Category Archives: Minutes

Minutes SeVEDS Board Meeting
December 15^th – 2-4PM
Hannah Cosman Room Brattleboro

In attendance: David Alstadt, Tim Cullenen, Bob Stevens, Stephan Morse, Lisa Sullivan, Bill Colvin, Jenna Pugiliese, Jeff Lewis, Dan Yates, Colby Dix, Susan McMahon, Barb Sondag

Absent: Julia Sorenson, Gregg Noble, Drew Richards

Bob called the meeting to order at 2:05 and asked that approval of minutes and update on Post VY be placed on the agenda and financials removed.

Stephan made a motion to approve the minutes of the November 30, 2011 meeting, 2^nd by Bill VOTE: unanimous

Updates on funding

501 c(3) – Jeff updated the board on his discussions with BDCC’s attorney and  redevelopment group regarding creation of a new non-profit.

CEDS RFP – draft – The application is complete, Laura brought the narrative for members.  Waiting to hear feedback from EDA

Stephan updated the SeVEDS board on the Post VY group activities and that they have identified what they believe will be the major impacts from a VY closure and are brainstorming mitigation steps.  There was some discussion by the VY group about advocating for a “regional stimulus package”.

Laura, Lisa and Jeff will work on identifying a status presentation and schedule regionally.

Updates to Objectives and Strategies Document

Board worked on better articulating strategy around 46+ and funding –Objective 4 strategy 14

Board worked on Objective 2 workforce

Finished with edits on the rest of the initial Strategies and Objectives document (see file objectives and strategies detailed 122011)

Next meeting is January 5^th

1. Executive Committee will meet at 1 PM as the Finance Committee for budgets
2. SeVEDS board will meet at 2 PM

i.      Review Objective and Strategies doc changes

ii.      Discuss presentation schedule for roadshows

iii.      Approve PR

iv.      Review (possibly approve)the CEDS RFP draft

v.      Review connection of strategies to goals

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SeVEDS Board Meeting
December 1, 2011  2PM
Brattleboro Municipal Center

In attendance: Bob Stevens, Stephan Morse, Susan McMahon, Bill Colvin, Tim Cullenen, Barb Sondag, Patrick Moreland, David Altstadt, Drew Richards, Julia Sorenson, Colby Dix, Laura Sibilia

Absent: Jeff Lewis, Jenna Pugiliese, Lisa Sullivan, Gregg Noble, Dan Yates

SeVEDS Affiliation Agreement with BDCC:  Stephan moved to authorize Jenna Pugiliese to sign the Affiliation Agreement, 2^nd by Drew.    VOTE: Unanimous

New board member: Stephan moved to add David Alstadt to the SeVEDS Board as allowed under section 4.0.5 of the SeVEDS Bylaws, 2^nd by Susan.  VOTE: Unanimous

Laura presented Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet financial documents to Board.   Board wants to see transactions of money more clearly i.e. BDCC funding not shown as a receivable, and monthly bills for staffing from BDCC.  Laura to talk with Jeff and Sandy.

Bill asked about Private Fundraising and where we were in formulating that plan

Board asked for a draft RFP for CEDS development

Some members of the board asked to see the EDA TA grant after it was finished

Laura to bring back additional strategy suggestion from discussion with Martin Langeveld for boards next discussion

Julia, David and Laura to work on adding to workforce strategies.

Some work on SeVEDS Objectives and Strategies document.

3  PM – Windham Region Legislators came for presentation:  Manwaring, Edwards, Mrowicki, Stuart, Moran

SeVEDS overview Power Point Presentation by Barb
Some discussion on Objectives and Strategies – facilitated by Bob

Legislators were pleased to hear about work on economy and work on mitigating VY closure impacts.  Laura will set up presentation to whole delegation in Montpelier with Mrowicki.

Next meeting December 15th

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SeVEDS Board Meeting
November 17^th – 2-3 PM
Hannah Cosman Room Brattleboro

In attendance: Stephan Morse, Bob Stevens, Drew Richards, Jenna Pugiliese, Colby Dix, Julia Sorenson, Tim Cullenen, Susan McMahon, Jeff Lewis, Barb Sondag, Patrick Moreland, Laura Sibilia

Absent: Dan Yates, Lisa Sullivan, Bill Colvin, Gregg Noble

SM moved and CD seconded to approve Affiliation Agreement as recommended by SeVEDS exec board.  Vote Unanimous

Bring financials to the next meeting

PM moved and DR seconded to approve the SeVEDS 2012 budget as recommended by the exec committee.

Bob asked that a draft RFP for a CEDS writer be prepared.

