#MIDDLEBURY
By TERRENCE S. MCAULIFFE
The Middlebury Economic and Industrial Development Commission (EIDC) at its Sept. 27 meeting unanimously recommended a tax abatement for a Newtown company considering relocating to Middlebury. It also viewed the new EIDC website, discussed ways to help local businesses, and began efforts to clarify the tax incentive application documents and draft architectural guidelines.
A Tax Incentive Program application by O2 Concepts LLC for lease of a 24,076-square-foot space in the old Timex building at 199 Park Road Extension was unanimously voted pending receipt of proof of payment of personal property taxes. The vote is a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen (BoS) that the application conforms and complies with the town’s requirements for a tax incentive. The BoS can either schedule a special town meeting to vote on the incentive, return the application to the EIDC for more information or take no action.
The company, headquartered in Oklahoma, has run manufacturing and research and development operations in 8,471 square feet of leased space in Newtown since 2010. The application states the new space will involve $200,000 in capital improvements and will eventually house $50,000 of eligible taxable personal property, potentially qualifying it for a three-year tax abatement of 35 percent the first year, 25 percent the second year and 15 percent the third year. The amount of the tax incentive is ultimately calculated by the Middlebury assessor.
The company has 36 full-time and eight part-time employees. It estimates it will add up to 12 full-time production employees and up to eight professional personnel in the next two years.
Commission members viewed the new website promoting the town. See “Middlebury EIDC launches website” post for details.
In other matters, members discussed ways of promoting local businesses, including a proposal from the Connecticut Economic Resource Center to hold an economic development tutorial for town officials and send a letter to Middlebury business owners soliciting suggestions for cooperative efforts such as a restaurant week or a fair. Chairman Terry McAuliffe agreed to follow up on the tutorial with a letter to town officials and board and commission members. He also agreed to draft a letter to businesses for review at the next meeting.
Commissioner Frank Mirovsky showed members a draft of New Milford’s architectural guidelines and suggested using them as a base for Middlebury’s guidelines. After discussion, McAuliffe agreed to send copies of the New Milford document to members for feedback and suggestions.
Mirovsky also pointed out areas in the current tax abatement forms that need clarification and correction of typos. McAuliffe agreed to send the current forms to members for mark-up and suggestions.
The next regular EIDC meeting will be Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room.
