2007 - January

The regular monthly meeting of the Board of the Smyrna Downtown Renaissance Association was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by the President, Maria Newill, at the First Presbyterian Church, 118 West Commerce Street, Smyrna, Delaware. Quentin Schlieder, Ruth Bower, Chris Mood, Jennifer Merrill, Robin Bruner, Carol Child, Bill Wagner, Mary Koehler, Janet McClure, Shirley Sheridan, Paula K. B. Johnson and Ann Marie Dowell attended the meeting.  Guests included Diane Laird, Rick Ferrell, Larry Koehler, Sara Mills, Tiffany Newkirk, Beverly Tucker, Donna Maxwell and James Johnson.    Bill Bright, Dick Yerger, Peggy Snow and Melanie Ryder sent regrets.  In the absence of Recording Secretary Snow, Mr. Schlieder agreed to re3cord the minutes of the meeting.

President Newill welcomed the guests and suggested that the Board and guests introduce themselves.  She then thanked everyone for their interest in attending the meeting.

Diane Laird from the Delaware Main Street Program and Rick Ferrell of Retail Market LLC were welcomed and were invited to introduce on a new comprehensive menu of business retention/recruitment services that Delaware Main Street is now providing to participating communities will be presented and discussed.  Rick Ferrell is the consultant actually conducting the services on site.  He has a very strong background in retail recruitment and has been working in downtowns and specifically with Main Street programs for the past 3-4 years.  Together, Rick Ferrell and Diane Laird designed this menu of recruitment and retention services to both sequentially address retention and recruitment of appropriate, sustainable businesses in Delaware's downtowns and to target specific needs/opportunities as they arise.

Because of the new medical facility in downtown Smyrna, there is an opportunity to look carefully at what types of businesses would both support the medical facility and bring economic opportunity to downtown Smyrna.  It is proposed that the study, or a portion of it, would be paid for using the balance of the USDA Grant.

Mr. Ferrell noted that for the program to be successful it will require a significant investment of time on the art of the Board.  Additionally there are items like building inventories will be required.  Mr. Wagner noted that the Association had conducted a business inventory while Ed Perez served as the Executive Director.  Mr. Schlieder noted that while he hasn’t had time to review the early files which were culled by Chris Hall who succeeded Mr. Perez as Executive Director, he did not recall seeing an inventory in his review of the files.

The Board expressed concerns about proceeding with this initiative without the endorsement of the Town governing body and their Economic Development Consultant, Mark Kleinschmidt.  It was noted that the Association should not be expending funds for service already provided by Mr. Kleinschmidt.  Mr. Ferrell agreed to contact Mr. Kleinschmidt to discuss how his project might assist the overall economic development process for which Mr. Kleinschmidt was engaged.   Additionally, the Board should consider other possible uses for the available USDA grant.  Several projects, including a downtown directory, have already been proposed.   Ms. Laird provided copies of the prospectus for the initiative.  The Board requested a more specific proposal from Mr. Ferrell before taking any formal action.  The proposal will be considered by the Economic Restructuring Committee when more details are available.

The Board then thanked Ms. Laird and Mr. Ferrell for their presentation who subsequently excused themselves for the meeting. 

President Newill recognized Mr. Johnson who noted that he was present with Donna Maxwell and Beverly Tucker to discuss Dr. Clyde A. Maxwell, Jr.’s new dental practice, Gentle Touch Family Dentistry, and community resource facility which will be located in the former Dollar General Building located at 17 North Main Street.  Mrs. Maxwell reviewed her husband’s professional credentials and affiliations noting that he was one of the few dentists who accept Medicaid patients.  She noted that there is a strong need in Smyrna to provide these services to the under serviced segment of the community.  The Board expressed its appreciation to the Maxwells for purchasing and rehabilitating the former Dollar General Building which has been vacant and in disrepair for sometime.  They also invited them to join and to become active with the Association to encourage additional improvements to Smyrna’s historic Central Business District.

