Meeting Minutes

FALMOUTH EDIC OPEN MEETING:  April 14, 2020

Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 710 952 306

PRESENT
Christopher Land (C), Susan Moran (VC), John Burke (T), Christopher Simmler (Ck), Michael Galasso, Thomas Feronti

ABSENT
Patti Haney

8:34 am
CALL TO ORDER
Having established a quorum, the Chair called the meeting to order.

8:34 am FINANCE
Lynne Broderick

  • Broderick directed the board to refer to the financial statement emailed prior to the meeting. Broderick reported that financials are trending well to forecasted budget. Though the trend is showing a favorable under budget position, it is expected that some of the excess funds will be expensed in later quarters.

  • The Warrant amount is $30,046.05. Large invoices included payments to CCG Consulting for the Fiber Optic Network Study and BCK Law for the legal work required for this project. As well, extra cleaning and cleaning supplies were incurred.

  • MOTION: Simmler made a motion to approve the warrant for $30,046.05. Moran 2nd. All in favor by Roll Call: Moran Aye, Galasso Aye, Feronti Aye, Simmer Aye, Land Aye. Motion Approved.

FEDIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19

  • DiGiano advised that the EDIC put up a new page on the EDIC website for COVID-19 businesses resources, and as well, Broderick has been Tweeting information.

  • As EDIC cash resources are limited there is little that can be offered in terms of funding relief.

  • John Marcellino/Station Grill has been forwarded information for small business relief. DiGiano is looking into sources of funding assistance for Transportation operations for the Falmouth Station i.e. CC Regional Transit Authority for building upgrades and parking improvements.

  • Galasso suggested working with Representative Viera and other legislators to sponsor a FCTV segment to advise and educate the Falmouth business community about the relief options available.

  • Galasso also suggested discussing with the Town of Falmouth the possibility of the EDIC obtaining a larger allocation of the Solar Landfill Project Phase 2 revenue to provide a loan program to offer relief to some of the Falmouth businesses. Moran suggested that Galasso attend the next Selectmens Meeting to present the idea/plan for a join EDIC/Town business relief funding program. Moran advised there is already some community outreach with the Falmouth Cares Business Roundtable – a weekly update for statistics and stimulus funds. Moran thinks that the SBA is best place to direct businesses investigating funding relief to maintain accurate and consistent information.

  • Land requested that DiGiano reach out the Chamber of Commerce and local organizations about their fundraising and the ways the EDIC could support them. As well, to contact the local banks to see if the EDIC can facilitate or assist in some manner, and to begin the process of identifying how to allocate any capital resources the EDIC may obtain.

9:05 am COMMITTEE REPORTS

FALMOUTH STATION
Mike DiGiano, Chris Simmler, Lynne Broderick

  • Broderick is in the process of obtaining pricing for painting of the Falmouth Station and a new heating burner. A commitment to proceed will not be made on either project until the COVID-19 situation has improved, and the board reviews the financial situation at a future meeting.

  • DiGiano is working with VHB on concept plans for the parking for additional large intercity bus companies, and a new design for the undeveloped adjacent lot.

SOLAR LANDFILL PHASE 2 PROJECT
Mike DiGiano

  • Simmler said it was a very thorough review and vetting of the Solar Phase 2 proposals. The board reviewed the Recap memo sent by Simmler.

  • Citizens was selected. They had already submitted for the interconnection permit, which was an advantage in terms of already being in queue for connection and are shovel ready to begin the project. It is projected they can be up and running in March 2021.

  • The Town can purchase half of their energy at a discount: $697K estimated savings over 20 years.

  • Citizens will make an annual pilot payment to the Town, to be negotiated, it could be another $600K in revenue to the Town over 20 years.

  • Half of the energy produced will be sold to an estimated 250 low income households in Falmouth thru the Citizens "Joe-4-Sun" program resulting in approximately $1,7M in energy savings to these residents.

  • Citizens will be making annual lease payments to the EDIC of $177,650.

OPEN CAPE - FALMOUTH MAIN ST. GIGABIT PROJECT UPDATE
No update - deferred to a future meeting due to time constraints.

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

  • Galasso stated the next stimulus bill will include money for infrastructure. He thinks there is an opportunity for the EDIC to obtain some of this capital to fund the last mile of the network for the high-speed fiber optic internet project.

  • DiGiano to discuss with CCG an engineering analysis for cost options to build out the high-speed network in Falmouth, in phased segments.

9:21 am EDIC ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS

  • MOTION: Galasso made a motion to approve the March 10, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes. Simmler 2nd. Roll Call: Moran Aye, Galasso Aye, Feronti Aye, Simmer Aye. Land and Burke abstained. Motion Approved.

  • Executive Session could not be approved as a quorum not met. To be submitted at the next meeting.

9:24 am ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Simmler made a motion to adjourn the Open Meeting Session and move into Executive Session to discuss the Citizens Enterprises Corp. proposal as it relates to the content and negotiation of the proposed Lease Agreement, and to discuss the elements of a proposed lease agreement with Plymouth & Brockton St. Railway Co.; as having these discussions in an open meeting session may be detrimental to the Falmouth EDIC’s negotiating position. The Executive Session meeting will not return to a Public session meeting. Galasso 2nd. All in favor by Roll Call: Aye Susan Moyan, Aye Michael Galasso, Aye Chris Simmler, Aye Thomas Feronti, Aye Paul Burke and Aye Chris Land. Motion Approved.

NEXT MEETING
May 12, 2020,  8:30 am, Falmouth Town Hall. Selectmens Meeting Room, 59 Town Hall Square, Falmouth, MA

 
 

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