Colby forwarded members the “Mullin Plan” from Wilm/Dover

Jenna asked why we had affiliated with 501 c(6) if  we need a 501 c(3) for fundraising purposes.  Jeff and Bob noted that the 501 c(3) question was being brought to the BDCC board for discussion as it was needed in several efforts underway.

Bob asked that the objective document be worked into something easier to read.

At 3 PM the group held a roundtable discussion with Agency of Commerce and Community Development Secretary Lawrence Miller

1. Next Meeting

• Dates for discussion:
  • December 1st  1-2 Executive Committee
    • Finance
  • December 1st  2 – 3 PM
    • SeVEDS Board
  • December 1^st 3 – 4:30 PM
    • Windham County Legislators for update

Confirmed to date: Manwaring, Olsen, Mrowicki, Stuart, Edwards
Regrets to date: Galbraith, White, Partridge, Deen

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SeVEDS Board Meeting
Thursday October 2, 2011
Brattleboro Municipal Center 2-4 PM

In Attendance: Bill Colvin, Susan McMahon, Stephan Morse, Gregg Noble, Bob Stevens, Jenna Pugiliese, Colby Dix, Steve Monte (FEMA), Jeff Lewis, Patrick Moreland, Laura Sibilia, Thom Rounds (FEMA), Dennis Dunnigan (FEMA), Mort Smedley (FEMA), Matt Sochodolski (FEMA/EDA), Dan Yates, Drew Richards (3pm)

Absent: Julia Sorenson, Lisa Sullivan, Barb Sondag

1. Organizational
   1. Finance Committee

i.      11/8 review with Finance committee Review budget

Bob asked about affiliation agreement and Laura noted it should be ready at next SeVEDS meeting

1. Windham Workforce Investment Board

i.      Introduction and 10 minute overview

Discussion on reconstituted board in last year – ready to start “work keys” program – 2K invested by SeVEDS at 10/20 meeting and from BDCC – doing research on Precision Manufacturing work force tools – getting manufacturing committee together – Greg wondering if SeVEDS should get on agenda for that meeting.  Stephan – Colleges or Tech Center involved?  Yes – Vermont has said aside funds for training that have been underused – Gregg – Vermont residents or Vermont employees?  Bob – is Tech Center training for precision tool companies?  Not sure.  Stephan keeps us looped in.  Bill – interesting model in Bennington around Composite manufacturing.  Point is to make work force an asset instead of a liability – a lot of money in CCV system for workforce training classes.  Jeff – what can we do to help you?

1. Updates:
   1. Vital Economies  Report

i.      Strategy Outline

1. Next steps with outline – prepare initial edits and additions for review
2. EDA/CEDS

i.      11/1 meetings in Wilmington with EDA – Bill describes LTR FEMA efforts

ii.      Matthew Suchodolski – USEDA – ED Specialist for MA – doing targeted field work for Wilm/Dover – 60 day mission assignment – providing support

iii.      Bob what resources do you bring?  Matt – can point to rules guidance as developing CEDS, customer service oriented, working with applicants as they develop applications, funding stream technical assistance – short term planning assistance, return on investment – looking for returns – economic adjustment program – most flexible of programs  eligibility criteria – need to have CEDS approved for public infrastructure or economic adjustment

iv.       Patrick –Review and approval process?  Matt – Ec Adj applications – rolling basis – review on quarterly basis- req. 15 day review, FFO regs, strategic priorities review, rating, complete/incomplete tech merits then non comp. com or highly comp.  Complete competitive or highly competitive go forward

v.      Planning and tech assistance – review on a monthly basis – CEDS please review for consistency should be within 30 days

vi.      Special need criteria – larger range of points that can be achieved – sudden and severe – please show us the economic effect FFO section 7 – presentation needs to be tight – Review/Consult Tom Matusco at Berkshire CEDS – Cape Cod Commission –

1. Next Meeting
   1. Dates:

i.      November  17  1-2 Executive Committee

1. Budget Review and Affiliation Agreement
2. Board Member Recommendation – David Alstadt WWIB

ii.      November 17^th 2-3 SeVEDS Board

iii.      November 17^th 3-4 meeting with Sec. Miller

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Minutes SeVEDS Board
October 20 – 2-4 pm
Brattleboro Municipal Center

Present: Jeff Lewis, Stephan Morse, Lisa Sullivan, Jenna Pugiliese, Julia Sorenson, Gregg Noble, Colby Dix, Susan McMahon, Bob Stevens

Absent: Barb Sondag, Tim Cullenen, Bill Colvin. Patrick Moreland, Drew Richards

Greg made a motion to approve the bylaws as recommended by the executive committee.  Stephan seconded VOTE: Unanimous

Discussion on the VE report – report needs to be turned into a pr product once it is completed.  Need to follow up with VE on part 6 and 7

Jeff led a discussion with the board about what they had learned and what their takeaways were from the VE process.  Bullet points below.

