WEST BOYLSTON TO EXPAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE
At the March 7, 2007 meeting of the Board of Selectmen, the Board voted to expand the membership of the Economic Development Task Force from its existing five members to seven members.
Economic Development Task Force:
Promoting economic development is one area where the Town can help itself increase its financial position and achieve needed new growth. The Master Plan identifies the fact that there is no one entity charged with economic development in the Town and it suggests the creation of an Economic Development Committee to rectify that situation. The Selectmen voted to appoint an advisory committee to the Board of Selectmen with the following Mission: To develop a stronger tax revenue stream from the commercial sector - without sacrificing West Boylston’s ecology and character - in order to reduce the tax burden currently carried by taxpayers and to meet the increasing revenue demands of the future. To revitalize the business districts and other commercial districts, in order to protect property values and retain our
current commercial base. To acknowledge the important contribution of West Boylston’s business community to our Town's economic sustainability and to maintain a strong and lasting relationship between Town government and the commercial sector.
The Committee shall consist of seven (7) West Boylston residents, appointed to a three-year term. All members shall be individuals with specific professional business-related credentials (i.e., bankers, accountants, marketers, developers, real estate brokers), and an environmental professional. A member of the Planning Board and a member of the Board of Selectmen shall be ex-officio members and all appointed members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Town Administrator.
It is expected that the Economic Development Committee shall develop short-term (commercial revitalization) and long-term (small business expansion and local ownership new enterprise development) strategies in keeping with the above mission statement. This committee shall improve communication between the town government and the business community, debate economic development policy for the Town, seeks to develop a consensus and promote economic growth. In addition, the Committee will be asked to report back to the Town Administrator and the Board of Selectmen as to whether or not it would be prudent to create a formal Economic Development Commission as per MGL Chapter 40 (8A).
Any resident of the Town interested in serving on any of these committees should send a letter or email of interest to Town Administrator Leon A. Gaumond Jr. The mailing address is 120 Prescott Street, West Boylston, MA 01583 and the email address is lgaumond@westboylston.com.
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