Cary looking into economic development, arts

Cary officials are looking into the possibility of creating an economic development committee and an arts commission, after such bodies were disbanded years ago.

Business owners in Cary could work with the economic development committee by giving input about how to attract more businesses to town, Trustee Robert Bragg said during an administration and development committee meeting Tuesday.

The village could also look into funding an arts commission by seeking contributions from local businesses and then matching those contributions, said trustee Rick Dudek, who chairs the administration and development committee.

Dudek asked village staff to contact other suburban municipalities and research who serves on their economic development committees — and what those committees’ objectives are.

“This is, to me, a pretty important committee to put together; it has always been,” Dudek said, adding he recognized that such initiatives don’t always work. “We should be able to get the genesis together sometime within the next 90 days.”

The village’s economic development committee was disbanded in 2004, and the arts commission in 2005, Village President Tom Kierna said.

Trustee Bruce Kaplan, who previously served on the economic development committee, advocated its re-establishment during his campaign for trustee earlier this year. At the meeting, Kaplan suggested that a task force headed by a couple of trustees report back to either the committee or the full board at a later date.

Trustee Jeff Kraus asked whether the village had any petty cash to contribute to an arts commission. Finance Director Ron Pfeiffer said there might be money for small expenses, but ongoing funding would require a budget amendment.

An arts commission would provide opportunities to children whose school districts have cut arts or music programs, Trustee Karen Lukasik said.

Trustee Dudek suggested broadening the scope of the commission to include beautification initiatives. “It wouldn’t bother if me if the arts committee took six months to come back,” he said.

The creation of an economic development committee should take precedence over an arts commission, trustee Kraus agreed.

Trustee Raymond Chisholm, who was sitting in the audience, expressed doubts a committee would help bring new business into town. “Unfortunately with the times I am not sure what we can do,” he said, pointing to vacant businesses and properties in Cary and surrounding towns.