Date: Fri 22-May-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

EDC-Win-Ballard-development

Full Text:

Development Panel Gets A New Chairman

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The Economic Development Commission Tuesday elected Win Ballard as its new

chairman.

Mr Ballard, who joined the board only two months ago, fills a seat that had

been vacant since Walter Motyka stepped down last year after several years of

service. The former Legislative Council member says the EDC, with almost all

new members, has a lot of catching up to do.

"With all the new people, it's almost like starting over, he said, crediting

community development director Liz Stocker and member Rick Labash with keeping

things alive while the board was stagnant.

The EDC went six months without holding a meeting due to a lack of members.

The commission now has a full commission of nine.

Mr LaBash and James Juliano were both re-elected vice chairman and secretary,

respectively.

The EDC has a long list of things to do in the coming year, including an

update of the town's five-year plan of economic development, which was last

completed in 1993. The group also wants to revise the town's promotional

video, which is outdated.

The EDC is also under pressure to revise the town's tax deferral program,

which has been a source of concern to town officials over the past year. Some

new businesses opened for business under the impression that they would

receive some sort of tax savings for moving to Newtown. However, the

Legislative Council never approved a tax deferral plan and some town

officials, including First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, oppose offering tax

incentives.

"There are other things a town can do to attract businesses," Mr Ballard said.

He plans to form a committee to discuss various business incentives which may

or may not include a tax deferral recommendation.

The EDC may also host a business appreciation event in the fall. Details have

not yet been worked out, but the event would be used to reach out to the

businesses in Newtown, Mrs Stocker said.

"In the past, we have held receptions and trade shows co-sponsored by the EDC

and the Chamber of Commerce of Newtown," Mrs Stocker said.

On Tuesday, the EDC also discussed the controversial Batchelder property on

Swamp Road. Because the area is said to be suffering from some environmental

contamination, the commission opted to leave the issue in the hands of the

town's land-use agencies.