Honing goals to present to selectmen, Wiscasset's ad hoc economic development advisory committee Nov. 13 discussed if the committee or selectboard should decide the priorities among the nine goals. 

Newly picked Committee Chair Fred Quivey suggested finishing the goals, sending them on to the selectboard, "and ask the selectboard, 'Of the nine points, what (do) you see ... is the most important?' And ... what they say will be what we will focus on, and advise on."

Said member Corrinna Stum, "I feel like that negates the point of the committee, if we're asking the selectboard for the priorities of the goals that we're advising on."

Economic Development Director Aaron Chrostowsky said the committee could rank or rate the goals. 

"I don't even know that we need to do it that formally," Alissa Eason, selectmen's liaison to the committee, said. "Let's just sit there and go like 'These are the three things: Housing, blah blah and blah blah ... We could say, 'Yes, there are nine (goals). But here are the four that we think are truly critical."

A draft Chrostowsky gave Wiscasset Newspaper on request had the nine goals as: Leveraging the energy infrastructure to drive development; expanding affordable housing options; alleviating traffic congestion and providing visible, easy parking in the village; maximizing the town’s “potential as a tourist destination by enhancing the experience while maintaining the historic and cultural integrity of the area”; ensuring Wiscasset Municipal Airport is financially sustainable, “through increased promotion”; “strengthen the town’s waterfront and deep-water port as a hub for both recreation and commerce”; “cultivate a thriving small business environment, to enhance the community's reputation as a vibrant hub”; capitalize on rail “to promote tourism and connectivity to the region”; and “preserve the historic nature of the village … and enhance its role as a service, culinary arts, arts and antiques, and cultural center …”

Plans called for getting Chrostowsky and Quivey any changes to the goals draft by Nov. 21 and for an updated one to go to the committee by Thanksgiving to look at finalizing the document in December, for it to then go to the selectboard. 

Also Nov. 13, besides making Qiuvey chair, the committee named Stum as secretary.