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SPENCER – The makeup and charge of the revised Economic Development Committee was a recent topic of discussion by Selectmen, with Vice Chair Jonathan Viner saying he was “not crazy about” the board’s composition and that its purpose needs clarification.
Viner requested the issue be put on the December 18 meeting agenda – feeling it needed re-visiting and updating now the town has adopted a new master plan and conducted studies about housing, downtown and other related matters.
Town Administrator Jeff Bridges acknowledged that nine studies have been done and that he could see that information is sent to the board.
Viner called the charge for the Economic Development Committee “open ended and vague,” as it read now—in part, asking for “six members of the business community.” He said the “experience or nature,” of the members should be better defined.
Selectman Gary Woodbury said it is important for that committee to get “the most up to date information coming at us.”
Woodbury said they should know if the members are current business owners or ran them five, 10 or more years ago. He also said the people did not necessarily have to be owners, but rather, for example, a plant manager or other leadership position at Flexcon.
Bridges responded that Flexcon had been invited to have a representative serve and was not able to.
In addition to the community business participants, the Economic Development Committee will be comprised of two Selectmen, one Planning Board member and one Zoning Board member.
Viner and Chair Jared Grigg are the Selectmen’s representatives.
Discussion ensued as to whether having a commercial developer or someone with real estate experience would be beneficial or detrimental because of conflict of interest.
Selectman Ralph Hicks questioned whether someone from the business community might discourage another business owner from coming into Spencer because they regard them as competition.
“No matter what, there will be conflicts,” he added.
Bridges said the composition of the board was left “broad,” intentionally because there was not a “deep pool,” from which to draw (potential members).
He noted the ZBA has only four members currently and Chair Donna Parker is part of the proposal. She would have to recuse herself from certain matters. The situation with the Planning Board representative is different, he said, because if someone must step aside on an issue, there still will be a quorum.
Grigg said he would hate to see the newly revamped committee send away members when it is only just getting started and manned again.
Hicks said to keep in mind the goal is to help Spencer grow commercially. Many business owners are very busy and do not even have time to take vacations, he said, and may not be available to serve on a town board.
Woodbury said he has been around for 16 years and Spencer has “done nothing,” in regards to economic development/growth.
“We need to get inventive,” Woodbury said. “We need to look at a lot of things…This is one of the most important things that is going to happen to this town. Are we going to stay stagnant like we are now?”
Bridges responded that he did not think the town is stagnant, nor did the people appointed to the committee “have any intention of keeping it stagnant…”
Woodbury countered that he never said the members wanted to keep Spencer stagnant. He added it is time to move forward (with economic development).
Bridges said when he arrived at the job three years ago, the economic board had three members and “one of them is in jail…So we put this back together and identified specific people to add value to the committee.”
Viner said he would like to see a cross section of people from the business community serve. He said he did not have a particular problem with any of the suggested members and did not know them.
The town administrator suggested they have a meeting and get to know the membership before concluding “whether or not they are inadequate.”
Both Viner and Woodbury countered they never said anyone was inadequate, but rather wanted to make sure the committee’s composition “is well-defined.”
Grigg asked whether future action on the issue would involve removing someone slated to serve on the committee.
“I’m not opposed to it if it is in the interest of forming a better committee,” Viner replied.
He added they should be mindful when determining and specifying the “nature of the people on there.”
Grigg ended the discussion by telling Selectmen to send further feedback to Bridges so he can consolidate it and put the matter on a future agenda.
The Economic Development Committee is scheduled to meet on January 6 at 6 p.m., both in person at Town Hall and remotely.
