Meeting Minutes
FALMOUTH EDIC OPEN MEETING: November 10, 2020
Zoom Meeting
PRESENT
Christopher Land (C), Christopher Simmler (VC), Paul Burke (T), Thomas Feronti (CK), Michael Galasso, Samuel Patterson and Patti Haney
8:32 am* CALL TO ORDER
A quorum was established. The Chair called the meeting to order.
8:32 PUBLIC COMMENT
None
8:32 GUEST SPEAKER –
Jonathan Idman, Chief Regulatory Officer, Cape Cod Commission https://www.capecodcommission.org/
Mr. Idman advised that Massachusetts passed a session law called Chapter 53, the Acts of 2020 that deals with the effects on municipalities of Covid-19. There are provisions within the law that deals with permits. Any permit in existence at the start of Covid-19 the law provides it shall not expire and its periods shall be told from the beginning of emergency declaration until the end of it. The end date is unknown at this time. It keeps the permit valid throughout the emergency declaration. For the Tech Park it means that any Town issued permits during this time, the Tech Park Development Agreement would be in effect during the time period of the emergency declaration.
The Cape Cod Commission could not extend the Development Agreement (DA) as the CCC regulations allow only one (1) extension, which was previously granted.
Mr. Idman mentioned the Massachusetts Permit Extension Act of 2010 which gave approval for permits in existence 2008 thru 2012 an extra 4 years of validity, including modifications granted. When the CCC granted the extension in 2018, it noted that the DA would end in 2021 however, due to this Act the DA will receive an additional 4 years beyond this date, on the agreement due to this Act. It is automatic. Mr. Idman offered to work with Tech Park Counsel to ensure the Registry of Deeds has a clear understanding regarding the additional 4 years plus whatever Covid-19 emergency time period declaration is established. He recommends waiting until the Covid-19 emergency is over before identifying the end date of the DA.
Mr. Idman believes there are misunderstandings by the Tech Park owners of what the DA is. He advised that within the last 20-30 years the CCC has not reviewed anything regarding Development or Regional Impact within the Park. He noted that the DA is a two-way street and there are a number of conditions within the DA that those property owners who benefit from them were supposed to have satisfied as development hit certain plateaus; requirements of reporting and mitigation, etc. Over time these obligations and reporting simply stopped. The CCC has no way of knowing of how much development is happening other than looking at assessors’ records.
The benefits of the DA to the CCC is there is administrative efficiency, and they can look at it holistically. The benefits to the Tech Park property owners are additional time to exercise the permit, regulations are frozen during the life of the DA and there is more flexibility in undertaking the rights of the DA as compared to a Development or Regional Impact.
Mr. Idman clarified that due to Developmental and Regional jurisdiction regulations the CCC will not review all properties within the Tech Park when the DA expires. This is done as new development is planned and is within their regulation guidelines.
The CCC has conferred a special regulatory status on the Tech Park to recognize the soon to arrive expiration of the DA. Rather than a 10,000 sq. ft. development threshold the CCC has approved a 40,000 sq. ft. gross floor area the new threshold, in addition to the DA for just R & D and Light Mfg. uses. The CCC may consider broadening these uses if substantiated by good planning purposes and infrastructure, etc.
8:52 FINANCE
Paul Burke
Burke noted the overview of the financial reports and warrant.
Burke advised the $255K CD was coming due and interest rates have plummeted on the CD to from 2% to .25%. Money Market rates are 0%. The board made the decision to keep the funds liquid in a Money Market the hope that interest rates would rise in the future.
Burke advised George Malloy CPA permission to transfer funds within the various EDIC bank accounts as requested by the EDIC to afford efficiency with this process.
MOTION: Simmler made a motion to approve the warrant in the amount of $17,253.22. Galasso 2nd. Roll Call: Simmler Aye, Burke Aye, Galasso Aye, Feronti Aye, Haney Aye. Motion passed.
8:58 DHCD Community Development Block Grant COVID-19
Mike DiGiano, Michael Galasso
The Town did receive the Notice of Award for the funding of $320K for the Micro Enterprise and Social Services Program. They do not have the Grant Agreement yet.
The Micro Enterprise portion will provide Covid-19 assistance to small businesses in Falmouth in the form of grants not to exceed $10K.
DiGiano is working on a marketing program and a grant application process to be reviewed with the Town Manager and Town Planner – who are handling the grant for the Town of Falmouth.
Galasso detailed that the Grant Program is for businesses with 5 or less employees and the owner of the business cannot earn more than 80% of the medium income; approx.. $70K a year. This is base criteria established by the State of MA. $10K is the maximum grant amount which can be used for rent, insurance and employees. The application process will most likely be a lottery process.
Galasso advised we applied for $200K in funds but received only $160K. Galasso requested that the EDIC Board consider allocating the remaining $40K in funds as the EDIC contribution to assist Falmouth small businesses if needed and if demand warrants it.
Galasso reported that this Grant Program was a joint application by the EDIC, the Town of Falmouth and the Social Services and Planning Dept. The EDIC is responsible for the grant program to the small businesses. He imagines once the guidelines are established it may have to pass thru the Town Manager’s Office and perhaps the BOS. The funds will most likely go to the Town and they will distribute. Those details are not firmly established yet.
DiGiano concurred that the EDIC staff will do the majority of the program and application process work. There is $4,000 within the grant for marketing and out of pocket expenses. Within the grant application the EDIC contributed administrative and staff time as a match to the grant award.
9:07 MASS DEVELOPMENT GRANT - FALMOUTH STATION
Mike DiGiano
DiGiano reported that they will making an announcement at the end of the month.
This grant was for a $50K technical assistance grant for developing a plan for Falmouth Station and the surrounding land parcels i.e. expanding parking, improve flow of bus traffic, investigating workforce housing, etc.
