The newly revitalized Community and Economic Development Committee (CEDC) kicked off its first meeting on May 18 by outlining a $564,264 fiscal year budget aimed at boosting Yarmouth’s business appeal and infrastructure. Megan Eldridge, the town’s Director of Community Development who assumed the role of Chair, detailed a spending plan fueled entirely by rooms and meals taxes rather than residential property taxes. Eldridge noted that the fund has grown significantly following a 2023 amendment to include short-term rental revenue from platforms like Airbnb, stating that our goal is to broaden the economic base of the town and foster a sense of community.

The committee, which currently carries two vacancies, formalized its leadership structure as it prepares to tackle a backlog of projects and the ongoing impacts of the town's $207 million municipal sewer project. Motion Made by T. DiAntonio to appoint P. Malpass as Clerk. Motion Passed (5-0-0). Pete Malpass, a systems theorist and the only returning member from the committee’s previous iteration, advocated for using development funds to solve the Cape’s labor and housing shortages. I've discussed an idea where we set up building trades and get union guys to staff it for apprenticeships, locking them into staying on the Cape to build affordable housing in Yarmouth, Malpass suggested.

A primary concern for the committee is the restoration of the digital community information board at the Chamber of Commerce visitor center, which has been dark for a full year. Mary Vilbon, President and CEO of the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce, urged the committee to find a permanent fix after several failed repair attempts by outside contractors. We get calls weekly asking to put messages up. It's very effective for the public, Vilbon said. Committee member Will questioned the nature of the failure, asking, Is it a software issue or did someone smash it? Eldridge explained that while a $4,000 purchase order had been issued to a local sign company, the technical issues remain unresolved. Motion Made by P. Malpass to have M. Eldridge investigate the cost of replacing or repairing the digital sign, coordinating with M. Vilbon and the IT department. Motion Passed (5-0-0).

The FY27 budget breakdown allocates $150,000 for special events—including the Seaside Festival and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade—and $130,000 for public improvements. Eldridge reported that the town is also looking to fill an Economic Development Coordinator position that has been vacant for three years. This staffer will be tasked with helping businesses navigate the disruption of the Route 28 sewer rollout. Local business owner Tom pointed out that the town’s commercial tax base currently lags behind state averages. If we were at the Commonwealth average of 20% commercial, we'd be looking at $2 million every year instead of $560,000, he observed.

Regulatory hurdles also emerged as a theme, specifically regarding Yarmouth’s restrictive sign bylaws. Member Michelle asked if smaller ticker-style signs could be utilized to share information, but Eldridge cautioned that the current code limits community boards to just three locations to maintain the town's quaintness. Tom argued that the town’s communication regarding these rules is outdated, noting that neighboring Dennis provides visual examples for business owners while Yarmouth relies on dense verbiage. A picture is worth a thousand words for people who might not want to read through 30 lines of text, he said.

As the committee moves forward, members expressed a desire to align their work with the town’s new Local Comprehensive Plan. Tina DiAntonio emphasized her commitment to inclusive growth, stating, I'm interested in representing the population I serve in the community and helping Yarmouth grow. The committee plans to hold a goal-setting session next month to prioritize the $145,000 in economic development funds currently rolling over from previous cycles.