As means of bolstering economic development, members of the the Community & Economic Development Authority's (CEDA) newly-formed Economic Advisory Council presented a proposal for the construction of a visitors' center in downtown Wareham to the Board of Selectmen Tuesday.

The council hopes to transform the train station on Merchants Way into a joint information and business center. The station would be enclosed and offer tourism materials including brochures on local businesses, restaurants, and activities.

The previous visitors' center, which was located across from the Main Street municipal parking lot, was operated by the Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce and closed for budgetary reasons last spring.

CEDA recommended the Economic Advisory Council explore the proposal's feasibility and mapped up out detailed uses of the building, including staffing, hours of operation, and additional services it would offer.

“I’d like to see some input from the businesses who have been through it before,” said Jean Connaughton, chair of the CEDA board, referencing the previous visitors' center. “A stand alone information center doesn’t work in downtown Wareham. We need to find some other uses for it.”

Economic Advisory Council member Alan Slavin said the ultimate goal is to establish a Chamber of Commerce in Wareham. "It will help bring people in and direct them to businesses," he said.

The Selectmen also welcomed the idea of a visitors' center, but had questions on its feasibility as currently proposed.

“It think it’s a great idea, but how are we going to fund it?” Selectmen Steve Holmes questioned.

Slavin said the project would be funded through fundraising and staffed by volunteers.

“These projects don’t really require a lot of capital, they just require a lot of physical effort.” said Slavin.

Slavin said the group would need approximately $10,000 to introduce the project to businesses.

“I think the concept of a visitor center is a good idea downtown, my concern is the location,” Selectmen Cara Winslow pointed out. “If I'm from far away, I’m not necessarily going to think to go behind the buildings on Main Street. I think it could be very confusing to folks.”

Selectmen Brenda Eckstrom recommended the Economic Advisory Council look into the option of purchasing the former medical office on the corner of Main Street and Sandwich Road as a possible alternative to the train station location, as the offices are more visible from Main Street.

“[The group] needs times to take the time and put in the effort to go forward and explore these possibilities,” noted Board of Selectmen Chair Jane Donahue.

The Economic Advisory Council will continue researching the project's feasibility and will likely have more information for the Board of Selectmen in April.

Westfield Update:

Coming up on its fourth meeting the Westfield RFP Review and Recommendation Committee is making good progress, according to committee liaison to the Board of Selectmen Bruce Sauvageau.

“Our chair is walking us through the document page by page,” Sauvageau reported.

On Tuesday, he told the board the committee has nine pages left to review in the RFP and is on schedule to make recommendations to the selectmen during a joint meeting between the groups on March 26.

He added the committee had concerns about the managing agreement for developing the athletic field components of the project, and asked the board for further input on that aspect.

Selectmen Chair Jane Donahue told Sauvageau the original intent was to have management of the field contracted out, and to remain separate from the residential management group.

Interviews and Appointments

The Board of Selectmen held several interviews and made appointments to various volunteer boards Tuesday.

An interview was conducted for a position on the Council on Aging Board of Directors, however confusion as to the number of seats available on that board postponed any appointments.

According to Selectmen Steve Holmes, there is currently one full member position open on that board. He noted the by-law proposed at Fall Town Meeting to reduce the number of full-members on the board from 11 to nine is still being reviewed, however a final answer will be known as early as March 22, at which point candidates can be chosen, he added.

The selectmen voted associate member of the Board of Health, Dr. Tom Gleason become a full member on the board. Dr. Tom Gleason has been an associate member for a year and half and will replace Guy Campinha, who retired from the board last year when he accepted the position of Water Pollution Control Facility Director.

Second associate BOH member Lisa Irish also interviewed to become a full member. The passing of Dr. Charles “Sherm” Gleason’s (no relation to Dr. Tom Gleason), a long-time member of the BOH, left another member spot open. While she was not confirmed Tuesday the selectmen agreed she will be named to that position on March 22.

The BOH consists of three full members and two associate members. At least one of the full members needs to be a physician.

Citizens Joan Holmes, Bob Brady, and Glen Monteiro all interviewed for an associate member position. Selectmen did not appoint associate positions on Tuesday.

Holmes, has been a resident of Wareham since 1988 and currently volunteers at the town’s Department of Inspectional Services.

Brady is a former selectmen who has spend six years on the Fiance Committee and also volunteers for the BOH.

Monteiro worked for the BOH as a health inspector for 20 years. He told the selectmen serving on the board is something he’s always hoped to do since he retired.