REVITALIZE OUR BUSINESS DISTRICTS

Vibrant business districts can coexist with peaceful residential neighborhoods. It’s not an either/or scenario. Our residential areas work well as they are, but if we don’t jump start our business districts, we won’t have a tax base adequate to offset our shortfalls, and the citizens will continue to foot the bill. We need to begin by improving our public image and regaining respect as a viable community and resort destination. If we send a message of stability and positive growth, existing business owners will stay, new businesses will come, and as a result of that renewed balance, our entire community will benefit.

IMPLEMENT A COMMUNITY MASTER PLAN

We need a master plan that will bring everyone into the process, as successful plans are shaped by the many not the few. A master plan is not only essential to our revitalization efforts; the resulting consensus will help our community reunite. Most importantly, the plan must be fair to all, and once formed, the plan must be implemented.

MAINTAIN OUR BEACHES, INLET AND WATERWAYS

Beach renourishment, and maintenance of the inlet and approaching waterways, is vital to our way of life and our local economy. We need to be proactive in lobbying for funding of these projects.

PROTECT OUR HARBOR

In many ways, the harbor is the backbone of our community. It’s essential to our fishing fleet and a source of enjoyment for recreational boaters and visitors. We need to protect this precious resource. We can start by assuring that the Harbor Management Plan makes water quality a primary goal not a secondary concern.

MANAGE TAXES, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND GROWTH

We need fiscal responsibility, which includes an understanding of positive growth. Growth is normal. Too little or too much growth should be the concern. Our town structure must be effective but lean. We can begin by applying solid business sense to our spending and funding decisions, including setting adequate budgets for much needed infrastructure improvements, and delaying nonessential spending when facing shortfalls.

email Dan Wilcox: vote4@danwilcox.com