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Council committee backs $110,000 transfer to fund economic development master plan
Summary
The finance committee approved sending a $110,000 ARPA/free-cash transfer to the full council to contract the Marramac Valley Planning Commission for a citywide economic development master plan, with councilors requesting a scope of work, steering‑committee membership, and clear community engagement milestones.
The finance committee voted to forward a $110,000 transfer to the full City Council to fund an economic development master plan intended to set a 10-year roadmap for business attraction, workforce development and infrastructure investments.
Frank Sur, the city's economic development director, said the funds come from a Thriving Lawrence/ARPA free-cash allocation and that the city engaged the Marmamac Valley Planning Commission to lead the effort. Ian Burns of the Marmamac Valley Planning Commission described a roughly one-year process of data work, stakeholder focus groups, and a multi-year implementation plan; he said the commission is a regional public agency and can contract directly without a separate RFP.
Councilors pressed for a written scope of work, a clear steering committee that includes a council representative, and explicit measures to avoid Open Meeting Law pitfalls for council participation in focus groups. The director committed to circulating the scope and bringing a draft to a full council meeting for review before finalizing the plan. The full council will consider the transfer at its next meeting.
