Sachem Fund Board

SACHEM FUND MEETING Wednesday, May 11, 2011 6:00 P.M. – Room 335 Meeting Notes Attendees: Chairman Alderman Bill Nash, Co-Chairman Bill Quidgeon, Jr., Mohegan Tribal Member, Joseph Ruffo, Comptroller, Lottie Scott, James Gessner Jr., Mohegan Tribal Council and Bonnie Cuprak, Recording Secretary Not Present: Mayor Peter Nystrom, Peter Davis Director of Planning & Development, Mark Brown, Ambassador Mohegan Tribal Council Members of Press Present: Claire Bessette 1. The Meeting of the Sachem Fund Committee was called to order at 6:02 P.M. 2. It was determined a quorum was present. 3. A motion was made by Lottie Scott, seconded by Bill Quidgeon the minutes of the March 16, 2011. Motion carried. 4. Joe Ruffo presented finance reports and reported the balance includes unspent funds that have been reclaimed. The total of all available funds is $ 221,751.55. A motion was made by James Gessner Jr. seconded by Lottie Scott to approve. Motion carried. 5. Presentations from: a) City of Norwich – Alan H. Bergren, City Manager and Bill Champagne presented to request a matching grant that the City of Norwich would use to complete a comprehensive written report outlining conditions of city owned buildings and create a complete history of Indian Leap. b) Otis Library – Bob Farwell presented to show the value of an internship within the library. He stated that by involving students can create an interest in Library Sciences as they go on to college. This program meets with the American Library employee diversification base. Discussion on how many interns will be able to work because of the grant and the answer given was 10. c) Chelsea Gardens – Hugh Schnip presented stating they are ready to complete the Architectural Design work. He informed the committee that Chelsea Gardens is divided into development phases. Upon funding they will begin construction on Phase 1. Chairman Nash asked  when they will be shovel ready and Mr. Schnip reply was within the year. He also stated that they have and will continue to fund raise. Discussion on whether it could be completed in different components instead of all at once. Discussion on the timeline of the project being shovel ready within this next year. Discussion on the fundraising being done to fund the project. d) NAACP – Jackie Owens and Sheila Hayes presented on the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation Commemoration Program Committees planning for events to kick off on Tuesday, January 1, 2013 and that the money would be needed in 2012. Discussion was also held on the casting of a bell to commemorate the events and the placement of the bell in front of a historical building. Discussion on the funds being used in 2012 for costumes, reenactment and rentals. Discussion on the design of the bell and that no decision has been made on the bell or design and where it will be placed. Discussion on who is on the committee. e) Norwich Historical Society – Bill Champagne request is for matching grant monies to complete a regional Cultural Assessment to catalogue all heritage assets to make Norwich Visitor Ready. State has resources to help us become Visitor Ready to promote our cultural assets. Discussion on what happens with the information. Once completed a Cultural Council will promote Norwich. It has been Norwich Arts Center in the past 2 years. f) Stevana Project – Mark Fields said he would like to bring the boat Stevana to the Norwich harbor and repair the boat with the use of volunteers from the Mystic Seaport. The boat 501C has not been formed yet because of the cost of doing that. He stated that the biggest expense is the towing from N.J. Chairman Nash questioned the later decisions that may take the boat from the Norwich Harbor and what protection Norwich may have that it will stay here. He also reported to the committee that J.P. Mereen has a report that states that a boat of this type can produce $ 9,000,000.00 in local income. Discussion also on the assurance that the boat will stay in the city harbor and not be moved to another area or city. g) Italian Heritage – Frank Manfredi informed the committee that the Italian Heritage and Cultural Committee is holding their annual Taste of Italy on September 10, 2011 and they need assistance due to a loss of funding from the City Of Norwich and the fact they now have to pay for Police, and Public Works services that were previously not charged for. h) Habitat For Humanity – Amy D’Amico, Resource Development Manager, discussed the building of 2 homes in Norwich with the future owner responsible for over 400 hours of construction work. The hours  can be broken down to 200 they work and 200 members of their families work. They are also required to take Homeowners classes, setting them up to succeed. They would be the first homes in Norwich in 9 years. i) Spirit of Broadway – Brett Bernadi said the theater is going into their 15th year and have just received a $ 10,000.00 grant for this year’s season. He said they need money to offset the costs of performances for the anniversary year. The second use would be to catalog their over 