Downtown Development Commission

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Committee Room - Hartley Dodge Memorial Building Date: March 16, 2017 Time: 7:15pm MEETING MINUTES 1) CALL TO ORDER: This meeting was called to order at 7:18pm by Chair Mike Kopas. 2) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3) ROLL CALL: MEMBERS PRESENT: R. Conley, M. Byrne, C. Brady, B. Cramer, P. Flemming, J. Hoover, J. Hollenbach, M. Kopas, L. Lajewski, E. Range, R. Rocco, B. Short, D. Starker, R. Stern, S. Whitehorn, M. Zimmerman MEMBERS ABSENT: J. Burnet, M. Fabyanski, G. Herzog, L. Jasen, B. Short ALSO PRESENT: Lisa Ellis, DDC Program Director MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: Michael Pellessier; Rachel Kempster Barry (Volunteer and new manager of Short Stories) OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT: In compliance with the open public meetings act, adequate notice of this meeting of the Downtown Development Commission was provided by distributing the Annual Meeting schedule to the Madison Eagle and Morris County Daily Record, posting a copy on the bulletin board at the main entrance to the Hartley Dodge Memorial Building, posting a copy on the Borough website, and filing a copy with the Borough Clerk, all on or about the first week of January 2016. Copies of said notice were made available to members of the general public. 5) APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 2017 MINUTES Motion to approve January 2017 Minutes as presented Moved by: E. Range and Seconded by: J. Hollenbach 6) CHAIRMAN/EXECUTIVE BOARD REPORT: Mike Kopas reported that the second draft of the Downtown Revitalization Study had been received and was in the process of being reviewed by the Steering Committee. There are growing concern about the fact that the report has not yet been publicly presented. Lisa will post on the I Love Madison NJ facebook page to update the public. 7) TREASURER’S REPORT: Brad Cramer presented the monthly P&L statement. 8) MAYOR’S REPORT: The Mayor reported that he has received positive feedback on the “Paint the Town Yellow” imitative and has also received praise lately form those opening new businesses. Kudos were given to the Construction and Zoning Departments. 9) COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT: There was no report. 10) PLANNING BOARD REPORT: There was no report. 11) FOUNDATION REPORT: Eric Range reported that a MMSF meeting would be scheduled shortly. 12) COMMITTEE REPORTS: a) Sign & Façade: John Hoover, Chair (Karen Giambra, Leslie Lajewski, Eric Range): (1) Develop a welcome kit: key parameters to be followed; liost of do's and don'ts; examples of 1|Page  “best" signage  Photos being taken, by John Hoover, then edited and compiled (2) Review and modify guidelines  Lisa shared Borough Code, Chapt. 195.34 ‐ Signs, and Somerville Business Success Kit  Committee to extract best practices and key elements and prepare a draft Welcome Kit (3) Reconsider a matching grant program (4) Applications between February 16th and March 16th:  35 Main Street ‐ Max Fitness Madison ‐ Submitted 2/1/17: Sent to S & F 2/6/17; Feedback provided by HPC and S&F 2/15/17; Approved 2/21/17  159 Main Street ‐ Madison Memorial Home ‐ Submitted 2/23/17: Sent to S & F 2/27/17; Approved 3/1/17 Note: This application was approved after the signage had already been installed. A permit was sought after the fact.  132 Main Street - Chase Fitness - 3/1/17 Submitted Temporary Signage "Grand Opening" (Informational only. These do not require S&F approval.) b) PIC (Public Improvement): Jim Hollenbach, Chair (Maureen Byrne, Brad Cramer Mark Fabyanski, John Hoover, Russell Stern, Suzy Whitehorn, Peter Flemming, Bob Rocco): PIC met at 8:15am on Tuesday, March 7th. The walk around with Superintendent of Public Works Ken O’Brien had to be rescheduled because of the weather.  The benches ordered for the Elmer Street Alley and Green Village Road have been delivered.  The water fountains are in transit and should be delivered any day.  Thank you to Jim and Suzy for installing the yellow lights on Waverly Place for “Paint the Town Yellow”. a) University Relations: Carla Brady, Chair (Mark Fabyanski, Mike Kopas, Larry Jasen, Eric Range, Deb Starker, Marsha Ann Zimmerman): Carla asked that everyone consider playing in the upcoming Prison Ball Tournament on Saturday, March 25th. The event link is included here: http://www.drew.edu/studentactivities/prisonball b) Marketing and Economic Development: Eric Range Chair (Barb Short, Leslie Lajewski, Russell Stern, Michael Pellessier, Karen Giambra, John Morris): Eric provided a brief update on the status of the negotiations with PlaceCodes/ Close.By App. New Draft Agreement Received. Click here to view: https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/d58adfd7-fe4f-4f6a-9ea7-f10d2262ded3. A meeting with the vendor is planned to finalize the agreement. After discussion, it was suggested that a motion be made to authorize the spending for the app so that once the agreement is finalized it can move quickly. The consensus was that a motion be made. Motion to allocate funds not to exceed $36,000.00 for a Close.By - Madison app over the course of 24 months from start date of the agreement. Moved by: E. Range and Seconded by: J. Hoover Voice Vote: Passed by a majority, two nays (J. Hollenbach and C. Brady) Abstention: Brad Cramer 13) AD HOC COMMITTEE AND PROJECT UPDATES a) Taste of Madison (Monday, March 20, 2017): The Taste is on Monday night and everyone was 2|Page  encouraged to attend and a call for ‘night of’ volunteers was made. b) May Day (Saturday, May 6, 2017): All preliminary work such as the Art Contest, May Day Envelope Utility Billing mailing, and Rotary Grant Request has been done. Volunteers are still needed! c) DDC/MACA Sidewalk Art Gallery & Gala: The banners are expected to be delivered shortly. d) Farmers’ Market (Thursdays, June 1 - October 26): Contracts for the 2017 season have been sent and planning is underway. e) Drew University Town Tour (TBD) f) Bottle Hill Day (Saturday, October 7, 2017) g) Sidewalk Sounds h) Downtown Concert Series w/METC (June 30, July 14 & 28, August 11 & 25, September 8) i) Madison Storytellers Festival (September 16, 2017) 14) OLD BUSINESS: There was none discussed. 15) NEW BUSINESS: There was none discussed. 16) INVITATION FOR DISCUSSION FROM THE PUBLIC: Rachel Kempster Barry introduced herself as a willing volunteer and soon to be new Manager of Short Stories. She also gave an overview of a new downtown event to be held on Saturday, April 29th- International Tabletop & Independent Bookstore Day. 17) ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn at 8:02 pm Moved by: R. Stern and Seconded by: B. Cramer Voice Vote: Unanimous NEXT MEETING: Thursday, March 16th, 2017 at 7:15pm, Committee Room - Hartley Dodge Memorial Building. Executive Board Meeting TBD. 3|Page