WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A Spring Street business owner and former town official is sounding the alarm about the economic health of the Village Business District.

 

Amy Jeschawitz, who owns Nature's Closet and formerly served on the Planning Board, went to the Finance Committee last week to raise concerns about what she characterized as the lack of an "overall plan" for economic development in the town.

 

"Economic development, housing, new growth and business all go hand in hand," Jeschawitz said, alluding to the topic that dominated the Fin Comm's meeting before she addressed the body. "I know what a struggle it is for housing in this town."

 

Jeschawitz sent a letter to both the Fin Comm and the Select Board in which she called on town officials to take action.

 

"As a community we can no longer sit and pretend we are insulated because we live in Williamstown and have Williams College," Jeschawitz wrote. "We need growth, we need new homes, we need  jobs, we need better transportation options and we need to start filling the needs of the  tourism industry who come here from NYC and the Boston area.  

 

"We do not need to form a committee to study this – we have done that repeatedly over the  years to no action. Reports sitting on shelves. We need you, the Select Board and Finance  Committee to start taking actions."

 

Jeschawitz appearance before the Finance Committee on Oct. 29 was followed by a "Williamstown Business District Walking Tour" on Thursday afternoon that was posted as a public meeting for the Select Board to have what the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce billed as "a constructive conversation … to discuss ways to improve the economic development of Williamstown."