Commission formation will be discussed
By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
LAMBERTVILLE — It’s been a long time coming, but the city’s wish to establish a tourism commission is about to bear fruit.
Mayor David Del Vecchio spoke publicly about the city’s desire for such a commission during his state-of-the-city address given Jan. 1, 2008. Now, nearly a year later, it is about to turn into a reality.
”The purpose, really, is to set up a situation giving the city the ability to have an entity with the sole purpose to make Lambertville the place to go, whether for a weekend, a dinner, a day, whatever it might be,” Mayor Del Vecchio said. “The sole purpose is to really focus on branding the city of Lambertville.”
It is hoped such branding would place the city at the forefront of ideas when people are looking for something to do, whether they’re from Philadelphia, New York or New Jersey. Lambertville wants to compete for these tourists’ dollars.
”The fact is, right now, there are more choices for people and fewer dollars,” the mayor said. “You need to be able to remind people of your virtues as a community.”
The public will have the opportunity to discuss the commission’s formation and what it might mean for Lambertville during a public hearing held by the City Council on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Justice Center, 25 S. Union St.
The mayor said Lambertville has a number of strengths that can be promoted. He cited “everything — the river, antiques, restaurants, art galleries, architecture. There’s everything.”
The “key,” he said, is to have such an agency in place that would be eligible for state grant money.
As proposed, the commission would consist of five members, one of whom is also a member of the city’s governing body.
All members would be appointed by the mayor followed by the approval and confirmation of council members.
Anyone interested in serving on the tourism commission should drop a note addressed to the mayor at City Hall, 18 York St.