Waddington residents asked for input on plans

WADDINGTON — The village's "to-do" list needs updating, and residents are being asked to give their opinions on what should come next.

The group responsible for implementing the second year of the village's development plan is holding a meeting Sunday to see which projects residents think are most important.

"The community development plan lists over 40 projects," said John F. Tenbusch, St. Lawrence County planner and village resident. "Before we just decide, 'Oh, we'll do item number 37,' whatever that is, I want the community to have some input and see if there's anything else the community wants to add, even if it's not on the list."

At the meeting, which will be at 7 p.m. in St. Mary's Parish Hall, a list of projects will be posted on the wall and people will get to vote on the five they would most like to see completed, or at least started, in 2010.

The projects include short-term efforts such as housing rehabilitation and long-term work such as updating the village's water and sewer system and completing renovations to the Clark House, an old hotel on Main Street that has been vacant for years.

There will be several meetings of the group every year; one to prioritize projects and others to make sure progress is being made.

"Those big plans for five years out, 10 years out, they tend to sit on the shelf and never get looked at," Mr. Tenbusch said. "Doing it this way and hopefully re-engaging the community each year will keep it alive."

The plan was developed by Camoin Associates in late 2008 and adopted in January. So far, the village has used it to strengthen grant applications, as well as for several other initiatives with the Chamber of Commerce. Since adopting the development plan, the village has been awarded $400,000for housing rehabilitation from the state Community Development Block Grant program. It also applied for a grant to fix the Clark House, a bid that was not successful.

"These people are donating their time continually, month after month and week after week to find things that will benefit the village and town and community at large," said Mayor Janet M. Otto-Cassada. "They're doing this for the betterment of the community."