• Colby-Waxing and waning of ‘community’; task is reinforcing social infrastructure; strengthening the existing networks;
• Susan-Building from the outside in; finding the people who have energy-i.e. Transition Putney, Friends of Algiers, Readsboro,
• Bob-Earning a living; building a successful business environment; ‘What is it that makes a community more or less prosperous?’
• Susan-small
• Jenna-Lack of change in small towns; unimaginative leadership; we have to provide a benefit to businesses.
• Gregg-are we enabling businesses?;
• Bob-did we lose the idea of connecting summer and winter employment opportunities;
• Lisa-building summer opportunities for kids and families, using winder employees.
• Bob-aren’t we making existing businesses more successful
• Susan-Community development
• Jenna-So Vermont is a great place to live if you don’t have to work here
• Colby-Map community groups
• Bob-Global business opportunity; building networks among existing entities
• Gregg-broadband connectivity
• Lisa-
• Julia-existing businesses; large versus employers; identify vulnerable companies; identify closed businesses
• Colby-how do we make this an attractive place to do business; mockups of diner locations
• Bob-Global business opportunity; building networks among existing entities
• Gregg-broadband connectivity
• Lisa-
• Julia-existing businesses; large versus employers; identify vulnerable companies; identify closed businesses
• Colby-how do we make this an attractive place to do business; mockups of diner locations
• Julia/Gregg-open new business areas;
• Stephan-strengthen businesses; identify a focus area/cluster and build strategies to attract/create; companies that are consistent with our community values
• Bob-businesses that can help recruit new businesses; create a business creation system
• Lisa-linkages with second home owners; key resource
• Lisa-connect with 2^nd home owners because of the need now and the openings on Main Street
• Colby-build pro-formas for needed businesses;
• Stephan-expand that strategy to larger employers and more capital intensive businesses (traded businesses)
• Bob-focus attention and effort on companies that pay wages the will raise the average wage
• Susan-what clusters fit our values and environment
• Julia-environmental problems will destroy economic development; crime or an unsafe environment will hurt economic development; she notes that this is a threat locally; lower socio-economic level impacts; impacts of state policy; don’t we need to have knowledge about crime and safety in our communities
• Lisa-how do we measure quality of life; segmented QoL;
• Jenna-we have to create a complete culture for the demographic we need to attract; how do you do that in a rural environment
• Lisa-Young Professionals Group; Can this be regional?;
• Stephan-tell this story of QoL to the arts organizations;
• Jenna-Transportation is a key; how do you get from here to there (nights and weekends); Okemo bus example;
• Colby-Dover changed the way it handled traffic offenses; Wilmington is tougher and influences the whole Valley attitude
• Bob-ambassadors to visitors and business people;
• Gregg-how do we change the perception of things? NH economic development—reporting cocaine busts in the paper; how do we influence; advertises that we have a problem; talk with Sheriff and police and the newspapers
• Lisa-QoL broadband to the residence; everyone has to have access
• Stephan-ambitious plan; issue will be with us; this is still an issue

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SEVEDS
Minutes October 6, 2011
2-4 PM Brattleboro Municipal Center

In attendance:

Board: Drew Richards, Colby Dix, Barb Sondag, Bob Stevens, Bill Colvin, Stephan Morse, Greg Noble.  BDCC: Laura Sibilia Absent: Jenna Pugiliese, Lisa Sullivan, Julia Sorenson, Patrick Moreland, Chris Campany, Jeff Lewis, Dan Yates

1. Updates on Flood:  Greg reported that Sovernet’s Vermont FiberConnect Project has been impacted by the replacement of damaged poles along Route 9.  The damaged poles had to be replaced according to historical specifications, ensuring that the Route 9 project poles will have to be touched twice.  Greg reported an expected project delay of 90 days

