Economic Development Commission

Presses Council For New Staffer

By John Voket

Two representatives of the Newtown Economic Development Commission appeared before the Legislative Council March 2, to present information from a recent survey of local business people about how the town could bolster a business-friendly climate. But EDC Vice Chair Margaret Oliger and Commissioner Don Sharpe also took the opportunity to appeal to the council to add funding to the commission’s budget to hire a part-time assistant.

The Board of Selectmen recently voted to reduce a $20,000 EDC request to add a staff position, instead awarding an additional $5,000 to help underwrite economic development marketing and related activities.

Mr Sharpe first reminded the council that for every dollar in economic or commercial development benefit Newtown enjoys, taxpayers only spend about 26 cents to support and maintain services to those commercial initiatives.

He then said the EDC would like to move forward hiring an economic development coordinator, a 19-hour per week position that would primarily support the town’s Community Development Director Elizabeth Stocker.

The pair said that the individual would not only help Ms Stocker perform her highest priority tasks more efficiently, but would put a person in place who could begin acquiring “institutional knowledge” about how the community development office operates, Ms Oliger added. She said that having another staff person with such knowledge would be of great value and would “help bridge the gap” at such time, or in the event Ms Stocker was to leave her position here.

He also said the assistant would be used to better maintain the EDC website, as well as develop ways to use social networking to promote economic development opportunities in Newtown.

Council Chairman Jeff Capeci said that he was expecting to hear a presentation about the EDC survey, and how the commission was planning to move forward with its new data. And he was somewhat surprised to hear the appeal for adding more to the commission’s budget after the request was refused by the selectmen a few weeks ago.

First Selectman Pat Llodra, who was in attendance, told the council that she issued an across-the-board request for no new positions or programs to be added to department budgets, including the EDC. But selectman saw a need to provide some additional funding to the commission, so they settled on the $5,000 hike.

Councilman Ben Spragg further suggested the EDC wait until the upcoming budget is approved. Mr Spragg said that if the EDC was provided funding and hired an assistant on the promise of the money, and then the budget was reduced taking away the EDC funds, it would be “awkward,” because the EDC would have to either dismiss the new hire or find funding in its budget to maintain the payroll.

Council Vice Chair Mary Ann Jacob added that a lot of town departments probably wanted more funding to add staff positions, but they respected the selectmen’s request to curtail such requests in the current economy.

Mr Capeci said the council would still take the EDC request “under advisement,” and requested the commissioners move on to the survey presentation.

Survey Findings

At that point Ms Oliger detailed the key findings from the survey focusing first on a perception that local businesses were suffering because of issues and regulations tied to signage. She said the EDC wanted to work with other organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and local Rotary Club to better communicate rules and regulations, especially for small businesses.

Mr Sharpe added that the EDC was not trying to create situations that would change the character of Newtown, particularly in regard to sign regulations, but to try to promote consistency in enforcement. The pair also acknowledged that regulatory differences between the Borough of Newtown and the rest of the community were also frustrating to new businesses looking to establish in the town center, which has its own zoning regulations.

Councilman James Belden recognized the issues between borough and town signage rules, but said that any business owner who moved forward commissioning signage that was not permitted was making “a bad business decision.”

Ms Oliger also said the commission was dedicated to crafting a “roadmap” to help new businesses in town navigate all applicable boards and commissions. She then reviewed parts of an 11-item action list the EDC would use as its guide toward improving town and business relations.

Following the presentation, Councilman Gary Davis said he was pleased to see the level of work the EDC was doing to get input from local businesses, and that the commission was taking the concerns to heart. But he also recommended that if the commission wanted to appeal for more funding, it needed a greater level of detail in the funding request.

Citing the idea about using social media to enhance economic development and promotion of Newtown opportunities, Mr Davis said he would rather hear about exactly how the EDC would propose to use social media, versus just hearing about plans to hire a person to engage in the practice.

“We don’t know where you’re really trying to go,” Mr Davis said, adding if the EDC was asking for more resources, it needed to “build some excitement around what you’re trying to do — develop a vision about what kinds of businesses we want.”