President Newill suggested that the Board proceed with its monthly business and requested a motion to approve the minutes of the Board’s December 4, 2006 meeting which had been distributed with the agenda for this meeting last Friday.  Treasurer. Wagner moved to approve the minutes of the Board’s December 4, 2006 meeting.  The motion was seconded by Vice President Bruner.  There was no discussion and the Board voted unanimously by voice vote to approve the motion.

Treasurer Wagner distributed the Treasurer’s Report for the period from December 1 through December 31, 2006 showing total funds of $11,044.78 available with available funds of $380.58 in the Checking Account and the balance of $10,427.80 in the PNC Bank Money Market Account.  Ms. Dowell moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented.  The motion was seconded by Ms. Koehler.  Mr. Schlieder noted that apparently the USDA reimbursement of $3,950.32 was not included. Treasurer Wagner confirmed that Mr. Kleinschmidt had submitted the request for reimbursement but the funds had not been received to date.  The reimbursement will take about 30 days to process and should be included in the next statement.  There being no further discussion, the motion was adopted unanimously by voice vote.

Mr. Schlieder briefly reviewed the List of Bills for Payment as follows:

Duck Creek Printing (Membership brochure inserts/Signs)    $    107.00
Dover Post (Caroling on the Plaza Ads-USDA)        $    424.40   
Verizon (December charges)                    $      45.01
Quentin Schlieder (Walking Tour Ad Bills/Postage)        $       9.48

In addition to the bills included on the Agenda, it was noted that a payment of $54.78 is due to Ronny’s Garden World for Holiday decoration for the planters and that a payment of $195.00 is due to the National Trust for Historic Preservation for renewal of the Association’s membership in the Main Street Network.  Ms. Davis moved to approve the list of Bills as amended.  The motion was seconded by Ms. Dowell and was adopted unanimously by voice vote.

During Old Business, the status of downtown parking regulations was briefly discussed.  It was noted that the Town Safety Committee will be discussing the issue at its next meeting on Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 5 p.m. in the Municipal Building.  Vice President Bruner, Mr. Schlieder, Ms. Vinyard and Ms. Johnson plan to attend the meeting to encourage the Committee to recommend implementation of the proposals offered in the Association’s letter of November 25, 2006.

It was noted that the Proposed 2007 Budget is still being developed and hopefully will be introduced for consideration at the Board’s February 12th meeting.

Under New Business, the Board briefly discussed its concern over a proposal to relocate the Town Library out of the historic Central Business District.  Since Councilman Chervenak has served on the Committee recommending the location of the new Library on Carter Road, the Board recommended inviting him to attend the next meeting.  As Chairman of the Town’s Ad Hoc Long Range Planning Committee and member of the Utility Committee, the Board also could obtain Councilman Chervenak’s guidance on the timetable for downtown utility and streetscape improvements.

Mr. Schlieder briefly noted available properties in the Central Business district including Slaughter’s Plumbing Supply and noted that if members had any suggestions to recruit new businesses, they were encouraged to share them.

Ms. Sheridan noted that her husband is working with Marji Lakatos to publish a full Smyrna page of advertisements in Midstate Living.  If business members are interested, they should let her or her husband know.  She noted that ads in both Midstate Living and The Wave, both publications of the News Journal, have been very productive.

It was noted that the four standing Committees need to schedule meetings in the near future.  Every Board member is expected to serve on at least one Committee.  It was decided that Mr. Schlieder would contact the Chairman of each Committee to schedule a meeting. 

The next Board Meeting is tentatively scheduled at 7:00 p.m. (since rescheduled to 7:30 p.m.) on Monday, February 12, 2007 at the Smyrna First Presbyterian Church, 118 West Commerce Street.

There being no further business, Mr. Wagner move to adjourn the meeting at 8:37 p.m.  the motion was seconded by Ms. Davis and was adopted unanimously by voice vote.



Respectfully submitted,


 

Quentin C. Schlieder, Jr.
Secretary Pro Tem