^{Economic Development Citizen Advisory Committee Charge}

Title: Economic Development Citizen Advisory Committee

Status: Advisory – Appointed by the Town Council, to work with the Community Development Department.

Mission / Charge: To provide input and advice on matters relating to the Town’s strategic economic development opportunities and initiatives as well as developing a strategy and recommendations to enhance the Town Center.

Strategy and recommendations for the Town Center may include examination and review of previous studies and plans, current zoning and planning practices and ordinances, the current composition of the business and residential uses of the Town Center and the Nashua Regional Planning Commission’s ITRac Project Process.

Town Center development strategy and recommendations should strive to create a consistent character that provides an economic benefit to the community and enhances a “sense of place” for Merrimack. The strategy and recommendations may include but not be limited to the retention of a Town Center through architectural consistency, attracting and encouraging appropriate business, residential and recreational development, developing ordinances, making use of available economic tools, and exploring and seeking private and public donations, grants, and other monetary and advisory support.

Membership: Eleven (11) members, appointed by the Town Council, for staggered terms not to exceed three years. [Alternate Members are not necessary for this Committee.]

Appointment Criteria: Candidates should be solicited from the community at-large, based upon their interest and willingness to serve, and the relevant experience and knowledge that they can bring to the process. A structured questionnaire or interview process is recommended to allow a consistent comparison of the candidates and to provide a uniform basis for the selection of members. A suitable list of targeted questions will be generated to assist in the selection process.

Organization of Committee: Committee “Officers” are to include a Chairman and Vice Chairman, elected from among the Committee Members. A position of Secretary is also advised, to insure that there is adequate control over Committee communications.

Working Sub-Committees may be established and dissolved - on topics deemed relevant to the fulfillment of the Committee’s Mission - by a vote of the Committee. Sub-Committees shall: 1) Be “Chaired” by a Committee Member; 2) Include at least two Committee Members; and, 3) Have a minimum total membership of five members. Sub-Committee membership shall be determined by the Sub-Committee Chairman. Sub-Committee members should be recruited with the purpose of including qualified and interested citizens from the community at-large. Recruitment of Sub-Committee membership shall be at the discretion of the Sub-Committee Chairman.

The Committee, and any Sub-Committees, shall operate in compliance with “Right To Know Law” requirements regarding posting of meetings, minutes, etc.

Representative Activities: To research, identify, define, and advocate the unique attributes and characteristics of Merrimack’s quality of life that contribute to Merrimack’s “competitive advantage”;

To recommend appropriate and competitive strategies for conveying “The Merrimack Message” to our target economic development audiences;

To undertake the Community Economic Development Self-Assessment, to be conducted in conjunction with Northeastern University, under the direction of the Community Development Department;

To review information from the Town Economic Profile and recommend “pitch points” that should be highlighted in the Town’s outbound economic development messaging;

To periodically review, and make advisory recommendations concerning, the overall “branding and messaging” components of the Town’s overall economic development marketing materials;

To provide advice regarding appropriate “welcoming protocols” for prospective businesses seeking to relocate to the area.

Meeting Frequency: At the call of the Chair. Average meeting frequency is expected to be one meeting per month. More frequent meetings may be necessary initially, for organizational and orientation purposes, and to address the immediate tasks (Economic self-assessment, for example).

Budget: As recommended by Town Council, established by Town Meeting, and/or implemented by the Community Development Director.


Staff Support: Limited. It is expected that the Committee will be self-sufficient in attending to its charge. The Community Development Department can lend “limited resources” to the effort, but available staff time is severely limited. Staff will attend meetings, as necessary, in order to insure that Committee activities are coordinated with other economic development initiatives of the Town.

Adopted by the Town Council on December 6, 2007

Economic Development Citizens Advisory Committee Report - 2008

Economic Development Citizens Advisory Committee Report - 2009