Unofficial Notes on CWDI Board Meeting
JANUARY 15, 2025, 4:00 PM
DORCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Attendees: Angi Hengst, President; Frank Narr, Treasurer; Natalie Chabot, City Appointee; Michael J Frenz, State Appointee; Tim Crosby, County Appointee; Gaver Nichols, City Appointee (virtual); Glenn Steckmann, City Manager; Jerry Jones, Dorchester County Manager; Lajan Cephas, Mayor (audience); Sputty Cephas, Ward 4 Commissioner (audience)

AGENDA

I. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL & CONFIRMATION OF QUORUM

Ms. Hengst affirmed that a quorum was reached after roll call.

II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Motion raised to approve Agenda and seconded. Approved by all board members present 8-0.

 III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

November 20, 2024 – Regular Meeting

Motion raised to approve November Regular Meeting Minutes and seconded. Approved by all board members present 8-0.

 IV. COMMITTEE REPORTS

A.OCC: Angie Hengst

1. Promenade Groundbreaking – December 19, 2024

• • Hengst talked about the groundbreaking ceremony for the Promenade on the waterfront that occurred in December 2024.
  • Encouraged citizens to view the progress that has already been completed.
  • Hengst emphasized CWDI’s community-first approach to developing Cambridge Harbor by securing permanent, public access along the waterfront.

2. 2025 planning for public information session(s)

• • There was a discussion of having a public information session in the near future.
  • No date has been set when this will occur.
  • Tim Cosby referred to the survey that was taken by Cambridge residents in 2022. He emphasized the importance of outreach to the community.

3. Possible community events

• • Hengst said the waterfront property is available for community events if anyone wishes to schedule something in that space.
  • Anyone interested in scheduling an event should contact CWDI.
  • CWDI will be planning a community event sometime in the future.

  B. FINANCE COMMITTEE: Frank Narr

1. YTD November Financial Statements

• • Sale of land to Yacht Maintenance brought in much needed revenue.
  • Yacht Maintenance needs another 1.5 acres. Possibly more income for CWDI in 2025.
  • City had promised more ARPA funds to CWDI. Mr. Narr said it was $200,000. He asked Glenn Steckmann if the money would be forthcoming and how much it would be. Mr. Steckmann said he had wanted to bring a check to the meeting but the financial director is out ill. He did not state what the ARPA sum was going to be.
  • FYI – Will be available on Cambridge Harbor website. In the future

2. December Expenditures Report to City/County Work

• • Ongoing design work done by Lew Oliver Inc on infrastructure and other details.
  • Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is still on the table
  • FYI – Will be available on Cambridge Harbor website in the future.

3. Payment to General Contractor – Promenade

• • Contractor has not been paid for any work done on Promenade as yet.

4. 2025 Operating Budget Draft

• • Looking for monetary assistance from the city or the county, if possible.
  • Will be able to cover costs for the next month.
  • FYI – Will be available on Cambridge Harbor website in the future.

5. 2024 Financial Audit & Form 990 Preparation

• • Coming up soon

6. 2025 Authorized Check Signers

• • Check signers will be Angie Hengst, Frank Narr or Natalie Chabot.

C. PLANNING COMMITTEE: Frank Narr

1. Promenade Update

• • Work continues on the Promenade.

2. Planning & Zoning Work Session Meeting 01/15/25

NOTE: Refer to townhall streams for recording of this meeting. In addition,  official minutes have been posted on choosecambridge.com

• • CWDI shared the “Horizontal Infrastructure” of the Cambridge Harbor site (parking/roads/streetscape).
  • “Underground utilities” and “above ground” streets, parking, sidewalks, and the layout of boat ramp (etc.) were included.
  • Members of CWDI in attendance at P & Z meeting
  • Presented by Frank Narr, CWDI Planning Committee Chair; joined by Design Team:
    • Ed Johnson, Network Realty Partners. Development consultants since CWDI inception.
    • Ian Lockwood, Livable Transportation Engineer with Toole Design (joined virtually)
    • Ken Usap, Principal/Engineer with Morris & Richie Associates. He has institutional knowledge of this site and has been with project for quite a long time.

3. Lew Oliver Design Meetings

• • The infrastructure design phase continues with Lew Oliver, Inc.

D. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Angie Hengst

1. Shay Resignation

• • Hengst read Shay Lewis-Sisco’s resignation letter. Ms. Lewis-Sisco is now the Ward 2 Commissioner on the City Council and will no longer serve on the CWDI board.

2. Election of New Officers (Board Action Required)

• • Hengst agreed to extend her position of President for another year.
  • Frank Narr will continue as Treasurer.
  • Natalie Chabot will now include duties as Secretary.

 Motion raised to approve New Officers and seconded. Approved by all     board members present 8-0.

3. Committee Assignments/RMM Board Appointment

• • Hengst stated the assignments of board members to the various CWDI committees.
  • Hengst said that if City Manager and Dorchester County Manager would like to join a committee they would be welcome to do so.

4. Bylaw Revisions

• • The City Council voted on the bylaw revisions for the CWDI Charter. Changes were approved in a city council work session in November 2024.
  • CWDI has accepted these changes and they are being made to the Charter.

5. Proposed Board Meeting Schedule

• • Wednesday, March 19 @4pm
  • Wednesday, May 21 @4pm
  • Wednesday, July 16 @4pm
  • Wednesday, September 10 @4:30pm
  • Wednesday, November 12 @4:30pm

V. PUBLIC COMMENT

Alison Kennedy

• • Question: Is Lew Oliver the “Master Developer”? Answer: No. This is the design phase. The project is not ready for development. Question: Why is Lew Oliver doing the infrastructure? Isn’t this the job of the “Master Developer”?
  • Answer: It can be but it doesn’t have to be.
  • Question: Is Lew Oliver following the BCT Concept Design?
  • Answer:
  • Question: In the financial documents stating upcoming operational costs; CWDI has $148,000 for projects. CWDI asked the city and county for monetary help. Is CWDI taking into consideration the owed ARPA funds?
  • Answer: No because the ARPA figure is an unknown. Looking for any financial help the city/county can provide.
  • Comment: The 2022 survey that CWDI conducted through BCT Design asked about “condos” on the waterfront. The people that took the survey were not in favor of condos at the waterfront at all. However, they were okay with apartments above shops/stores/restaurants at the waterfront.

David Stevens

• • Commented that he resided in Easton for several years and now lives in Cambridge. He has seen the positive benefits of the Avalon Theatre on the community of Easton. He would like to see a similar establishment at the waterfront in Cambridge.
  • Stevens is fully in favor of putting the YMCA at the waterfront.

New Cambridge Resident 

• • Newly retired and new to Cambridge. She is out seeing what is happening in the city. She is retired from the Environmental Protection Agency. She is in favor of CWDI being environmentally conscious with all aspects of the project, including green products for building.

Mill St Resident

• • Previous work in city planning on the East and West coasts. Stated that attempts to plan the waterfront without first observing how the waterfront is now used, will not work.
  • Mill St resident has observed that the playground and picnic area next to the Sailwinds building is well used. She suggested that perhaps a coffee cart should be placed down at the site for the families that use the playground.
  • This could then be extended to having food trucks available in the same area.
  • One successful addition would lead to more ideas and would progress organically from the first addition of the coffee cart.

Alison Kennedy 

• • Building on the previous comment, there are numerous new and exciting temporary art installations that could enhance the waterfront area and attract people.
  • Drone Light Shows – there are shows that “tell a story”. Cambridge could do a story in the sky about Harriet Tubman or the Life of a Waterman.
  • Art installations that go into the water – Hong Kong Harbor currently has 2 large inflatable yellow Rubber Duckies anchored there to “make people happy”.
  • These shows could be seen from the bridge and could celebrate things that are uniquely Cambridge.
  • Pleasing to children and adults.

Lajan Cephas

• • Remembers a carnival that used to come to Cambridge when she was a child.

Sputty Cephas

• • Liked the comments that welcomed all residents to the waterfront to enjoy it.
  • Past conversations about the waterfront have catered to a certain group of people.
  • He likes the idea of food trucks offering different types of food in the waterfront area.

VI. NEW BUSINESS / BOARD MEMBER OPEN COMMENTS

No new business

VII. ADJOURN 5:30 PM

Notes taken by CAN member, Alison Kennedy

Photo by Kim Miller – Cambridge Creek