PARIS — Residents met with the Board of Selectmen on Monday night to discuss ways the town can become a more viable community.
“We need to capitalize and promote the assets we have here in Paris to get more people to visit Paris,” Town Manager Amy Bernard said, summing up some of the discussion.
The meeting was to get public comment on what direction residents would like the town and its government to take.
Ideas ranging from better utilizing the Little Androscoggin River and local hiking trails to inventorying vacant commercial buildings were discussed during the hourlong meeting.
Bernard said it was disappointing the turnout was small but, with the hot weather and the fact that it was being held in July, it was not surprising. It is possible another meeting will be held in the fall to get more people and ideas.
Board members said they would like to promote a better business attitude by inventorying the vacant commercial downtown buildings that may be available for leases and to provide a website for business resources, including stories about successful business ventures.
There also was discussion about bringing passenger trains to town and sprucing up the Market Square area, which is the central downtown.
The board is expected to address the issues at its meeting at 7 p.m. Monday in the Town Office.
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