1. Organizational
   1. Executive Board updates: Bylaws and Affiliation, both items have been reviewed by executive committee and sent back to lawyer for recommendations on requested changes.
   2. Membership recommendation: Barb moved to add Tim Cullenen, Bellows Falls Town Manager and Colby Dix, owner Vermont Geeks, to the SeVEDS board and remove Rod Francis, Brattleboro Planning Director from the board.  Seconded by Bill.  Vote: Unanimous
   3. PR on SeVEDS, Board, and officers will be drafted for next meeting
   4. Finance Committee: The Executive Committee has recommended the formation of a Finance Committee.  Stephan moved that the Executive Committee be appointed as the Finance Committee.  Seconded by Greg.  Vote: Unanimous
   5. Updates:
      1. EDA/CEDS – get Pioneer Valley CEDS.  Bring slate of board candidates to next meeting for consideration.
      2. Vital Economies  Report
         1. We reviewed the Objectives section of the the VE report.  Laura and Barb to work with VE on the following edits: Where are the objectives we worked on?  How can VE provide strategies without action items.
         2. Next Meeting
            1. Dates:

i.      October 20 2-4 whole board – location    Time

1. VE report
2. CEDS progress
3. Slate of candidates for board consideration and CEDS compliance.

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SEVEDS Minutes
September 22, 2011
2-4 PM
Brattleboro Municipal Center

In attendance: Bob Stevens, Tim Cullenen, Stephan Morse, Susan McMahon, Rod Francis, Jenna Pugiliese, Jeff Lewis, Barb Sondag, Drew Richards, Bill Colvin, Lisa Sullivan,  Laura Sibilia

1. Board members reported  on Irene short and long term local priorities
2. The following slate of officers was presented:

Bob Steven – Chair of Board of Directors
Lisa Sullivan – Vice Chair
Jenna Pugiliese – Secretary
Drew Richards – Treasurer

1. Stephan moved to approve the slate of officers presented, motion seconded by Bill.  Vote: unanimous.
2. Steven moved to appoint the officers as the executive committee, motion seconded by Bill.  Vote: unanimous

There was a next steps discussion on drafts of SeVEDS Bylaws and Letter of Affiliation to BDCC.   Executive Committee will bring recommendations on both to next meeting.

Short/Long Term Priorities Discussion:

1. a.       Vital Economies Report be requested “as is” due to added economic urgencies resulting from Irene flooding. SeVEDS will react to and edit report. Drew moved to request Vital Economies Report be delivered as soon as possible, seconded by Stephan.  Vote: unanimous
2. VY Group: Stephan reported that this group will retain its singular focus on the economic impact of the eventual closing of VY
3. Brief updates on Redevelopment, EDA Planning, CEDS
4. Stephan asked about fundraising progress.  Flood impacts on fundraising were discussed.  Goals of late October, November for fundraising messaging, pitch to begin in earnest.  Discussion about ramping up communication about SeVEDS and pr to assist in fundraising.
5. Next Meeting
   1. Dates:  Thursday October 6^th and October 20^th 2-4 pm
      Exec Committee 4-5 on October 4^th
   2. Bylaws/affiliation approvals progress
   3. Budget discussion
   4. Membership Recommendations from Executive committee

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Minutes SeVEDS Board Meeting
January 19th – 2-4PM
Hannah Cosman Room Brattleboro

In attendance: Bob Stevens, Laura Sibilia, Dennis Dunnigan (FEMA), Chad Atkinson (FEMA), Dave Alstadt, Jenna Pugiliese, Pat Moulton-Powden, Bill Colvin, Drew Richards, Colby Dix, Stephan Morse, Patrick Moreland, Susan McMahon, Barb Sondag

Absent: Julia Sorenson, Gregg Noble, Dan Yates, Lisa Sullivan, Jeff Lewis, Tim Cullenen

1. Updates: Board discussed Gov’s proposed joint downtown Brattleboro CCV/VTC campus.  Pat reminded board that proposal needs to pass legislature.  Discussion regarding SeVEDS workforce funding proposal and WWIB funding from last year, and need this year.

1. Minutes from 01/05

1. Updates on funding
   1. EDA Technical Assistance

i.      Letters of support from for grant came from: The Richards Group, WRC, Town of Wilmington, Town of Brattleboro, Mount Snow Valley Chamber, WWIB, ACCD

ii.      Indirect cost update and revised budget

1. 501 c(3) formation – WRC can be used to apply for Federal funds that require a 501© as they are considered a municipality.

1. Project Updates
   1. VE timeline review
   2. Workforce – David updated work from taskforce.  They plan to conduct a listening tour w/ educational institutions and ceo’s group to hear about work force training available and needed.  They met with the career center and learned the advisory board has gone dormant.  Susan noted the need to stay plugged into the Springfield technical center as many from BF/Rock go in that direction.
   3. Innovative Economy – Patrick presented some initial research he had done on this strategy topic.  Board members were encouraged to look at http://www.statsamerica.org/innovation/index.html which has an abundance of data on it regarding economic development.
   4. Updates on road show scheduling – next meeting is at BF on Jan 31 6:00 pm

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