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Residents, business leaders urge Southbury to restore full-time economic development director
Summary
Multiple public commenters at the Dec. 4 Southbury Board of Selectmen meeting urged the board to reinstate and fully fund a full-time economic development director, citing past accomplishments under Kevin Beielmeer and warning that volunteer commissions cannot substitute for a dedicated staff role.
Danielle Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Southbury Chamber and founder and publisher of Southbury Neighbors Magazine, told the Southbury Board of Selectmen on Dec. 4 that "Southbury's economic future depends on restoring and fully supporting the economic development director role." Hawthorne listed a string of accomplishments under the town's previous director and said the position paid for itself through business retention and recruitment.
"When Kevin Beielmeer was hired in 2009 … he built the department from the ground up," Hawthorne said, describing initiatives that included a concierge system to guide businesses through land-use approvals, new zoning provisions for breweries and wineries, a small-business training series, pandemic-era outreach for shuttered businesses, and implementation of an online permitting system. She said the town saw "over 100 new businesses register with the town in fiscal years 2023 and 2024" and that the director supported more than 65 ribbon cuttings.
Other public commenters backed that appeal. Jack Cesaro, chair of the Economic Development Commission, said the commission "thoroughly enjoyed" working with the prior director and urged the board to fund the position full-time and, if possible, recruit Kevin Beielmeer or someone with comparable experience. Robin Greenspan, a member of the Economic Development, Planning and Streetscape commissions, said volunteer commissions "cannot replace the day-to-day professional work of attracting interest, shaping proposals, and ensuring that potential opportunities don't slip by unnoticed." Mary Corsu, a longtime resident, urged the board to "fund that position, and maybe even give a little bit of a bonus to come back." Richard Borrett and Jerry Leventhaw echoed concerns about losing coordinated leadership and urged clearer commission involvement in personnel decisions.
The public comment period was unanimous in its theme: residents and local business leaders urged the board to restore a dedicated economic development leader to provide continuity, proactive outreach and strategic planning. The board did not take a vote on reinstating the position during the Dec. 4 meeting; the comments were submitted during the public-comment portion of the agenda and will inform future budget and staffing discussions.
The first selectman and other board members acknowledged the remarks but did not announce any immediate personnel actions or funding commitments. The board proceeded to routine business after public comment.
