Downtown Development Commission

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Committee Room - Hartley Dodge Memorial Building Date: April 20, 2017 Time: 7:15pm MEETING MINUTES 1) CALL TO ORDER: This meeting was called to order at 7:18pm by Russell Stern, serving as acting chair. 2) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3) ROLL CALL: MEMBERS PRESENT: R. Conley, M. Byrne, C. Brady, B. Cramer, J. Hoover, J. Hollenbach, L. Jasen, L. Lajewski, E. Range, R. Rocco, B. Short, D. Starker, R. Stern, S. Whitehorn, M. Zimmerman MEMBERS ABSENT: J. Burnet, P. Flemming, M. Fabyanski, G. Herzog, M. Kopas ALSO PRESENT: Lisa Ellis, DDC Program Director MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: Michael Pellessier; Jared Sutton (Drew Student Body President) 4) 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 2017. Copies of said notice were made available to members of the general public. 5) APPROVAL OF MARCH 2017 MINUTES Motion to approve March 2017 Minutes as presented Moved by: E. Range and Seconded by: D. Starker Voice Vote: Unanimous 6) CHAIRMAN/EXECUTIVE BOARD REPORT: Russell Stern just gave a brief update on the Downtown Revitalization Study. 7) TREASURER’S REPORT: Brad Cramer presented the monthly financial reports. 8) MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Conley noted that the Downtown Revitalization Study will be presented at the Borough Council Meeting on Monday, May 22nd. 9) COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT: There was no report. 10) PLANNING BOARD REPORT: There was no report. 11) FOUNDATION REPORT: There was no report. 12) COMMITTEE REPORTS: a) Sign & Façade: John Hoover, Chair (Karen Giambra, Leslie Lajewski, Eric Range) (i) Develop a welcome kit: key parameters to be followed; list of do's and don'ts; examples of “best” signage (ii) Photos being taken, by John Hoover, then edited and compiled   Took photos of attractive downtown signs on Sunday April 9.  Will complete photos and selections 4/17/172. (iii) Review and modify guidelines  Lisa shared Borough Code, Chapter 195.34 - Signs, and Somerville Business Success Kit (iv) Reconsider a matching grant program (v) Applications between March 16th and April 20th  132 Main Street - Chase Fitness - Sandwich Board Application - Submitted 3/1/17 - Sent to S & F 3/13/17: Approved 3/17/17  6 Main Street - Kitts & Co. - Submitted 1/19/17 - Sent to S & F 3/17/17: Approved 3/24/17  132 Main Street - The Garden Nail Spa - Submitted 3/21/17 - Sent to S & F 3/24/17: Approved 4/4/17 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 on Tuesday, April 4th at 8:00 am at the Nautilus Diner. Lisa, John, Jim, Peter, Bob, Suzy attended the meeting. The following items were discussed: i) Walk through of Downtown with new head of DPW postponed due to Rain (Next meeting set for Tuesday 5/9/17 8:15 AM) ii) Brackets for hanging baskets need to be replaced and or re manufactured. Unfortunately the old company we bought them from is no longer in business. Lisa will reach out to local welder and J&M who may have a vendor we can purchase them from. iii) May Day Volunteers needed. If anyone is interested and needs an assignment, please send them to Lisa. iv) Water Fountains: 3 have arrived and are in storage at the DPW building. Lisa has requested the installation of 1 at Rose Garden Park (replacement and should be easiest). PR for the event needs to be created prior to May Day, Peter offered to bring his dog for the photo. Lisa and Jim will decide on water bottles as a giveaway promotion for the first 100 volunteers at May Day. The thought is to purchase a nicer bottle, not cheap throw away. v) Various options for bottles were discussed and it was decided to allow the expenditure on no more than $1,200.00 to purchase the bottles. Motion to allocate funds not to exceed $1,200.00 for the purchase of customized water bottles as giveaway to promote the DDC water fountain purchase. Moved by: B. Cramer and Seconded by: R. Stern Voice Vote: Unanimous vi) New Project: We discussed the entry way coming into town leading down Main Street behind METC. Lisa will speak to Bob Vogel again regarding getting the property surveyed for site plan. We will try to get a landscaper to adopt the space and beautify it and maintain it. DDC may be able to donate funds for materials, etc. a) University Relations: Carla Brady, Chair (Mark Fabyanski, Mike Kopas, Larry Jasen, Eric Range, Deb Starker, Marsha Ann Zimmerman): Carla has reported that a meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, May 4th at 11:00am at Drew University. She also reported that the Drew will host Fireworks during Drew Family Weekend scheduled for October 21st. In addition, Drew will be hosting a family move event on June 22nd.  b) Marketing and Economic Development: Eric Range Chair (Barb Short, Leslie Lajewski, Russell Stern, Michael Pellessier, Karen Giambra, John Morris): Eric Range and Lisa Ellis met with David Ingerman, Emelie Calbick and Jacquie Dinsmore of Close.By at 8:00 am on Tuesday, April 18 th to discuss finalizing the agreement. i) The new draft of agreement was shared and lengthy discussion ensued. It was decided that the DDDC would move forward to purchase the Close.By App pending review of the agreement by the Borough attorney. Motion to contract for the purchase of the Close.By app at a price not to exceed $36,000.00 for a period of 24 months from start date of the agreement, pending Borough attorney review. Moved by: E. Range and Seconded by: J. Hoover Voice Vote: Passed by a majority, two nays (J. Hollenbach and C. Brady) 13) AD HOC COMMITTEE AND PROJECT UPDATES a) Taste of Madison (Monday, March 20, 2017) b) May Day (Saturday, May 6, 2017) c) DDC/MACA Sidewalk Art Gallery & Gala d) Farmers’ Market (Thursdays, June 1 - October 26) e) Drew University Town Tour (Saturday, August 26, 2017) f) Bottle Hill Day (Saturday, October 7, 2017) g) Sidewalk Sounds (Incorporated into Madison Farmers’ Market) h) Downtown Concert Series w/METC (June 30, July 14 & 28, August 11 & 25, September 8) i) Madison Storytellers Festival (September 16, 2017): Barb Short presented the report from the 2016 event in full detail. There was discussion on fund the 2017 event and it was decided that the DDC would fund the event in an amount equivalent to last year with the caveat that it will be branded as a DDC event. There is a $500.00 credit with Tivoli Creative to be used for toward the 2017 event so the additional funding needed will be $2,500.00. Motion to allocate funds not to exceed $2,500.00 to fund the 2017 Storytellers Festival. Moved by: R. Conley and Seconded by: B. Cramer Voice Vote: Unanimous 14) OLD BUSINESS 15) NEW BUSINESS 16) INVITATION FOR DISCUSSION FROM THE PUBLIC 17) ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn at 8:36pm Moved by: J. Hoover and Seconded by: B. Cramer Voice Vote: Unanimous NEXT MEETING: Thursday, May 18th, 2017 at 7:15pm, Committee Room - Hartley Dodge Memorial Building. Executive Board Meeting, Thursday, May 11th at 7:30pm.