Barkhamsted development planning gets down to business

BARKHAMSTED — With a finalized economic development plan in hand, Barkhamsted town officials have formed a new commission to put those recommendations into action.

The Board of Selectmen appointed seven residents to the town’s new Economic Development Commission late last month. The commission was sworn in and held its first meeting Feb. 4.

Last fall, the Board of Selectmen received the finalized Barkhamsted Economic Development Strategy report.

The study, which was commissioned by the town and conducted by a three-member consulting team, is expected to serve as the cornerstone of the town’s future economic development strategy.

Included in that report was the recommendation to create an Economic Development Commission.

The town formed its first commission in the early 1980s, but it ceased to exist as a formal town board a number of years ago.

Moving forward on the study group’s recommendation, late last year the selectmen approved a new charter to re-form an Economic Development Commission.

First Selectmen Don Stein told The Journal Tuesday that the commission will be an important part of the town’s development strategy by working to promote and develop economic resources for the town.

“Hopefully, we can do something to attract businesses along Route 44 and to revitalize Riverton,†Stein said.

The commission’s mission will address four specific areas defined in the finalized report: promoting Barkhamsted as a business and tourist destination; attracting jobs for Barkhamsted residents; developing a proactive program to facilitate the location and expansion of quality businesses and community assets that are consistent with the character of the town; and ensuring that community development activities develop and follow the economic development strategy.

“And we want to build on that,†Stein said.

Although eventually all commission members will be appointed for five-year terms, the initial appointment lengths have been staggered so that not everybody turns over at the same time.

In addition, through a proposed charter change at the annual town meeting this year, Stein said the selectmen hope to officially expand the committee to include three formal alternates.

The committee will hold its regularly scheduled meetings on the third Thursday of every month beginning at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. The board’s next meeting is Feb. 18.

For more information about the new Economic Development Commission, visit the board’s page on the town Web site at barkhamsted.us.

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