9:09 SEAPORT COUNCIL FUNDING & MERCO/ FEDIC GRANT APPLICATION
Mike DiGiano
• The grant will be resubmitted on November 1st, 2020 to bring permanent power and high-speed fiber connection to the testing platform on the Cape Cod Canal. DiGiano remains hopeful the grant will be awarded.
9:11 COMMITTEE REPORTS
FALMOUTH TECHNOLOGY PARK
Tom Feronti, Patti Haney, Mike DiGiano
DiGiano advised he is organizing material for the disposition of 64 Technology Park Dr.
An engineering analysis has been done; the drainage easement can be mitigated and made smaller.
The appraisal is planned to be done within the next few weeks. Once done an RFP will be created.
Broderick advised she is requoting the interior directory signs. She will research grant opportunities and will reach out to the Tech Park owners to see they would be willing to contribute to the expense.
FALMOUTH STATION
Mike DiGiano, Lynne Broderick
DiGiano advised that Open Cape was able to install the fiber optic connection to the Station. This will allow the tenants/public to make use of a stable internet environment.
Galasso is hopeful that the fiber-optic wifi connection will be an option as a HotSpot for public use.
DiGiano to speak to the Station Grill tenant about obtaining a formal request for business signage.
Broderick advised that the Falmouth EDIC applied for a grant thru MassEVIP for EV Charging Station. They expect funding to be available in 2021. The EDIC is eligible for funding of approximately $8,700 (60% of hardware cost). The entire cost for hardware and installation is $25K. The EDIC or another funding source would be responsible for the remainder as well as outfitting the EV charging parking spot area with secure barriers. Simmler suggested we wait until the Mass Development – Falmouth Station development study grant.
Galasso concurred on waiting for the Falmouth Station development study, and he requested that Sam Patterson investigate if the Town of Falmouth ever applied for and received any funding for EV charging stations in the past year.
Galasso suggested that Broderick continue to look for other funding for EV charging stations but to hold off on the MassEVIP grant application. The board agreed.
SOLAR LANDFILL PROJECT – PHASE 2
Mike DiGiano
DiGiano checked in with Citizens Energy to review upcoming critical dates. They expect their financing completed by the first week of December. Construction date was to begin in mid-December, but it could be delayed until early January 2021. Completion of the array is estimated to be in August 2021; the original date was March 2021 – the delay resulted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Rent to the EDIC will begin upon commercial operations in August 2021.
The “Joe 4 Sun” marketing will begin in March/April 2021. The EDIC will collaborate on the program.
OPEN CAPE
Mike DiGiano
DiGiano reported there are 31 business connections to Open Cape to date and projects there is enough funding available for an additional 24-28 free connections.
Open Cape is expanding their service down Main St. – the exact location is to be determined.
Steve Tom reported Open Cape signups are experiencing a dry spell. He said that businesses on Main St. are being cautious regarding changes/finances due to the effects of Covid-19.
FIBER OPTIC NETWORK STUDY UPDATE
Mike DiGiano
DiGiano reported that the final report document is almost done by CCG. It should be ready for final review within the next week. He requested that the study committee be authorized to determine if the report is complete/ final and appropriate for release to the general public. The board agreed.
Patterson advised of a recent panel discussion that noted that 5G was not the best option, as fiber optic has a greater bandwidth at the same price and with a much longer longevity. DiGiano advised that CCG reported the same findings.
Patterson reported a meeting consisting of Town Mgmt., DPW, Town IT and a few members of the Falmouth Community Network Committee to discuss the potential of Town participation in the development, construction or contracting of the community broadband network. The reluctance from the Town was due to the large capital investment involved and the competing financial demands the Town is now dealing with; also citing environmental mitigation, ongoing infrastructure upgrades and maintenance. The Town Mgmt. noted that adding debt to the Town or an assessment to Residents, would not likely be favorably received by the community.
Patterson shared a discussion held at a meeting with the Community Network Committee and Ting (a competitive local exchange carrier), a Tucows company. Ting advised that they are looking for investment growth opportunities and expressed interest in learning more about the potential broadband project in Falmouth.
The board agreed that further discussions with I.S.P.’s and similar businesses will occur to investigate funding sources and appropriate paths forward.
NEW FALMOUTH COMMITTEE MEETINGS / OUTREACH
Simmler noted the board’s previous agreement to create an EDIC outreach program to meet with various organizations to open communication and discuss opportunities the EDIC can assist them.
Land suggested a PowerPoint presentation that speaks to what the EDIC is and does that each board member can use to introduce the EDIC.
Broderick to send out a list of committees to the board members to select which board meetings or business organization they will volunteer to participate with.
10:05 EDIC ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
MOTION: Galasso made a motion to approve the Oct. 13th, 2020 Public Session Board Meeting Minutes as amended. Simmler 2nd. Roll Call: Simmler Aye, Galasso Aye, Patterson Aye, Burke Aye, Haney Aye. Motion passed.
MOTION: Haney made a motion to approve the Oct. 13th, 2020 Executive Session Board Meeting Minutes and hold for public release. Patterson 2nd. Roll Call: Simmler Aye, Galasso Aye, Patterson Aye, Burke Aye, Haney Aye. Motion passed.
MOTION: Galasso made a motion to approve the EDIC Public Comment Policy. Patterson 2nd. Roll Call: Simmler Aye, Galasso Aye, Patterson Aye, Burke Aye, Haney Aye. Motion passed.
10:10 ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Haney made a motion to adjourn the public meeting. Patterson 2nd. Roll Call: Simmler Aye, Galasso Aye, Patterson Aye, Burke Aye, Haney Aye, Land Aye. Motion passed.
NEXT MEETING – December 8th, 2020, 8:30am
*Times listed are intended merely for guidance
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