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Select Board member urges more transparency from Economic Development Committee
Summary
An unnamed Select Board member raised concerns that the Bennington Economic Development Committee (created in 2021) has left residents and some board members "clueless" about downtown projects such as Putnam Block Phase 2 and a proposed grocery store; other board members said the EDC is advisory and that project decisions come to the Select Board.
During discussion on the open meeting complaint, an unnamed Select Board member pressed the board on transparency around the Bennington Economic Development Committee and downtown projects.
The speaker said they had attended committee meetings and asked how citizens would participate, saying, "I'm clueless. The public is clueless." They cited that the Economic Development Committee "was created in 2021" and named projects they believed had not been fully discussed publicly, specifically noting the "Putnam Block Phase 2" and a proposed downtown grocery store. The speaker expressed concern that committee members could build momentum on projects without broader public awareness.
Several Select Board members pushed back, describing the Economic Development Committee as an advisory body. Ed Woods said the committee "provides guidance to this board where decisions are made," and Chair Tom Haley reiterated that if a project requires board action it must come before the Select Board. The chair repeatedly re-centered the meeting on the complaint and the attorney memorandum, saying members must limit remarks to matters on the public-facing memo or directly related to the complaint.
The transcript records disagreement about whether the committee's actions were appropriate to raise in this particular meeting; the board voted on the complaint and did not take separate action on EDC procedures or transparency.
