FARMVILLE – Town Council appointed two of its members Wednesday night to a committee that will focus on transforming downtown Farmville.

Farmville Mayor Sydnor C. Newman, Jr., appointed Ward B council member Sally Thompson and At-Large member Tommy Pairet, a downtown business person, to a committee that is expected to include downtown business owners, concerned citizens and representation from both Longwood University and Hampden-Sydney College, along with the Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce.

But no specific additional appointments were made by Mayor Newman (though there were suggestions), Town officials coming to the conclusion during discussions that the committee could take shape on its own, with representatives expected from the constituencies mentioned.

Additionally, Town Council doesn't regard the committee as a Town Council committee but, rather, as an independent committee that could nevertheless make recommendations to the Town should it determine there are ways for the Town of Farmville to help implement a plan of action.

“We're not really running this committee,” said Ward A council member Dr. Edward I. Gordon. “We're part of it. Why don't we suggest ours, put ours (Ms. Thompson and Pairet) on that committee. When their committee gets together that would be something that committee as a committee themselves could add or subtract (members) themselves.”

At-Large council member David E. Whitus added that the committee should “elect their own leadership, their own chairman.”

The Wednesday night council action came in advance of a chamber of commerce roundtable discussion on Monday from 8-10 a.m. at j fergeson gallery at 311 North Main Street on “Building a Stronger Business Community.” The chamber event is open to chamber and non-chamber members.

Town Council's action was a follow-up response to concerns about downtown expressed during July's Town Council meeting by downtown business representatives.

Among the chief concerns that have been expressed by Town officials, the downtown business community, and concerned citizens during the past several months are the number empty buildings downtown, the appearance of some buildings, and parking.

During the public comments portion of Wednesday night's August Town Council meeting, Chuck Ross spoke about downtown Farmville and the movement underway to address concerns and enhance the downtown business district.

He stressed the need “to think about bold ideas because money follows bold ideas, not timid ideas. And so I think that we need to keep looking toward the big ideas instead of working the fringes.”

Big ideas that will turn good into great.

Ross said, “I think we're at a unique time now where we can actually turn what's a good town into a superlative fantastic place.”

But, he cautioned, “we only do it if it's a team effort and if it's a sustained effort.”

Addressing the issue of downtown Farmville, he said, is bigger than any one entity or constituency.

“It's bigger than the council, it's bigger than the chamber of commerce, it's bigger than the downtown merchants. I know many of these merchants. These are dedicated, resilient people. But this endeavor needs to pull in not only all those entities but also we need to bring in ordinary citizens and, importantly, we need to bring in the two colleges into this discussion.”

The Longwood University professor said “what's good for Farmville is good for Longwood and what's good for Longwood is good for Farmville. I firmly believe that.”

Ross then cited three numbers: 10, 5 and 4,000.

And explained them.

“When I walked down the street today I saw what appeared to be 10 vacant storefronts,” he said, then describing t-shirts he saw that said “We roll up the town at 5 p.m.

“If you look up the hill, we have 4,000 potential customers that can help give us a solution to both of those numbers. We've got students that have money that rarely set foot downtown. I think whatever committee we put together needs to come up with a strategy,” Ross said, “to bring those students down here.”