, other than ground mounted solar. Jim Fox advised there is a 100’ setback along the road and there are wetlands on the property, which further reduces usage. Galasso inquired who owns the road running thru the two properties; and if the road could be relocated elsewhere. DiGiano will investigate the road ownership and intended use.

  • The Raymond Park lots are on the opposite side of the railroad tracks. They are residentially zoned and landlocked. There are other landlocked lots near these that are owned by the 300 Committee. There could be some value to abutters. DiGiano will inquire with abutters to determine interest in property use.

9:30 am
EDIC ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS

  • Law, Atty. Eidelman advised that to determine if Prevailing Wage laws apply, the DSL will need to individually review each project the FEDIC undertakes, to establish if a project is a “public works project”.

  • MOTION: Simmler made a motion to approve the July 9th, 2019 Board Meeting Minutes. Haney 2nd. Galasso abstained. All others in favor. Approved.

  • August 13th, 2019 Meeting Minutes were not approved as board quorum was not met.

9:33 am FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS / GUEST SPEAKERS
Mike Faloon, Neighborly
Board Member Candidates

9:34 am
ADJOURNMENT AND MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION
MOTION: Moran made a motion to adjourn the open session meeting and move into Executive Session in respect to the Tech Park property lease. Simmler 2nd. Roll Call: Aye Michael Galasso, Aye Susan Moran, Aye Christopher Land, Aye Chris Simmler, Aye Patti Haney.

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

 
 

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