POTSDAM -- Mayor Reinhold J. Tischler announced today that the Downtown Revitalization Initiative Local Planning Committee has been appointed and will begin the development of Potsdam’s Strategic Investment Plan.

Mayor Tischler himself and SUNY Potsdam President Kristin Esterberg will be committee co-chairs.

The other members are:

• Hugo Attemann, Village Planning Board

• Erik Backus, Clarkson University, Director of Engineering Management, Civil & Environmental Engineering

• Allison Carney, Owner, Bricks and Mortar Music

• The Hon. Ann Carvill, Supervisor, Town of Potsdam

• The Hon. Cindy Goliber, Clerk, Town of Potsdam

• Kellie Hitchman, Potsdam Chamber of Commerce

• The Hon. Maggie McKenna, Trustee, Village Board

• Duane Pelkey, Vice President, Community Bank, NA

• Nicholas Sheehan, Atomic Design Services, LLC

• Lee Van de Water, Village Resident

Staffing for the committee will be provided by Potsdam Village Administrator Gregory Thompson, Director of Planning & Development Frederick Hanss, St. Lawrence County Planning Office Director Jason Pfotenhauer, and St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency Chief Executive Officer Patrick Kelly.

The Local Planning Committee is expected to begin meeting with the village’s urban planning consultant and state agency representatives this month in preparation for the monthly sessions to guide investment of the $9.7 million DRI award in downtown projects, which was announced by Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul in Potsdam in October.

The village will receive significant technical support from the state for the development of the plan, from M.J. Engineering and Land Surveying, P.C., an urban planning consultant, and representatives of the NYS Department of State, NYS Homes and Community Renewal and Empire State Development.

Over the coming months, the committee, the consultants, and state agency representatives will meet in public work sessions at least monthly to develop Potsdam’s plan.

The committee will also be asked to help develop and implement the inclusion of village residents, businesspeople and stakeholder groups in the developing the plan.

For more information on Downtown Revitalization Initiative planning, contact Village Administrator Thompson at gthompson@vi.potsdam.ny.us or Planning Director Hanss at fhanss@vi.potsdam.ny.us.