HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-03-23 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes
BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 5 pm
City Hall Council Chambers
MINUTES
Councilors: Chair Weston, Blanchette, Bronson, Durgin, Longo, Nealley
Staff: McKay, Bolduc, Patterson
Others: Chris Higgins and Mike McCullaugh of Stillwater Enterprises, Inc.
1. Amendment to the Lease Agreement with Stillwater Enterprises, Inc.
Stephen Bolduc, BanAir Executive Director, stated that Stillwater Enterprises has exercised their
option to extend their lease for 108 Florida Ave. for an additional 3 years. This item was brought to the
BED Committee at the March 9, 2011 meeting. At that time, Stillwater Enterprises requested some new
terms. In response, Committee asked staff to further discuss this with the tenant and bring back a final
agreement. As of this time, Staff has met with the tenant to work out the terms and recommends, for
the Committee’s approval and recommendation to the City Council, that the rate for the period of
September 1, 2010 to August 31, 2011 remain at $1,500 per month (which is the current rate the tenant
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is paying). The following year it will increase to $1,545 per month, and in the option for the 3 year
there will be a negotiation between the two parties to determine that rate.
Councilor Nealley made a motion to move staff recommendation to the City Council as
presented. Seconded by Councilor Longo. Unanimous vote.
2. Proposed Downtown Façade Improvement Program
Rod McKay, Director of Community & Economic Development, briefed the Committee on this
item. He stated that the Dept. of Community & Economic Development would like the BED Committee
to consider establishing a Facade Improvement Grant Progam to help strengthen the revitalization of
Bangor’s Downtown District. This program as proposed would offer grant funds and design assistance
to businesses and property owners located within the Bangor Center Development District; the funds
would be matched by equal or greater investment of private funds for the purpose of
restoring/renovating commercial storefronts and replacing deteriorated or poor quality commercial
signs and awnings. Facade grants would be available to eligible properties located in the Bangor Center
Revitalization Area as designated by Chapter 71 of the City Code, and funded improvements would have
to conform to the standards of Chapter 71. If the Committee supports this concept, staff will include it
in the list of proposed activities to be funded with next year’s CDBG grant allocation, for consideration
and approval by the Committee and full City Council by May 15.
Discussion continued amongst Committee members and staff on how this grant program could
currently assist businesses in the downtown.
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Rod concluded that at the upcoming April 6 BED Committee meeting, he will address some of
the requests recently received for the CDBG funding and will make recommendations for the use of
funds as they pertain to the requests. He added that it is possible the funds we would like to spend will
not be available and it will be up to the Committee to establish priorities for which projects they would
like to have move forward.
A motion was made by Councilor Durgin to go into Executive Session – Economic Development
– Negotiations on Disposition of Property – MBEP – 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (C)
3. Executive Session – Economic Development – Negotiations on Disposition of Property –
MBEP – 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (C)
4. Action on Above Item
No action was taken by the Committee.