Rt 108 Corridor Study Committee Minutes 5/3/18
Rte. 108 Corridor Study Committee Meeting Minutes
May 3, 2018
Municipal Center, Selectmen’s Meeting Room
10 Bunker Hill Avenue
MEMBERS PRESENT
Lucy Cushman, Joe Lovejoy (Chairman, Selectman’s Representative), Nathan Merrill, Maria Stowell,
Richard Swett, Michael Dane
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
STAFF PRESENT
Paul Deschaine (Town Administrator)
Tavis Austin (Town Planner)
OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE
Selectman Michael Houghton, John Boisvert (Public Works Commission), Peter Gray (Resident),
Alex LaCasse (Press)
CALL TO ORDER
Lovejoy called the meeting to order at 7:04
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
Dane recommended that the minutes of the April 12 meeting be expanded to include his notes.
Swett moved and Cushman seconded a motion to accept the minutes of April 12 appended by Dane’s notes of the meeting. Passed by unanimous vote.
Swett moved and Dane seconded a motion to accept the minutes of April 19. Passed by unanimous vote.
DISCUSS APRIL 19 PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING
Discussion included updating the cost of services study; sources of funding (TIF, bond, developers, users) and limits on how the funds could be used; goal is economic vitality benefiting the residents; what data is needed to substantiate the goal of tax benefits to residents; rather than make assumptions of what can occur in the future, base model on what would have happened in the past without the commercial/industrial tax contributions; show that the value of new development outstrips the cost of the initial infrastructure investment.
COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP/ PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The Chair asked members to make suggestions to recruit new members and involve more people. Public information attendees were mostly older residents and do not represent a typical cross section of Stratham.
POSITION OF CHAIR
The Chair asked members to consider appointing an Acting Chair who might take over the duties on a temporary basis.
MEETING HANDOUT
None
PRESS QUESTIONS
LaCasse is writing an article for the News-Letter and asked questions pertaining to past actions by the Town, cost estimates, and developer interest. Members who are able will meet for a photo at the “Welcome to Stratham” sign in the Gateway District at 11:30 on Friday.
ASSIGNMENTS
Dane will work on a public survey.
Merrill and Cushman will draft a Strategic Goal Statement
Deschaine will contact a consultant regarding the Cost of Services Study.
NEXT MEETING
May 24th, 7:00 p.m.
ADJOURMENT
Cushman moved and Merrill seconded a motion to adjourn at 9:09 p.m. Passed by unanimous vote.
SUBMITTED BY
M Stowell