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Council approves declaratory resolution for Great Lakes Lamination expansion
Summary
The Bristol Town Council voted unanimously June 19 to adopt a declaratory resolution clearing the way for a tax abatement for Great Lakes Lamination’s planned 50,000‑square‑foot expansion; the company says it will invest roughly $32 million and add about 15 jobs.
The Bristol Town Council on June 19 adopted Resolution 619205‑11, a declaratory resolution to begin the tax‑abatement process for Great Lakes Lamination’s planned expansion, after a unanimous 5‑0 vote.
Joel Rowan, who introduced himself to the council as Great Lakes’ chief financial officer, told the council the company — owned by the Smith family — currently employs about 200 people in Bristol and is proposing a 50,000‑square‑foot addition and associated office space. “We’re looking to do about $32 million into that building,” Rowan said, and added that the expansion “should create 15 jobs” while allowing the company to reassign existing staff to manufacturing roles.
Rowan outlined prior investments at the site, saying the firm has put roughly $6 million into the property and about $10 million into equipment. He said the project’s equipment needs include another laminator (which he described as the largest single ticket item) that would cost “about a million dollars” plus ancillary equipment. Rowan thanked the town for prior abatements that he said helped the company keep investing.
Town Manager Mike Yod and staff presented the resolution as a two‑step process: the declaratory resolution approved June 19 will be followed by a confirmatory resolution and a public hearing as part of the formal abatement process. Yod said the confirmatory resolution and public hearing are scheduled for July 17.
Council members moved and seconded the resolution, and the roll call showed five votes in favor: Doug Smith, Dean Renfro, Kathy Burke, Greg Olson and Jeff Beach. The council provided no substantive conditions in the meeting’s recorded remarks; staff indicated further public notice and a later hearing will be part of the final abatement proceedings.
What happens next: the confirmatory resolution and a public hearing are scheduled for July 17; staff will provide required public notices and follow the statutory public‑hearing process before any final abatement is adopted.
