Reports of elected officials were presented.  Town councilmember Paul Cooper noted a new referendum which seeks to impede the development of a new gas station/mini mart in Derby.  "A company wants to purchase an undeveloped paper road next to a closed gas station, to develop the property," he described.  "The use is legal and make it safer for their customers to pull out."  The fight against development is led by the owner of a nearby gas station.

Councilmember Karen Connors Erickson described that "we have to decide who we are as a Town.  If a developer wants to invest money into our town, are we for it?  Are we in favor of free enterprise, of competition?"  The referendum language did not instruct petition signers what is really at stake in the matter. 

Erickson noted "My family sells hamburgers at the hot dog stand.  Connors didn't try to stop hamburger chains from coming to Derby, arguing that we already sold hamburgers.  When business comes to town, its good for everyone, especially the property tax payers."

The petitions misinformed about the sale of the paper road.  "The petitions are confusing.  If they're talking about the greenspace where the Lions Club maintains a Statue of Liberty, then that area is not affected by this project," noted Cooper.  "The  impact is more retail for Highland, more competition for gas prices, and $6,000 to the Town for the sale of the paper road -- a paper road currently bringing $0 to the town in property tax revenue." 

Committeemembers were reminded of the July 6 deadline to get their petitions back to Town Democratic Chair Robert "Bob" Catalino.  The club adjourned in memory of Mary Carol Heath, sister to Democratic committeeman Bob Heath and daughter of Evans' oldest veteran, George Heath.  

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 2009, at 7:30 p.m., at the VFW on Route