Friday, May 9
DOVER -- A discussion about the Chittenden Bank branch closing in Dover led to a conversation about the role of the Dover Economic Development Committee Tuesday.

With the bank closing, many residents and business owners fear what this may mean for the economic stability of the area.

A number of people in town plan to talk to Chittenden or to get another bank in its place.

At a recent Selectboard meeting, Board member Adam Levine suggested that the issue should be taken up by "groups with words like 'commerce' or 'economic' in the title."

The year-old DEDC should head the effort, he said again Tuesday. The board agreed to authorize the DEDC to take on the issue.

This was based on a suggestion by DEDC member Don Albano. "We need power from the town of Dover to go to the bank as a representative," he said.

After the meeting, Chairman Bob Edwards said the groups would need to act fast but step carefully when addressing the bank issue.

"I think we need to move on it. Whatever happens needs to happen fairly quickly," he said. "We have to analyze how do we approach banks, how do we get someone to take interest in our area. It might be the kind of thing

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where we have to compensate someone to really go out there and promote this."

Also, Levine said, the bank issue was an opportunity to discuss "what the board's expectations are of the committee and the committee's expectations of the board."

The committee needed to be held accountable, he said. "How prepared is the Dover Economic Development Committee to go solicit anyone? Where are the reports? What is the progress?"

When the committee was first formed, resident Dwayne Coneeny said, "there was no direction. It was, 'You're the Dover Economic Development Committee. Go develop Dover's economy.'"

The DEDC has recently set out five points to work on to promote economic development in the town -- improve telecommunications, improve pedestrian and bicycle trails and access, promote events, develop a recreation or community center and beautify the town.

Edwards said it was risky to get away from these by taking on other tasks that may be classified as economy-related. "The idea was not to get sidetracked, mainly because there's so much to do."

With the committee completely run by volunteers, this idea of time played a big role in Tuesday's discussion.

"I'm not sure anyone in the committee has the time to drive this issue. I don't know if we can take this on at this point, at least on a volunteer basis," Edwards said.

Because of this, the Board also agreed to draft a job description for a part-time administrative assistant to help the DEDC.

Nicole Orne can be reached at norne@reformer.com or 802-254-2311, ext. 277.