Date: February 8, 2024
Attendees: Dick Camp, Frank Fox, Janet Bishop, Deborah Haymes, Delilah White, Donna Yeatts, Phil Mauger, Joe Rogers. A quorum was present.
- Chairman Rogers welcomed new members Deborah Haymes and Dellah White and introduced them to other members.
- After a motion by Phil Mauger, seconded by Frank Fox, the minutes of the December 20, 2023 meeting and agenda for this meeting were approved.
- Dick Camp and Joe Rogers provided a briefing and update on actions taken to date and answered questions regarding status of the committee’s efforts. Dick explained that RFP’s had been sent to three firms and that he expected proposals from each. Proposals are due February 16, 2024. Members should anticipate a meeting being scheduled soon thereafter.
- Results of the input to the internal committee survey of local strengths, weaknesses, and personal “wish lists” were discussed. These are summarized in an email of February 7. Raw data will be provided to the consultant when discussing the scope of work so they may get a feel for the type of input that may be expected from a public input session. It was noted that town assets include a designated Historic District. A map was shown of the areas involved. The economic benefits for development in the historic and additional merits of having portions of town designated an Enterprise Zone, were discussed. The consultant will be asked to evaluate the merits of both. Any initiative for the designation of enterprise zoning would need to be led by the Town of Chatham.
- Phil Mauger briefed on the status of the web site, ReimagineChatham.org. Email lists are being developed to keep interested citizens updated on the status of the grant work. To solicit broader interest and expand the email lists, posters and cards with QR codes linking to the website were proposed. There was concurrence on Phil’s design but Delilah White recommend a few edits, which were agree to be made before printing. By a motion by Frank Fox and seconded by Donna Yates the committee authorized an expenditure of up to $250 from the administrative budget to procure the materials. One hundred posters and 2000 cards will be purchased. Further discussion needs to be held regarding how best to distribute the materials throughout the remainder of the community after the most obvious groups and locations are covered.
- Committee members may propose informational items pertinent to the work to be posted on the website. (For example, a related newspaper article, etc.) Articles should be sent to Joe Rogers as single contact point for screening and approval before being posted. The website is designed to inform but is not interactive in the sense of an online chat. (If anyone else would like to perform this review function, contact Joe)
- Joe will use the article prepared for the March edition of The Lantern and edit it for the committee’s second press release, which will be issued during February.
- Delilah White informed the group of a training session on racial equity being sponsored by the Danville/Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce to be held February 20 from 10 am-3:00 pm at First Baptist Church in Danville. Registration is available at the Chamber’s web site.
Joe Rogers — Chairman