15,000 costumes and sets to market them as a business venture to raise money for the theater. Discussion on the amount of money requested and the division of the uses. j) Norwich Community Development – Gary Evans reported on the competitiveness for organizations to receive grants. His program will be a multi-part, educational venue to help agencies focus their activities on developing community wide performance outcomes thus creating a diversified funding pool through grants applied for. Discussion on how this would be done and Mr. Evans explained that they would do this through workshops. k) Norwich Arts Council – Peter Leibert and Karen Beasley said NAC has a grant from the State of CT and need matching funds to be able to keep it. Discussion on the grant which is currently in a savings account and can not be used until they have matching funds. The funds will be used for a paid part time Administrator for LAA and part of it would be used for administration support for the theater with the rest going to the operation of the maintenance of the building. l) S. P. Browning, Esquire – is requesting funds to conduct a study to investigate the placement of cameras in the CCD to deter quality of life crimes and to increase visitors’ downtown. He said he would work with the police chief and local leaders. He will be researching business ordinances and laws to find the restrictions on business and work with leaders to correct what can be. 6. Citizen comment – Joanne Philbrick said, I applaud all of the applicants for their time and effort they have spent on their projects to put before this committee. In reviewing the handout I got from the City I noticed that, I will call them habitual offenders but since it’s inception Chelsea Gardens have received 75,000.00, the NAC has received 111,750.16, Spirit of Broadway has received 50, 000.00 and the Norwich Historical Society has received 90,000.00. I don’t see a heck of a lot of diversity in this fund and since half of the funds come from the tax payers of Norwich I’m a little confused why the City Of Norwich is applying for funds. That confuses me, huh. I don’t get that part. But I really think that we need to take a really hard look at how the funds are  dispersed everyone is desperate for money, everyone believes in their cause and I applaud that, but I think we have to take a realistic approach. A dinner cruise boat, city already did a study a number of years ago. Do you honestly think that is something we can afford right now or even support right now? Chelsea Gardens, wonderful project but 80,000,000.00, this is a poor city, so I would ask you to, when you do your deliberations to give serious considerations. Habitat for Humanity, to me that is a no brainer. Here is an organization that has proven themselves time and again, it is hands on community. It is a win/win situation. NAACP, the Italian Heritage I’m waiting for the Irish heritage or the Polish American or the French Canadian from Taftville. I’m all for Norwich Community Development, a small amount of money for a huge project. I’ll share a little I’m the recipient of a Community Development block grant award. I live in a house in Norwich that is 277 years old that is the earliest documentation. By receiving this grant it allowed me to upgrade and maintain and improve a house that has sat in the same location for at least 277 years. That is a major contribution. I would like to see more of that. So as I said you have very difficult decisions to make and the last thing I’ll add is that I noticed that the gentleman from the bakery last year received his grant there were stipulations attached so I would ask that when you give brick and mortar grants for example upgrading wiring, new floors, new windows, that something be written into the agreement that says that when whatever entity sells that property at a profit, that there is some sort of stipulation for reimbursement for the city, that it becomes more of a self funding, perpetuity. Again as I say it is like a budget, it is a very difficult decision to make, you have lots of applicants, some of them to me are a no brainer others are, the thought is great but money is tight. Thank you Hugh Schnip said, I would like to respond to the statements just made. The moneys that were directed to my project have been well spent on getting Phase 1 ready to go. As you know my project is going to be phased in over 20 years. Phase 1A is a 20,000,000.00, Phase 1 is the other half of the 20,000,000.00 and each 4 Phases will be 20,000,000.00 apiece. I don’t know too many projects in this state right now, where people travel 2.5 hours to visit and to spend money. Our project can and will be done in Phases and will have a direct impact on this city with a 175,000 visitors. This will be a major tourist attraction for Norwich. A great example is the international Gardening School will provide educational job opportunities and will attract educators and tourist. 7. Discussion on the presentation to the City Council on June 6, 2011. The next meeting will be June 1, 2011 at 6:00 P.M. 8. Adjourn meeting at 7:30 P.M.