LIVERMORE — Tuesday, March 2, selectpersons approved investigating the formation of an Economic Development Committee.
An Economic Development committee could influence private investments and drive responsible growth, administrative assistant to the selectpersons Aaron Miller said at the Feb.16 meeting.
At that meeting, additional information including a mission statement, goals of the committee and number of members were requested by Selectperson Brett Deyling.
“At the board’s request, I’ve come up with a mission, some of the things this group would be doing,” Miller said.
“The mission of the Economics Development Committee is to make recommendations to the Administrative Assistant and/or selectboard on strategies for stimulating economic development in Livermore,” according to an information sheet provided by Miller. “This includes developing recommendations for strategies to attract new business, to encourage business expansion and retain existing businesses with a goal of increasing Livermore’s commercial and industrial base, redeveloping underutilized and vacant properties, creating jobs, and creating an environment conducive to business development.”
Committee objectives listed are: identify available programs and resources in the region for business development, develop strategies to address issues and concerns identified by residents and business, reviewing ordinances and proposing any changes, and create a ‘brand’ for the Town of Livermore.
Emails have been received from three people interested in serving on the committee, Miller said. One of the concerns at the last meeting was not generating enough interest (filling seats on the committee), he noted.
What’s the difference between an Economic Development committee and the Planning Board, Selectperson Tracey Martin asked.
“The Planning Board is our governing body,” Miller said. “Approving applications, upholding ordinances. This is more a group of people taking time to pound the pavement and look at generating any business in our town, creating a vision for your community, working with everyone to see where they see the town today, where they see it going, developing a brand.”
Two of the three people interested are members of the Planning Board, Miller said.
“Is that a conflict of interest when driving business to town, then sitting on the second board,” Martin asked.
Have them recuse themselves, Planning Board Chair James Manter said. “We’d have to look out for that.”
It looks fine to me, I just don’t like people being on both Economic Development Committee and the Planning Board,” Selectperson Scott Richmond said. “You have a hard time getting a quorum on the Planning Board as it is. If someone has to sit out because they’re on the Economic Development Committee, that’s going to put a burden on the Planning Board.”
While agreeing those are valid concerns, Manter said the Planning Board’s function is to enforce the application process and ensure applicants have met the criteria. The conflict was seen as minor, having to be wiser, he noted.
It’s not uncommon for people to serve in various capacities, wear many hats in municipal government, Miller said.
Forming a group to talk about what the committee would look like, what it would do, was suggested by Martin.
“It’s all spelled out here,” Richmond said.
There’s a lot of gray when it comes to driving business, things could be as minor as the color of a sign, Martin said.
That adds perspective to whatever is going on, Miller said, adding, we need more people to add perspective.
That won’t happen if people from the Planning Board are on the committee, Martin said.
“I don’t see a problem with putting it out there, seeing what kind of interest we get,” Richmond said.
“From a Planning Board perspective, I’m comfortable working with that committee, manage their focus on what we do on the Planning Board,” Manter said. “From a community perspective, I think it will grow. A few people are engaged, motivated to help get it going. That’s a positive for the community.”
Selectpersons Mark Chretien, Martin and Richmond voted to form the committee. Selectpersons Deyling and Benjamin Guild were absent.
The board also approved applying for a communities facilities technical assistance and training grant through the United States Department of Agriculture.
The grant is for $150,000 maximum with matching funds preferred but not required, Miller said at the last meeting.
You’re not really raising money to do any of this stuff, hiring engineers to look at planning, what your needs are, identifying resources,” Miller said. He noted he had spoken with Deyling about the proposed solar panels being one area the grant could be used for.
“Identifying the needs for that facility, surveying,” he said. “A lot of it is financial, guiding you through what your options are.”
The town doesn’t have matching funds but it wouldn’t hurt to apply, Richmond said.
“If you don’t apply for it, you can’t get it,” he noted. “It’s worth a shot. If they don’t have a lot of people apply, we may get some.”
Another area the grant could be used for is to mediate the Asian knotweed situation at the transfer station, Miller said.
The board also agreed to postpone the first meeting with the Budget Committee until 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 15. The proposed budget had not been finalized and selectpersons had requested a week to review it before the meeting.
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