Mill Site Study Committee

Meeting minutes - October 15, 2008

 

 

Present:          Committee Members: Kurtis Amidon, Stephanie Cronin, Roger Goscombe, Albert Harris, Ronald Karr, Michael Landino, Matt Nesbit, Jeff Sauer, and Joseph Sergi
Members absent: Jerrilyn Bozicas, Jeffrey Chabot, Gary Giguere, and Stephen Themelis

Mr. Sergi called the meeting to order at 7:17pm. Mr. Nesbit joined the meeting at 7:19pm and Mr. Harris joined the meeting at 7:32pm.

 

Approval of Minutes from August 27, 2008 & September 24,  2008:  On a motion from Mr. Goscombe, seconded by Mr. Karr, the minutes from the August 27 and September 24 meetings were approved unanimously as drafted.

 

Visioning Session: Mr. Sergi confirmed that the Senior Center is now scheduled for the October 25 Visioning Meeting.

The committee reviewed a series of possible flyers and logos ideas for the Visioning Session and Mill Site Activities created by Ms. Rogers that offered several different alternative layouts and graphics.  A discussion followed with several members expressing opinions.

The consensus was that “Mill” or “Mill Site” should be predominate in the name and logo since that is how citizens currently relate to the site.  The committee favored two of Ms. Rogers graphics options – a graphic containing a semi-circle “window” above the text and one utilizing a brick theme – and it was agreed that the Mr. Sauer would inquire of Ms. Rogers as to whether the two features might be combined into a single logo. The committee suggested that the flyer layout should feature “Mill Site” with bullet items listing possible development outcomes, both positive and negative in order to engage citizens in the visioning process.

Mr. Sergi reviewed the Visioning Session, saying it will be led by NMCOG, but that members of the Mill Site Study Committee will be introduced at the beginning and will have an opportunity to describe the Mill Site.  Mr. Nesbit now has Mr. Themelis’ photographs on his laptop computer will use a projector to display them, as well as a site plot plan, for the audience.  Mr. Sauer agreed to bring a high-brightness projector that should be visible against the mid-day sunlight.  The committee agreed to arrive at the Senior Center at 9:30am on the 25th.

 

General Business:

Mr. Goscombe reported that the Nashua River Watershed Association does have experience with Section 319 grants, having applied for such a grant for the Nashua River farther upstream, but their application was denied. Based on that experience, the NRWA believes it would be difficult for the Mill Site Committee to get a grant under that program.  However, the NRWA strongly agrees that exposing the brook currently piped under the Mill Site would be highly desirable and they would be pleased to help research and write other grant requests.  The NRWA also suggested that private owners, such as the owners of the Bemis property, might participate with funding in the interest of improving the entire area. Mr. Sergi asked Mr. Goscombe to map out a plan for restoring the brook and report back to the committee at the next meeting.

 

Action Items:

Item #1 – Visioning Session:

  1. Mr. Sauer will contact Ms. Rogers regarding the logo and flyer.
  2. Mr. Goscombe will pick up flyers, once printed, from Town Hall.
  3. Mr. Goscombe and Mr. Amidon will hand out flyers at Town Meeting.
  4. Mr. Sergi will contact the Pepperell Free Press with a letter to the editor regarding the Visioning Session.
  5. Mr. Harris will encourage Sharon Mercurio to post an announce for the Visioning Session at the Senior Center.
  6. Mr. Nesbit will bring a notebook computer with photos and plan of the site.  Mr. Sauer will bring a projector.

Item #2 – Restoration of brook: Mr. Goscombe will map out a plan for restoration.

 

Next Meeting: Wednesday, November 12, 2008, at 7:00pm. 

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Jeff Sauer, Mill Site Study Committee Secretary