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Business leaders urge council to restore economic development staff, warn cuts will harm downtown
Summary
Representatives of the local business association said removing the economic development adviser and cutting planning staffing threatens downtown revitalization and local revenues. They urged the council to reconsider cuts and work collaboratively with businesses.
Business owners and the Economic Development Advisory Committee used public comment at the May 27 meeting to ask council to preserve economic development capacity.
Jason Sangpiel (S7), who identified himself as a lifelong resident and local business owner, said the council’s pattern of decisions "sends a loud message. The business community is not a priority," and pointed to the elimination of the economic development officer and withdrawal from the Main Street program as concrete examples. Hannah (S8), introduced by the mayor, echoed that small businesses contribute real tax and fee revenue and argued cuts would harm the town’s long‑term economic health.
Other speakers — including a written letter from Tamara Dean, chair of the Economic Development Advisory Committee — warned that removing the adviser would undermine recruitment and investor confidence. Amanda Dayton (read into the record) and other commercial property owners cautioned that losing planning and permitting expertise will create roadblocks for property upkeep and small business operations.
Those public comments were raised directly in later council discussion as members weighed whether cutting roughly 0.6 FTE in economic development and 5.6 FTE overall would produce net savings or create downstream costs. The council did not act on personnel changes at the May 27 meeting.
Speakers asked the council to engage as a partner with businesses rather than viewing economic development purely as a cost center; staff and EDAC said they were willing to work on alternative proposals if the council directed them to do so.
