PEDC

Portsmouth EDC chair clarifies sewer economics presentation to Town Council

Portsmouth EDC Chair Rich Talipsky issued a statement today clarifying the context around the presentation on the economic impact of sewers in Island Park that was featured at last night's Town Council meeting. The PEDC’s full presentation is posted on their web site, and also attached below. Talipsky said:

The PEDC in "approving" this presentation to the Town Council has not "endorsed" the concept of sewers. Our reason for the presentation is to present an economic aspect of a sewer plan (with some hypothetical, but realistic scenarios) to create a construct for further study of the issue to ensure all the hearsay and innuendo surrounding this issue is properly analyzed and documented, Per the first and last slides in the presentation:

First Slide states:

  • In our opinion the current public debate of the waste water issue affecting the Island Park/Portsmouth Park area is lacking in consideration of some very important financial realities and potentially powerful economic alternatives.
  • We are here this evening to engage in this discussion.
  • We understand that what we present here will have to be fully studied from a non-economic view and will require the review and concurrence of several other town bodies. But, we felt it critically important to address it to you, the Town Council, at this point.

On the last slide we asked that:

  • The Town Council direct the Town Administrator to assemble and lead a team to analyze and report to the Council on the competing economic outcomes and risks for the town and all property owners of Waste Water Management vs. Sewers in the Island Park/Portsmouth area, including

    • The results of substantive discussions on the development of relevant property & participation in a sewer system (in particular the Cardi property).
    • The fiscal impacts and risks to the town.
    • The economic impacts to the citizens of Portsmouth in costs, property valuations, property liquidity and risk.

Large potential development concepts (such as the Cardi scenario used in our presentation) have potential significant impact on the Town and must involve the Town Council, at least for information, in their beginning concept stages. This was part of our reason for presenting it to the Town Council early without a rigorous analysis. It is meant to start a dialogue to engage all the potential stakeholders and eliminate the multiplicity of hearsay and undocumented historical information that has not been formally discussed or has not been discussed in a consolidated forum.

We understand that there may be flaws in our analysis and we welcome any and all comments in a structured process that will result in a compendium of factual data on the issue for future reference.

The PEDC understands that it is not in our charter to examine the non-economic aspects of this issue.

However, we felt it important to provide an economic brief on which to start a comprehensive discussion of an important issue, and ensure that the citizens of Portsmouth are part of an informed decision process, of what may happen to a large Heavy Industrial Zoned parcel in the future

Editorial note: Written from a press release.

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871, Wastewater, PEDC, sewers

Portsmouth EDC Chair calls Clark "vital to economic health" of town

The Portsmouth Town Council, at their budget meeting this week, tentatively cut the line item for Director of Business development, a position with responsibility for attracting and supporting commercial activity in town. Bill Clark has held this part-time position for the past 8 years.

Reaction to the decision has been immediate from members of the Portsmouth Economic Development Committee (PEDC). Doug Smith authored a post on Portsmouth Patch, "Why is Portsmouth Self-destructing?" where he notes that Clark's role "represents just about the minimum that Portsmouth can do to be considered friendly to businesses." And Andrew Kelly has started an online campaign to e-mail the Council asking them to reconsider their decision. Nut graf from Kelly: "Given the increasing burden of taxes that fall on homeowners in this Town, is this decision to abandon business development in the best interests of your constituents?"

When contacted for an official response, PEDC Chair Rich Talipsky replied by e-mail, and it deserves quoting at length:

After provisionally approving the funding of Bill Clark as Portsmouth's Director of Business Development on May 11, the Town Council, apparently without any warning, decided to eliminate his funding at their budget meeting of May 19.

The PEDC intends to strongly recommend that the Town Council reconsider funding for the Director of Business Development in the Town FY 2011-2012 Budget.

Mr. Clark’s service in assisting the PEDC has been exceptional. His continued service as the Town’s Director of Business Development is vital to the economic health of the Town and essential to the continued effectiveness of the PEDC. The tax revenues provided by our businesses generate much more revenue to the Town than they command in Town services. This revenue is absolutely critical to the economic solvency of the Town. In the face of an erosion of the business tax base in the 1990’s from 18 percent to nearly 10 percent, the PEDC recommended the creation of a full-time Director of Business Development as an essential part of a strategy to mitigate the decline. The Town Council approved a part-time consultant position in 2002. In the selection process, the Town was exceptionally fortunate to find Bill Clark who had the knowledge, experience, and personality to take on the exceptionally challenging job. Bill Clark immediately established himself as the central point of contact for Town business development as an advocate of both current and prospective businesses.

