The town has attracted about half a dozen applicants for the job of economic development director, according to First Selectman Paul Roy.
Tuesday was the cutoff date for applications.
“Will we have someone on board by April 1? I don’t think so,” Roy said.
But by May 1, Roy hopes to have an economic development director in place.
“That would be my ultimate goal,” Roy said.
Roy didn’t know the exact number of applicants as of Tuesday morning, but said it was somewhere in the area of seven or eight.
He said the position was advertised in two area papers for about two weeks.
The next step is set up a committee, go through applications and arrange interviews.
The position will pay $42,000 a year and require 19.5 hours of work per week. The town will not provide benefits.
An economic development director helps to market the town and attract industry and business. The idea is to encourage smart growth so the town isn’t relying completely on residential property taxes to keep the town going.
Seymour’s previous part-time economic director, John Criscuolo, left about two years ago to take a full-time job at Yale University. The position has been vacant since.
The first order of business for a new director should be to compile a list of available buildings or stores in town, said Michael Horbal, a member of the Economic Development Commission.
“And try to reach out to potential renters or buyers, like the Tri-Town Plaza,” he said, referring to the shopping center on Derby Avenue.
Tri-Town Plaza — a movie theater, hair salon, martial arts studio and pizzeria — has about 98,000 square feet of space open after an Ames department store and Adams food store closed several years ago.
Spector said Tuesday he has not heard back from the town on his proposal, but he continues to market the space. “If they wanted to have a conversation we would be having a conversation,” Spector said.
