This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Time Is of the Essence

As Clinton’s experienced first selectman, I will overhaul our entire land use and development efforts, because what we have is not working. We must target what we can actually accomplish, short- and long-term, to maximize our tax base and generate more taxpaying businesses and homeowners.

How? By forming an economic development corporation—a not-for-profit organization working with our Chamber of Commerce and a restructured land use operation under the direction of a new director of planning. Everybody connected to land use would report to a professional director, a true economic and infrastructure pro who also considers our health, safety, environment and quality of life focusing on reality, not pie in the sky.

We also have to come to grips with what developers are able and willing to do to maximize our revenues and be equitable for them, too. Our larger sites have environmental or wastewater issues—or both—and are challenges we face. An economic development corporation provides us with strategies for growth in revenues, investment in Clinton, regional or other partnerships, state and federal support and environmental remediation where possible, community support, infrastructure improvements, public open space, and conservation.

Time is of the essence. Let us grow our revenues like other towns in Connecticut do. This, coupled with marketing to businesses and families including info about the new Morgan and our outstanding school system, will serve us well. I continue to have a dialogue with other town and city economic development organizations willing to assist us. I will hold a forum on this restructuring effort.

I encourage your readers to vote for me in box 2e on the ballot by filling in the oval and writing in “Bruce Farmer.”

First Selectman Bruce Farmer

Clinton

Republican Bruce Farmer is seeking re-election as a write-in candidate.