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Economic Commission Gets Back To Work After Hiatus

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The Economic Development Commission (EDC) met Tuesday night for the first time

since October and immediately set about making up the lost time.

The board had been struggling to fill its vacant seats and, until this week,

had not been able to assemble enough members in one room to make up a quorum.

Last month, however, the Board of Selectmen appointed some new members to the

EDC, and the commission was finally up and running this week.

"I think the commission is really revitalized," said Community Development

Director Elizabeth Stocker. "With the new membership we have a lot of new

ideas and people seem very willing to move forward with projects."

Tuesday night's meeting included six new members, so the majority of the time

was spent bringing them up to date on the current economic state of the town.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal joined Mrs Stocker to discuss where the town

currently stands and the direction it hopes to go.

The bottom line is that Newtown is looking for "orderly planned development"

with the character of the town being kept in mind, according to Mr Rosenthal.

Mrs Stocker said the three key areas for future economic growth in town that

need to be addressed are: the plan of development for the Hawleyville section

of town, the 37-acre "technology park" at Fairfield Hills and the entire

Fairfield Hills campus, which is currently being evaluated by the state and

town for future use.

The EDC will also need to determine if Newtown needs a tax incentive plan to

help attract new businesses into the community. Last year, an EDC-proposed tax

abatement program was implemented by the Board of Selectmen. However, it has

been the source of confusion between town officials and business owners ever

since. Two of Newtown's newest companies -- Neumade Products and Sonics &

Materials -- claim they were offered tax breaks for coming to town. However, a

tax deferral program was never approved by the Legislative Council and now

there is some doubt as to whether or not the companies will get what they were

allegedly promised.

Seeking a tax-break ordinance in early 1997, the EDC presented the tax

deferral program to the council, but never returned after council members

asked them to refine certain sections of the proposal. The administration of

former First Selectman Bob Cascella then passed a resolution supporting tax

breaks, a move that came as a surprise to the council, which was still

awaiting word from the EDC.

All eyes are on the EDC to see what its next move will be. However, with six

new members, it may be a few months before any moves are made.

The EDC also needs to update the town's strategic plan of economic

development, which provides goals and objectives on where the town's future

economic growth will occur. The plan, last updated in 1992, helps define the

kinds of businesses the town would bring in. It also addresses the activities

required to bring businesses in.

According to Mrs Stocker, there are several other issues that need to be

addressed by the EDC, including the town's advertising campaign and marketing

program.

The board does not currently have a chairman. Rick LaBash is the EDC's vice

chairman and would be the odds-on favorite to be elected chair at the board's

next meeting in May.

The remaining members of the EDC include Jim Juliano, Eugene Kiely, Win

Ballard, Geoff Dent, John Madzula, Ann Silver and Denise David.