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Date: 2/18/2021
EAST LONGMEADOW – In the first in a series of roundtables, the East of the River Chamber of Commerce (ERC5) and members of the East Longmeadow town government met via Zoom on Feb. 11.
With ERC5 Chair Charlie Christensen and Executive Director Nancy Conner leading the meeting, East Longmeadow Town Manager Mary McNally began by explaining her role as helping town departments and businesses “to have a cohesive town with good government.”
McNally described East Longmeadow as not without its controversies in the past year, including financial troubles due to COVID-related state funding hold-ups. While the pandemic has pushed many long-term initiatives to the back burner, she said, the town still has an eye towards working on projects in the future.
East Longmeadow Assessor Diane Bishop spoke about how the single tax rate is good for business, as commercial and industrial properties do not shoulder any more of the tax burden than residential properties. She said the town will likely continue its use of one tax rate if possible. Christensen called single tax rate a competitive advantage for businesses.
Bishop also told business owners that there are “virtually no homes” on the market within town borders, which translates to fewer vacant bildings and more residents to do business in the area. Planning Board Chair Russell Denver explained that the building of two subdivisions is underway, one at Maple Street and Dwight Road and another near Graziano Gardens. He added that a third subdivision was in the works off of Route 83. Additionally, Denver explained the idea behind the mixed-use village district bylaw that was passed late in 2020. The bylaw allows for developments that contain both various forms of housing and commercial properties.
Denver said that multiple new businesses have come to town, including more than one gun seller. At least three of those businesses are restaurants, with Typical To-Go, Redstone Pasta Co. and a new Mexican restaurant slated to open this year. Outside dining has also been authorized through the end of the pandemic, to increase sales despite health restrictions.
Denver noted that there had been some unfortunate developments, as well. A special permit was recently revoked for Pampered Pets after a dog was mauled, and there is an ongoing lawsuit from PLH, Inc., which wanted to install a solar array in a residential neighborhood. However, the town has approved a solar carport at the games manufacturer Cardimundi and a ground-mounted solar array on land behind the business.
The newly-minted police chief, Mark Williams, said since he began working in town in January, he has heard a lot of good feedback from the community. He said support and relationships between the police and the community is strong. Williams assured chamber members that he plans to stay in East Longmeadow for the remainder of his career and will be purchasing a home in town for his family.
Connor asked Williams to come to an upcoming ERC5 meeting on March 4 that will address how business owners and employees can de-escalate volatile situations. Considering the political climate and pandemic, Connor said, members will receive training from police officers that they can share with their employees to defuse confrontations and protect themselves.
Public Health Director Aimee Petrosky dialed into the roundtable from the vaccine clinic being conducted at the Pleasant View Senior Center. She explained that the duties of the Health Department range from restaurant inspections to animal control to concerns about high grass in neighborhoods. As expected, Petrosky said many businesses have called to ask what to do in the event of a coronavirus exposure. She encouraged businesses to continue making those calls as the guidelines are always changing and each situation is unique.
The question of whether East Longmeadow has a “dementia-friendly” designation was asked by Mary-Anne Shelb of JGS Life Care, an elder care service in Longmeadow. While an immediate answer was not available, she was directed to Council on Aging Director Mary-Beth Dowd. Reminder Publishing later followed up with Dowd, who explained the town has not yet achieved a dementia-friendly designation. The process was begun last year but was interrupted by the pandemic. Dowd said that she is determining what steps must be taken to receive the designation, and therefore, grant eligibility.
Connor asked Petrosky about whether East Longmeadow will continue to offer the vaccine clinic once the vaccination eligibility opens to larger sections of the population. Petrosky said that they plan to continue the clinics through Phase 3 when the general public will become eligible, beginning in April. She did note, however, that the clinic operation depends greatly on the supply of vaccines from the state.
Bethany Yeo, director of Planning and Community Development, addressed the creation of a new municipal master plan. She encouraged the business owners to attend a Master Plan Visioning Public Outreach meeting that was slated to be conducted on Feb. 13. She explained that the town is looking for community input on the “vision” or direction for the town.
Yeo also informed the chamber members that East Longmeadow has applied for a Local Rapid Recovery Program grant to study the business district from the Heritage Park Plaza to the Springfield city line. She said that she hoped the projects and solutions that come from the study can be scaled for use elsewhere in town.
East Longmeadow Community Access Television (ELCAT) Director Don Macki said the pandemic has largely shut down most of ELCAT’s work with no concerts, fewer sporting events and government meetings conducted via Zoom.
He and Yeo had discussed creating a series of videos to help small business owners better navigate the permitting process. The instructional videos would be available on the town’s website as well as at YouTube.com.
Another project Maki suggested involves highlighting businesses in the community that are struggling with the pandemic but have found creative solutions. The videos would focus on relationships between the business and the community.
Connor suggested Architecture EL would be a good business for such a video and could focus on their design of the future Veteran’s Memorial in front of the Pleasant View Senior Center. Kevin Rothschild-Shea, president of Architecture EL, praised veterans’ work in the town, while McNally mentioned that another new business to East Longmeadow, Monson Savings Bank (MSB) had donated $10,000 to the project’s building fund.
Chamber member Gary Lefort broached the subject of the town welcoming international business. McNally said as long as it was for the “well-being of the overall community” she was in favor of it. Lefort then expanded on the idea, suggesting international trade and trade shows. Corrine Sawyer of MSB noted that East Longmeadow already deals internationally and gave the example of Tre Olive’s importation of olive oil.
Toward the end of the meeting, McNally said, “We want our relationship with the business community to be more than emergency response.” Connor told her that the ERC5 operates “with bridges, not borders,” and also wants to move forward collaboratively with the town.