http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010712309863
Published December 30, 2010 in the Rutland Herald
Springfield On The Move seeks funds
By Susan Smallheer
Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield On The Move thinks a year of increased activity and doubling its membership should translate into a line item in the town budget for its $20,000 annual appropriation.
“The downtown is often someone’s first impression of a community,” said Carol Lighthall, the group’s part-time executive director.
People can view the downtown as a litmus test of “‘Do I want to work here? Do I want to move here?’” Lighthall said.
But the Springfield Select Board so far has been noncommittal about the request from the nonprofit group, which functions as the designated downtown organization for the state’s downtown programs.
The Select Board has required Springfield On The Move to seek funding via a special appropriation at town meeting for the past two years, or have it collect the required 350 signatures that would put a funding request on the town meeting warning in March.
Lighthall, who made the request to the board this week, was told by board Chairman Kristi Morris that the board would take up that issue once the town started budget discussions next week.
According to Town Clerk Meredith Dexter Kelley, state law requires 5 percent of the town’s registered voters to sign a petition, such as many town meeting articles. She said Wednesday that she is telling all organizations they should have 350 signatures, which also will give them “wiggle room” in the event that some of the petition signers aren’t legitimate town residents.
Lighthall said the organization had doubled its membership in the past year, with 100 dues-paying members. And she said SOM had proved its worth to the town by undertaking and championing many important efforts in downtown Springfield, including the new Springfield Community Market, as well as the “community branding” effort launched this fall.
Lighthall said the Springfield On The Move website was “terribly out of date” but that she was in the process of revamping it, and she said the revitalized website would be launched at the end of January. The new website will feature “lots of photos and information” about the downtown, as well as government programs available for downtown property owners.
The group is going to launch a new program this spring targeted at improving downtown facades, she said, with some matching funds available for downtown businesses.
Under the plan, the funds would be available for painting or other cosmetic improvements.
She said Springfield On The Move was also working to establish a downtown legacy fund, which would set up a legal entity for people who want to donate or leave money toward downtown projects. “A lot of people in this town think about the downtown, not so much SOM,” she said.
Lighthall said the organization had a “very active” board made up of 18 people, including Select Board member Stephanie Gibson.
Town Manager Robert Forguites said Springfield On The Move needs a response to its request as soon as possible. If the board requires the group to seek the petition signatures, it needs time before the town warning is finalized in late January. “It’s something she needs to know,” he said.
Several downtown projects have received state and federal tax credits, Lighthall said, including the major renovation now under way at the old Fellows Gear Shaper building just north of the village downtown, and the rebuilding of the Ellis Block, which includes the Springfield Movie Theater, destroyed by fire in July 2008. The theater and new apartments are due to be finished this summer.
Forguites said other, earlier projects, including the Putnam Block, also benefited from the tax credit program, which is only available to downtowns that have a designated downtown group, such as Springfield On The Move. Steve Greene, a major downtown landowner, also benefitted from the tax credit program, Lighthall said.
Springfield On The Move seeks funds
By Susan Smallheer
Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield On The Move thinks a year of increased activity and doubling its membership should translate into a line item in the town budget for its $20,000 annual appropriation.
“The downtown is often someone’s first impression of a community,” said Carol Lighthall, the group’s part-time executive director.
People can view the downtown as a litmus test of “‘Do I want to work here? Do I want to move here?’” Lighthall said.
But the Springfield Select Board so far has been noncommittal about the request from the nonprofit group, which functions as the designated downtown organization for the state’s downtown programs.
The Select Board has required Springfield On The Move to seek funding via a special appropriation at town meeting for the past two years, or have it collect the required 350 signatures that would put a funding request on the town meeting warning in March.
Lighthall, who made the request to the board this week, was told by board Chairman Kristi Morris that the board would take up that issue once the town started budget discussions next week.
According to Town Clerk Meredith Dexter Kelley, state law requires 5 percent of the town’s registered voters to sign a petition, such as many town meeting articles. She said Wednesday that she is telling all organizations they should have 350 signatures, which also will give them “wiggle room” in the event that some of the petition signers aren’t legitimate town residents.
Lighthall said the organization had doubled its membership in the past year, with 100 dues-paying members. And she said SOM had proved its worth to the town by undertaking and championing many important efforts in downtown Springfield, including the new Springfield Community Market, as well as the “community branding” effort launched this fall.
Lighthall said the Springfield On The Move website was “terribly out of date” but that she was in the process of revamping it, and she said the revitalized website would be launched at the end of January. The new website will feature “lots of photos and information” about the downtown, as well as government programs available for downtown property owners.
The group is going to launch a new program this spring targeted at improving downtown facades, she said, with some matching funds available for downtown businesses.
Under the plan, the funds would be available for painting or other cosmetic improvements.
She said Springfield On The Move was also working to establish a downtown legacy fund, which would set up a legal entity for people who want to donate or leave money toward downtown projects. “A lot of people in this town think about the downtown, not so much SOM,” she said.
Lighthall said the organization had a “very active” board made up of 18 people, including Select Board member Stephanie Gibson.
Town Manager Robert Forguites said Springfield On The Move needs a response to its request as soon as possible. If the board requires the group to seek the petition signatures, it needs time before the town warning is finalized in late January. “It’s something she needs to know,” he said.
Several downtown projects have received state and federal tax credits, Lighthall said, including the major renovation now under way at the old Fellows Gear Shaper building just north of the village downtown, and the rebuilding of the Ellis Block, which includes the Springfield Movie Theater, destroyed by fire in July 2008. The theater and new apartments are due to be finished this summer.
Forguites said other, earlier projects, including the Putnam Block, also benefited from the tax credit program, which is only available to downtowns that have a designated downtown group, such as Springfield On The Move. Steve Greene, a major downtown landowner, also benefitted from the tax credit program, Lighthall said.
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