Meeting Minutes
FALMOUTH EDIC OPEN MEETING: December 8, 2020
Zoom Meeting
PRESENT
Christopher Land (C), Christopher Simmler (VC), Paul Burke (T), Thomas Feronti (CK), Michael Galasso and Samuel Patterson
ABSENT - Patti Haney
8:34 am* CALL TO ORDER
A quorum was established. The Vice-Chair called the meeting to order.
8:34 PUBLIC COMMENT
David Isenberg stated he thought the release of the Community Network Feasibility Study was a fantastic step forward.
8:34 FIBER OPTIC NETWORK STUDY
Mike DiGiano
DiGiano advised that CCG study was finalized and is ready for public release.
DiGiano referenced the Acknowledgement Page – stating the numerous people that participated and showed interest in this important study.
Follow up steps are in process: presentation to the Board of Selectmen and the roll out of the study.
Patterson suggested the Board think about what role the EDIC wants to take with future support of this effort; noting the Town of Falmouth expressed limited interest in funding the effort.
Patterson mentioned preliminary conversations and research with potential ISP’s for consideration.
Simmler questioned how a decision will be made about how/who would be responsible to issue an RFP. Patterson thinks the Town should consider serving as Clerk of the Works. Patterson volunteers to act as a liaison with communication with the Town of Falmouth regarding this subject.
Galasso stated that he believes the best approach is for the EDIC to take a strong role with this project, in partnership with the Town of Falmouth; as has been demonstrated with the Falmouth Solar and Falmouth Station projects.
Discussion ensued about potential RFP and RFI process and participants.
DiGiano reminded the Board the CCG is contracted to make a presentation of the study findings. The detail of this presentation is TBD.
Lands suggested that DiGiano, Galasso, Simmler and Patterson work together to develop a plan to proceed, for the January meeting.
9:03 FINANCE
Paul Burke
Burke referenced and provided an overview of the financial reports and warrant.
Burke referenced the project net income loss for 2020 is - $95,000, which is significantly less than what was projected the beginning of the year.
MOTION: Patterson made a motion to approve the warrant in the amount of $19,213.69. Galasso 2nd. Roll Call: Simmler Aye, Galasso Aye, Patterson Aye, Burke Aye, Feronti Aye, Land Aye. Motion passed.
Burke reminded the Board that the EDIC CD was not renewed.
Galasso inquired as to why the Falmouth Station lease hold was not shown as an Asset on the financial reports. Burke to inquire with Accountants and advise.
The Board viewed the EDIC 2021 Budget. To review further and approve at the next meeting.
9:17 CDBG Community Development Block Grant COVID-19
Mike DiGiano, Michael Galasso
DiGiano reported that the Town received $320K Block Grant from the State. $160K was awarded for the Micro-Enterprise Grant program to assist small businesses impacted by Covid-19.
The Town is executing some paperwork from the State to access the funds.
The EDIC is crafting a draft program and application forms and process. These documents will be provided to the Town of Falmouth to review and approve the forms and process.
DiGiano said he is hopeful to get the program implemented by January 2021.
Galasso stated some of the program parameters and noted the urgency to moving forward quickly as the businesses in Falmouth are at extreme risk.
9:22 MASS DEVELOPMENT TECH. ASSIST.GRANT - FALMOUTH STATION
Mike DiGiano
DiGiano reported that Mass Development and the Governors Office announced an appropriation of $300K for Technical Assistance Grants. The EDIC was successful in being awarded $50K to do a Master Plan for the Falmouth Station area; expanded parking, workforce housing, etc. This grant will fund work with architects, engineers and stakeholder groups to develop a concept. DiGiano to work with Mass Development to determine next steps.
Simmler stated that he believes that the MassDOT will need to be included in the planning process as the property owner.
Patterson reminded the Board that the Falmouth Planning Board would need to be consulted.
DiGiano reminded the Board that Mass Development will hire the consultant(s) for the project.