Since 2001, the Town’s business tax base has steadied out at about 10 percent. The mitigation of the eroding tax base can be directly attributable to the PEDC becoming much more proactive in the activities that affect the business climate in Portsmouth. Although it would be naive to assume that the efforts of Bill Clark were sole contributors to the tax base stabilization, it is clear that Bill has been a critical element in the strategy of the PEDC towards the improvement of the business climate of the Town.

The value of a position like that of Director of Business Development is very hard to quantify in that it involves many activities on which no exact economic value can be placed. During his time as Director of Business Development, Bill has established himself as a trusted partner to Town businesses, the Town Staff, Boards and Committees, Newport County organizations such as the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission, Aquidneck Island Land Trust and Newport County Chamber of Commerce (which has continued to support Portsmouth despite their Portsmouth Town funding being eliminated in the current year’s budget) and State and Federal agencies. He has engendered support from local businesses and non-profit institutions (like the Portsmouth Abbey) in both monetary donations and use of facilities to host PEDC strategic planning events. Losing Bill would leave a void as he acts as a clearinghouse for business development issues and provides an exceptional array of services and information. He represents the Town at meetings with economic advisors at the State and National levels who are decision makers on funding programs and paths that provide needed additional revenue for the Town.

We feel that the position of Director of Business Development, and in particular the performance of Bill Clark in the job, is very critical to the long-term economic survival of the Town. He is the face of the motto that the Town displays – “Every Business Counts.” Portsmouth only gets one chance to make a first impression to gain a new business; we need Bill Clark to continue making this best possible first impression. The PEDC considers that the retention of Bill Clark in his position of Director Business Development is exceptionally important to our work.

Richard Talipsky, Chair. Portsmouth EDC

Full disclosure: I have covered PEDC meetings over the past few years, and I have great respect for both the work they do and for Bill Clark. I would recommend you take 30 seconds and send the Council an e-mail before Tuesday — you can do it with one click with Kelly's online petition.

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871, Town Council, Budget, PEDC

How did Portsmouth do in the snow? Take the PEDC survey

The Portsmouth Economic Development Committee (PEDC) has put together a quick survey to assess the town's response to yesterday's snow storm, according to an e-mail from member Doug Smith. You can take the survey here.

Visit the PEDC web site to see previous survey results and learn more about their work.

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871, PEDC

Portsmouth EDC trash survey: Yes to transfer station, no to PAYT

The Portsmouth Economic Development Committee (PEDC) released the results of their recent web-based survey of attitudes toward trash disposal in town, with 489 respondents weighing in on a variety of questions.

According to a PEDC e-mail, 74% of Portsmouth residents are satisfied with the transfer station as a system for handling trash and recycling waste. About the same number, 75% were not in favor of a pay-per-bag program

Responses were "equally divided" on whether transfer station fees should be increased to pay for the entire cost of operating the transfer station, but the PEDC reported "some agreement" on the need to fund the overhaul of the station pits through temporary additional fees.

Respondents delivered a strong vote of confidence for the current operation, with 90% saying the transfer station is well operated, and 95% saying that recycling options were "good" or "excellent."

Full survey results should be posted soon on the PEDC Web site.

Editorial note: While the survey responses indicate that 99% were Portsmouth residents and 84% are users of the transfer station, readers should, of course, keep in mind the usual caveats about Web-based surveys.

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871, PEDC, transfer station

Portsmouth residents, please take PEDC trash survey

The Portsmouth Economic Development Committee (PEDC) has created an online survey to help inform the Town Council's upcoming discussion on waste options, and are urging residents to provide their input, according to an e-mail.

You can learn more about the PEDC on their web site.

Hey, while you're thinking about it, why not go fill out the survey. Only takes about five minutes.

Did I mention you should go take the survey?

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871, PEDC, trash