WILTON — A small gathering of citizens unanimously agreed Tuesday to accept a Community Development Block Grant application to use for planning purposes during a short special town meeting. The meeting was held at the town office prior to the selectmen’s meeting.

The grant for $10,000 with a matching $2,500 required from the town is a planning grant specifically for downtown development, Town Manager Rhonda Irish said at the meeting.

The funds will be used to develop an economic development study of downtown, one that would look at developing a strategy for increasing business and addressing housing issues. A third phase would look at tourism in town and how to capitalize on the town’s natural assets such as Wilson Lake and Kineowatha Park, she said.

Two public hearings have been held, and the town has been approved to receive the CDBG, but a town vote showing support of the project was required to complete the application.

Following the vote, selectmen approved appointing seven people to form a planning grant community development advisory committee. Those who will serve on the committee are John Black, Susan Atwood, Alison Hagerstrom, Angela Werner, Betty Shibles, David Olsen and David Nordstrom.

The committee will oversee the initial phases of the project, including tasks such as hiring a consultant, handling any issues or concerns raised by citizens and any publicity required, Irish said.

The CDBG guidelines suggest five to seven members on the committee and their meetings will be open to the public, Irish said. A date for the first meeting has not been set.

In other business, selectmen discussed the upcoming household hazardous waste day planned for this Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Wilton Transfer Station with Manager Hollis Tyler. Tyler was there to give the board a quarterly report for the station.

Another upcoming event includes a prescription take-back day planned for Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the police station, where Wilton police will accept unused medications, Irish said.

abryant@sunjournal.com