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Select Board approves planning process and $35,000 consultant request for a housing and economic development strategy
Summary
Economic Development Director Abby Sherman proposed forming a housing and economic development task force to replace the EDC and asked for a one-time $35,000 local-options-tax contract to produce a six-month strategic housing and economic plan; the board voted to proceed and later disbanded the EDC and thanked its members.
The Select Board voted to pursue a housing and economic development strategy and to authorize a one-time $35,000 expenditure from the local options tax economic-development fund to contract a consultant for a rapid, action-oriented plan. Economic Development Director Abby Sherman told the board the plan would be a six-month process to develop a roadmap for housing, marketing and business investment and would produce actionable initiatives rather than a report "that sits on a shelf."
Sherman proposed creating a new housing and economic development task force of roughly five members (majority Woodstock residents with possible nonresident experts) to advise on policy, funding models and partnerships; the group would include an ex-officio planning-commission liaison and focus on removing barriers to housing development and identifying funding strategies.
After discussion the board moved a vote to accept the strategy proposal and to disband the existing Economic Development Commission (EDC). The board also read a letter of appreciation to EDC members for past service and said the new task force would build on the commission's work.
Board members emphasized the need for a data-driven approach and faster implementation to address housing supply, and several residents and planning officials expressed support for an appointed, public process.
