The Board of Selectmen revisited the discussion about a potential full-time Economic Development Director at its Thursday night meeting, though no action was taken.
Board members agreed that the role could benefit the town and its business community if the right steps were taken forward.
Following the board’s previous meeting, where members of the Economic Development Commission raised concerns about the lack of an Economic Development Director, town officials reiterated that the earlier decision to defund the position was a budgetary decision made by the Board of Finance, not a personnel decision.
Selectman Jason Van Stone said that he thinks the job description can be improved and set up for success with a better understanding of goals and deliverables.
“I was unhappy about how it shook out last time,” Van Stone said. “Looking forward, I would concur that it’s an important position.”
During last year’s budget discussions, former EDD Kevin Bielmeier was invited to several Board of Finance meetings to essentially defend the position, as some Board of Finance members said measurable metrics of commercial growth were never delivered. Van Stone noted on Thursday that Bielmeier’s original job description did not reference specific goals or deliverables.
“I think checking in once a year and saying you did a good job or not in budget time probably isn’t the right way to do it,” Van Stone said. “I think we need to build the position in a way where it can show that it’s returning our investment on it.”
First Selectman Tim O’Neil agreed that the town could do a better job with the job description this time around. Bielmeier was the town’s first and only Economic Development Director, originally hired in 2019.
“I think if we’re going to compete with other towns around us, we really need somebody in that position,” O’Neil said.
Selectwoman Kelly Keenan, who previously served on the town’s Economic Development Commission, said a full-time EDD should be reinstated with the thought of aligning the position with the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD).
“I think it’s an important part of the town and I think it’s important when we have this conversation to understand that success doesn’t happen overnight with stuff like this,” Keenan said. “It’s going to take a strategic, consistent approach in order to build that kind of continuity and the building of the relationships with local businesses that is necessary to retain them.”
The POCD, a guiding document for the town’s economic and preservation goals that is required to be updated every 10 years, was officially adopted in early 2023. Some of those goals call for “Economic Development” to take the lead, with support from other town departments.
The former EDD was also the first point of contact for many residents looking to start a business and navigate the town’s permitting process.
Correspondence from the town’s Economic Development Commission to the Board of Selectmen states that the town’s “growth as a community and business momentum is at risk without an expert in this role.” The commission further recommended the re-hiring of Bielmeier.
Selectman Van Stone said he would rather see an open and honest job posting, and also floated the idea of performance-based bonuses for the job.
Selectwoman Wendy Bernard said the job should be open to multiple candidates, but stated she “viscerally” disagreed with the idea of performance-based bonuses.
“I think that lends itself to some questionable motives, which I would like to not entertain,” she said.
With details still left to iron out, there seemed to be unanimous support of the position as a whole by the board.
Playground or Splash Pad?
Members of the board briefly discussed a request from the Parks and Recreation Department to reallocate funds originally intended for a splash pad. The department is specifically requesting that the funds be used for the refurbishing of town parks, including those at Ballantine and Settlers.
These funds were originally available via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). About half of the originally earmarked amount ($350,000) was used to build a pickleball court. The remaining amount of approximately $183,000 is looking to be reallocated.
Selectman Holly Sullivan suggested looking into possible grant opportunities to fund the playground’s accessibility upgrades.
“If we could somehow be creative with finding more money to do both, that would be, obviously, the ideal solution,” she said.
In a letter from the Parks and Recreation Department to the Board of Selectmen, dated October 20, it is stated that the playground at Ballantine Park “is only about 1 year old, but it gets lots of use from 155 campers playing on it daily during summer camp.”
The letter, signed by Parks and Rec Director Meghan Lennon, continues, “Last fall, the playground needed a costly replacement part, and this fall there is currently caution tape wrapped around another broken structure that will cost thousands of dollars.”
The Board of Selectmen agreed that a good plan forward would be to meet with both the Finance Department and the Parks and Rec Department to see what is possible. First Selectman O’Neil also invited comments from the public at future meetings.
America 250th Committee
Southbury’s America 250th Committee has been made official, with members on hand Thursday night to preview how the town will show its patriotism for the nation’s semi-quincentennial.
The committee is made up of John Dwyer, Melinda Elliott and Mary Korsu.
Some plans include a monument at the Memorial Green, next to Town Hall, to honor soldiers of the American Revolutionary War. There will also be an upcoming series of lectures by the Southbury Historical Society (SHS).
The group also hopes to rally local support around repairing Shadrach Osborne’s grave, located within the White Oak Cemetery. Osborne was the town’s inaugural First Selectman, chosen at a town meeting in 1787.
There will also be the designation of being a “Victory Town”, which is exclusively available for municipalities located along the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route. With funds used by the SHS, Southbury joins other towns like Newtown, Monroe, Woodbury and nearly 200 others as a “Victory Town”.
Some benefits of the special designation include a unique Victory Town historic marker.
Following a presentation by Dwyer, the Board of Selectmen voted to make the America 250 Committee official.
Korsu, joined by her husband on their anniversary, spoke at Thursday’s meeting.
“We are here to say that this is very important to us, and we hope that you agree,” she said.
The next Board of Selectmen meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 15.
Members of the board have also started new liaison assignments, where they will report back to the full board from their respective town commissions and committees.
Selectwoman Wendy Bernard will be the board’s liaison to the IPOC (Investment Portfolio Oversight Committee) and the Senior Services Commission.
Selectwoman Cathy De Carli will be the board’s liaison to the Conservation Commission and the Library Board of Directors.
Selectwoman Kelly Keenan will be the board’s liaison to the Economic Development Commission, the Parks and Recreation Commission, and the LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Committee).
Selectman Holly Sullivan will continue in her role as the board’s liaison to the Region 15 Board of Education.
Selectman Jason Van Stone is tasked with being the board’s liaison to the Energy Task Force and the EMS Committee.
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