Submitted Photo Members of the Fredonia Village Board attended a meeting of the Pomfret Planning Board Feb. 3.

Village of Fredonia and Town of Pomfret representatives gathered information on joint comprehensive planning recently.

On Feb. 3, the Town of Pomfret Planning Board hosted newly elected Mayor of Fredonia Doug Essek and Village Planning Board Chairman Scott McKay, along with several other Pomfret officials, including newly elected Supervisor Dan Pacos, Pomfret Councilman Chris Schaeffer, Deputy Supervisor Ann Eckman, and Pomfret Zoning Board members, for a presentation on the benefits of Cooperative Comprehensive Planning for the Town of Pomfret and the Village of Fredonia.

The Pomfret Planning Board members, Chairman James Joy, Rob Smith, Janet Szymanski and Travis Eckstrom, requested a presentation from John Steinmitz of Barton and LoGuidice Planners to look at the Pomfret comprehensive plan, which is 10 years old and in need of updating.

Another topic was a possible joint comprehensive planning update effort with the Village of Fredonia. Doing this could potentially open both municipalities to improved relations and improved progress in business development, downtown revitalization, smart growth development and farmland protection, which are all priorities of the Pomfret Planning Board.

Pomfret Planning Board Chairman James Joy mentioned that the time has come for us to work together for the benefits it can provide to the region. Mayor Doug Essek mentioned that working with other municipalities has great importance, and spoke of how working with Dunkirk to promote this region from the Waterfront Pier to Barker Common was a commendable sign of progress and cooperation. Moreover, that this is only the beginning of things we can do working together, added Pomfret Supervisor Dan Pacos.

The meeting ended with a wealth of information reviewed, regarding the benefits of cooperative planning and a very favorable feeling of trust and cooperation among the attendees was noticeable.

The two Planning Boards are making plans to explore the possibility of working together to complete a joint comprehensive plan that will encompass both the Village of Fredonia and the Town of Pomfret.