New Business Committee Discussed for Borough
The Planning Boards debated the benefits of improved input from the business community through a new committee.
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Business owners and operators in the borough may soon have added input into the decisions of the Planning Board.
Mayor Nelson Vaughan proposed forming a business committee in the Sept. 1 meeting of the Planning Board, citing the need for more involvement and outreach to local businesses.
Planning Board Chairperson Richard E. Crater said he knew that many people in the business community in Chatham were "frustrated" by their lack of involvement in decisions that affected them, and by the "inability of local boards to reach out to them."
Board member Bruce Harris suggested bringing a professional planner onto the board. In the past, planning board members have made the decisions that they thought was best without much professional consultation, resulting in a city plan that "reflects the interests and preferences of whose who were on the Planning Board at the time," Harris said.
Board members agreed to discuss the possibility of forming such a committee at the next meeting on Sept. 15.
Paul J. Norbury
8:41 pm on Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Would this "professional planner"be the same as the BID that was turned down in the spring? Remember the Town paid $20,000.00 to the gentleman who came up with a bunch of bad business promotional programs that no one seemed that want to be invovled with. Isn't this what the Chamber is supposed to be doing?I urge the Board members to reach out to the local business owners and find out how many really are interested in this committee
Dr. Joseph J. Murphy
11:35 am on Thursday, September 9, 2010
I agree with Mr. Crater and Mr. Harris in that there needs to be more and better comunication between the town government and the business community. Unfortunately, exactly how that interaction will occur is the problem that needs to be solved. The failed BID is a prime example.
We want interaction but not bigger government or unneeded oversight. We want to be able to serve the needs of the community, reduce tax ratables, and bring people to the downtown area to shop, all the while improving the esthetics of the down town area and the quality of local life for Chatham residents. Better business=better town=happy residents.
sal arnuk
6:28 am on Friday, September 10, 2010
The BID failed the first time, and taxpayer funds were needlessly spent. It would seem to me that bringing up a "professional planner" so soon after the first BID failed is not accounting for the real business and taxpayer needs. I think that if we want to help local businesses, the best thing we can do is make it as cheap as possible for them to operate. I also think that the local government should use local business wherever possible (ie. REC should buy sports equipment in town, local landscaping firms should be used for projects, as well as law firms... you get the drift).
Even though I live in the township, I have a business in the borough, and spend much time and funds there, which is why I am responding, respectfully.