The EDIC committed to a $25K in kind Staff match.
Simmler volunteered to be part of the project, citing his business’ established relationship with the MassDOT.
Feronti also requested to be part of the project; citing his experience with similar MassDOT project development.
9:27 SEAPORT COUNCIL FUNDING & MERCO/ FEDIC GRANT APPLICATION
Mike DiGiano
The application is still being reviewed by the Seaport Council – no update.
9:28 EOHED – LOCAL RAPID RECOVERY PLANNING FUNDS TO REVITALIZE DOWNTOWNS
Michael Galasso
This grant information was sent to the Falmouth Chamber for the Falmouth Village Association. Galasso said he passed it onto Marco LiMandri from New City America and will follow up with him.
9:29 OUTREACH PROJECT – MEETINGS WITH LOCAL COMMITTEES
Simmler advised that he is seeking EDIC board members to periodically interface with local committees and associations to open communication to determine where the EDIC may be able to assist them. The list of committees was reviewed, and board members assigned to them.
9:39 COMMITTEE REPORTS
FALMOUTH TECHNOLOGY PARK
Tom Feronti, Patti Haney, Mike DiGiano
Feronti said once Covid-19 is over he will reach out to the CCC to find out the final date of expiration for the Development Agreement at the Tech Park.
DiGiano reminded the board that DA may have an additional 2-3 years in addition to the Covid-19 extension. When the EDIC applied for the original extension, the CCC did not taken into consideration the Emergency Executive Order due to the recession, which would have tolling effect on permits and the DA. This would be something that the CCC and Atty. Moynihan would need to work on this in terms of the property deeds for the individual properties.
MOTION: Feronti made a motion to approve up to $1,000 for Atty. Moynihan to work with the CCC to establish the corrected date for the expiration of the DA. Simmler 2nd. Roll Call: Simmler Aye, Galasso Aye, Patterson Aye, Burke Aye, Feronti Aye. Motion passed.
DiGiano advised of multiple interested parties in the 64 Technology Park Dr. lot. There is about 2.5 acres in developable land. There is a 1-acre drainage easement as well. McGrath & Holmes advised there is a case that can be made to reduce the easement substantially – which will provide more market value to the property. McGrath provided a proposal to do this engineering work, create plans, meeting with Planning Board – for $5,300.
MOTION: Galasso made a motion to approve, but not to exceed $5,300 for McGrath & Holmes to do the engineering work on the drainage easement mitigation and plan. Patterson 2nd. Roll Call: Simmler Aye, Galasso Aye, Patterson Aye, Feronti Aye. Motion passed.
FALMOUTH STATION
Mike DiGiano, Lynne Broderick
Patterson said that inquired about Electric Charging Stations with the Town of Falmouth and found that the Town funded the Charging Stations themselves to promote the use of Town utilized electric vehicles. There was no outside funding provided to the Town for this purpose.
Broderick to continue to search for available funds for Electric Charging Stations.
Feronti reported that the Charging Stations at Mashpee Commons were funded by an Electric Vehicle Manufacturer, citing there may be other available funding sources.
SOLAR LANDFILL PROJECT – PHASE 2
Mike DiGiano
Postponed to next meeting.
OPEN CAPE
Mike DiGiano
Postponed to next meeting.
FIBER OPTIC NETWORK STUDY UPDATE
Mike DiGiano
Postponed to next meeting.
9:55 EDIC ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
MOTION: Galasso made a motion to approve the Nov. 10th, 2020 Public Session Board Meeting Minutes. Patterson 2nd. Roll Call: Simmler Aye, Galasso Aye, Patterson Aye, Feronti Aye. Motion passed.
9:56 ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Simmler made a motion to adjourn the public meeting. Patterson 2nd. Roll Call: Simmler Aye, Galasso Aye, Patterson Aye, Feronti Aye. Motion passed.
NEXT MEETING – January 12th, 2021, 8:30am
*Times listed are intended merely for guidance
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