BELLOWS FALLS — In the wake of sharp criticism of a seemingly incestuous relationship between the town development office, the Bellows Falls Area Development Corporation (BFADC), and the Bellows Falls Downtown Development Alliance (BFDDA), the agreements between the town and those two entities are paused for six months.
During that time, Development Director Francis “Dutch” Walsh and Zoning and Planning Administrator Charles Wise will work on updating the town plan.
Municipal Manager Willis “Chip” Stearns II told The Commons that with former Zoning and Planning Administrator Ellen Howard's retirement early last summer, no one had continued the updating process.
The five-year update has come due, and that process will take both Walsh and Wise to fill Howard's shoes to complete it.
Walsh and Wise “won't have time to focus on anything else” until it is completed, said Stearns, who categorically denied that the timing of this decision had any connection with the hot seat the development director has found himself in with the public as the proposed Liberty Mill Justice Center project moves forward.
Walsh has come under criticism that his office did not do enough to inform and get public input for the project. Many citizens complained of a lack of transparency and participation.
In the meantime, Stearns said, the BFADC will continue to function with an acting president, Chris Hackett, a vice president of commercial lending at TD Bank in Bellows Falls.
Hackett, who was out of town, declined to comment on his new role. He will serve in that capacity at least until the BFADC meets, Stearns added.
BFDDA will continue to function, but without input from Walsh. Stearns said Walsh will not be attending any BFADC or BFDDA meetings until the town plan is completed.