HomeMy WebLinkAboutIDC Comm 10/26/20171011-011111T*V1 SO1 N N! 111,1111
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSEIVED
October 26, 2017 joy4,NN CLERKS OFFICE
Members present: 1UI1 DEC IS A 15l
Bob Krentzman, Chair
Krista Hill Cummings, Vice Chair �I� SF IED
Beth Ashman Collins, Clerk �SS,ACNUSET S
Matthew Cummings
Nancy Wall
Others present: Maureen Doherty, Mansfield Resident
Call to Order. Chair Krentzman called the meeting to order at 7 PM.
Approval of Minutes
MOTION to approve the minutes of July 18 (Cunningham / Wall) Passed with all in
favor. Ms. Ashman abstaining.
Forward Strategies for IDC Progress
Mr. Krentzman asked what attributes we should think about for recruiting future
IDC members.
Getting business engagement on the IDC would be good. Any kind of deep interest
in downtown advocacy is useful. We could invite Caitlin Barrows from the
Downtown Business Association or Kathy Harney of Mansfield Shredding.
Maureen Doherty, Building Committee member expressed interest.
List of things IDC has been doing:
• Being advocates for the Town
• Developing marketing materials
• Facebook page, Why Mansfield case statement, and Why Mansfield website
• Civic Engagement - working with high school students
• Bring town businesses together. IDC mission is town wide with a focus on
the business parks because they represent a large fraction of
commercial/industrial growth opportunity.
o Downtown Advisory Committee is keeping this work going for the
downtown only
Opportunities / Future Work
• Mansfield Crossing is coming up on 10 years. What impact has it had on the
town?
• How do we make 50,000 people coming to the Xfinity Center 25 times a year
into a part of our plan. Xfinity does not have much of a web presence
because it is all part of Live Nation. Geoff Mann, the Director of the Xfinity.
There is no way to get people from Xfinity to downtown without shuttle
buses. The busses would need priority.
Inform the economic development element of the upcoming Master Plan that
the town.
Maureen suggested IDC get a mail slot in town hall.. Krista will follow up to get a
link to Mansfield 02048 website on the town website under IDC.
Krista asked if there is a possibility of getting a coffee shop in library. Maureen
shared that Stoughton is operating a coffee shop in the library.
Update from Interim Town Manager
Mr. Krentzman shared a letter from John Stanbrook about the search for a new
Town Manager. The process is taking a little longer than anticipated and they hope
to present a list of candidates to the select board by the end of the year. If the new
town manager is focused on economic development the IDC can be more advisory
and use members as champions.
The IDC's work plan for next year has to be informed by the new town manager, but
in the interim we can continue to work full steam on marketing. Marketing to the
non -retail businesses is beyond our reach without staff support from the town.
Come January briefing the town manager on economic development will be job one.
Discussion on Listing of Mansfield Businesses
The project to identify the tenants in the park is ongoing by town staff.
Discussion of Mansfield High School Intern Program
Krista shared that we have two interns from Mansfield High who have started their
own social media company who will be working with the IDC this year.
Plan for Next Meeting
Invite high schools students
Adjournment.
MOTION (Ashman / Cummings) to adjourn at 8:30 pm. Our next meeting is
scheduled for November 16.
Signature of Clerk