Meeting Type: Special Meeting
Date: Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Location: Town Manager’s Office Conference Room
Address: 43 Bombardier Road | Milton, VT 05468
Contact: (802) 893-1186 or jhemmerick@town.milton.vt.us
Website: www.miltonvt.org
1. Call to Order &
Welcome
The
Chair called the meeting to order at 8:15.
2. Attendance
See
attached sign-in sheet.
3. Roundtable Introductions
Attendees
made introductions and gave a brief overview of their business, including how
long they have been in Milton.
4. Municipal Update
Adams,
Hemmerick, Turner and Duchesneau provided an overview of municipal projects and
programs, principally covering planning, infrastructure and recreational
events.
5. Questions and Discussion
Attendees
discussed ways we can improve business and develop Milton’s economy. These
included:
·
Seeing
a major employer reinvent the Town similar to what has happened on the South
End.
·
Filling
service and retail gaps that prompt area residents to spend their money outside
of Milton.
·
Focus
on making more business space accessible to new entrepreneurs.
·
Exploring
opportunities to reduce the cost of doing business in Milton, from utilities to
taxes.
·
Using
arts and culture as a means to draw more people to Milton and support business.
·
Grow
Milton to the point where you don’t have to leave to find what you want.
·
Develop
partnerships to have more community events.
·
Remove
barriers to grow Vermont workforce: it’s harder to hire for an open position.
·
Alleviate
the permitting hurdles associated with physically expanding a business.
·
Support
the Milton Business Association as advocates for business interests.
·
Grow
the broadband fiber network; improving network connectivity to support
business.
·
Have
space designated for commercial-only uses.
·
Expand
the sewer network to existing development that is underserved.
·
The
Town has to invest in itself, don’t wait for developers to do everything.
·
Grow
event sponsorship and public/private partnership.
·
Make
sure workers can find affordable childcare.
·
Have
gathering venues such as a pool, hockey rink and brewery.
In
addition to the discussion Joseph prompted those present how often they would
like to have meetings with this format.
Of the six responses, five favored quarterly meetings.
Attendees
also completed a Milton Today, Milton Tomorrow visioning card as a test run for
the Town’s Comprehensive Plan outreach.
Responses
included:
Milton Today
|
Transforming from a bedroom
community of the Burlington area to a dynamic community.
|
Continuing to improve the Town's
image.
|
Stuck between two economic regions:
Burlington & St. Albans.
|
Great community!
|
Lots of resources, but these
resources may not be as well connected as they could be.
|
Milton Tomorrow
|
Town gov. put together plan for
additions/renovations on paper based on suggestions from local businesses.
|
More collaborations and open
discussions
|
To bring businesses to Milton that
helps me stay in Milton and not drive to other towns to get what a need or
want.
|
Bring the resources together physically.
|
To have Milton on the VT ART
MAP. Facilitate Outdoor exhibits: i.e.
sculpture (yearly). Art will attract
new businesses.
|
Less automotive businesses on Route
7 or get them cleaned up.
|
Fix Act 250 in this State. Cut out all the red tape.
|
Find a way to keep people from
moving out of this state.
|
Lower taxes.
|
State is not small-business
friendly.
|
Subcontractor and working for
businesses as a sub (workers comp exemption).
|
To prevent Milton from staying as a
bedroom community.
|
Large industry to keep people in
town.
|
Clothing stores etc. to keep money
and people in Milton.
|
Hockey rink, microbrewery, and
pool.
|
We need to invest in ourselves and
not wait for developers to foot the bill.
|
Zoning regulations need to be
enforced to encourage and lead development and remove blight.
|
Need to "brand" Milton
and sell our assets.
|
8. Adjournment
The Chair
adjourned the meeting at approximately 9:30 a.m.
