Welcome.  President Dave Bechtel opened the meeting and asked everyone to introduce themselves.

Announcements and Committee Updates:

• Library Committee:
  • Connie Matheson announced that the 3^rd Annual Whitneyville Branch Library fund raiser was a success, netting $1,873 that will be donated for library materials and activities.
  • As per Phase II of our plan, new carpeting has been installed.
  • The committee is looking for new members.

• Music Committee:
  • Deirdre Dolan announced that the committee is set to hold concerts on the 3^rd Thursday in June, July, and August in DeNicola Park, with a rain location in Whitneyville Cultural Commons.
    • June – Jazz
    • July – Sing Along
    • August – Klezmer
  • About 80 – 100 are expected to attend each concert.

• Officer Elections:
  • Mark Foran was elected WCA President
  • Deborah Maldonado was re-elected Treasurer
  • Scott Matheson was elected Secretary to fill out Mark Foran’s term.

Dale Kroop, Hamden Economic and Neighborhood Development:

Guest speaker Dale Kroop was introduced.

• Dale noted that Hamden is updating a Long Range Economic Plan that involves five towns.  The plan is updated ever two years.
• Commercial property is doing well, with a 95% occupancy rate among shopping centers.
• The Whitney Center is the town’s largest employer after Town Government and Quinnipiac University.
• The Canal Crossing apartment complex is planned for seven buildings totaling 393 units.  Four are currently 100% occupied.  A fifth unit is expected to open in August.  A significant number of tenants are employed by Yale.
• The town is investigating the possibility of bringing high speed broadband internet access to Hamden. Stiff opposition is expected from Comcast and Frontier.
• The Plan of Conservation and Development is expected to be finished in this fall.
• Retail projects were discussed.  Ulta has completed the move from North Haven, while Marshalls and TJ Maxx have reduced their store spaces.
• Putnam Place was discussed.  When Stop and Shop pulled out and no other grocery chain wanted it, Porter and Chester relocated there.  CVS is coming, as well as a trampoline amusement.
• The former Hamden Middle School was discussed.
  • Remediation is almost complete.
  • A developer has been selected to create 57 elderly housing units, of which 30 will be mixed income.  It’s expected to open in 2022-23.
  • The gym will be converted into a community center.
  • Business incubator with space for 20 tenants is planned.

Dale then took questions, which included:

• Responding to a question regarding the commercial district, he noted that Whitneyville doesn’t qualify for HUD loans for façade improvements and lobbying is necessary to obtain funding from other sources.
• Regarding the status of Powder Farm, he stated that the 131-acre property is owned by the Olin Corporation, which is under a consent degree to clean it up.  The cost is estimated at $8 to $10 million.  There has been interest in private acquisition for open space.
• The new fire station on Putnam Avenue will occupy 3 ½ acres.
• The 115-room Marriott Residence Inn is under construction again in Centerville.
• There has not been a lot of interaction between the Town and Quinnipiac.

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.