Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Infrastructure Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
TDAC discusses Elm Street bump-out kiosk, banner program and reports strong downtown activity
Summary
Committee members reviewed sidewalk sale turnout and new businesses, and discussed a proposed informational kiosk at an Elm Street bump-out, banner designs and kiosk maintenance procedures.
Members of the Tourism and Downtown Advisory Committee (TDAC) discussed recent downtown activity and several proposed public improvements, including a kiosk at a large Elm Street bump-out, a lamppost banner program and maintenance rules for any new kiosk.
TDAC member Laura gave a positive report on downtown business activity following a recent sidewalk sale and said "there are no vacancies on Elm Street" and only "one or two, maybe three on Main Street." She noted two new bakeries opened within a week of each other and other new businesses have taken recently vacant storefronts.
Committee members discussed the large bump-out at Elm and South Avenue that resulted from a 25-foot crosswalk requirement. Tucker said the committee is considering a multisided, non-digital kiosk at the site to display downtown events and directional information. TDAC member Jack raised concerns about upkeep and cited a Ridgefield kiosk as an example: "If you're gonna build a kiosk, somebody better check it because the Ridgefield one looks like really ratty a lot of the time. Stuff is outdated. Stuff is ripped." Jack recommended the committee assign responsibility for maintaining kiosk content.
Members agreed kiosk designs should include lockable doors to prevent unauthorized postings and that a content-approval process (similar to the town fence poster process) would be used. Jack and others said an approval workflow and a content calendar would help keep information current.
On banners, Jack said the committee will develop design mock-ups for lamppost banners; Tucker and others noted the hardware used for veterans banners is already in place on some posts and suggested matching that size for compatibility.
Why this matters: The kiosk and banner program would provide a long-term, visible way to direct visitors and promote downtown events. Committee members flagged maintenance and content governance as critical to prevent the kiosk from becoming outdated.
No formal vote was taken on the kiosk or banner program; the group will return with designs and a content plan for review.
