Just a few months into her tenure, Suffern Mayor Trish Abato has heard the familiar complaints loud and clear. From residents to businesses in the village center along Lafayette Avenue to Suffern Chamber of Commerce meetings, community conversation often centers around how to attract more people to the downtown Suffern corridor.

Suffern Mayor Trish Abato / The Journal News

Mayor Abato and the village board have put out the invitation for residents to join a newly created Volunteer Downtown Committee that will dig down for answers on how to jump start business along the pedestrian-friendly main street. The call comes on the heels of the board’s recent resolution to create the committee, which itself stems from the cacophony of business voices calling for a more attractive local experience.

“Suffern is such a great Village, with residents and business owners who care so much,” Abato said. “We are very excited to see this committee coming to fruition. It will be a great addition to our strong community.”

Abato said that the initial mission of the Downtown Committee will be to uncover some data on “why we are unable to attract shoppers to our downtown.” Volunteers with particular expertise in market research and polling, as well as marketing and public relations, would be welcome members.

“Only a professional analysis of the problem will provide us with direction for the future,” Abato said.

While former Mayor Dagan Lacorte left the village with a robust communications tool in its growing website, Mayor Abato faces a tall task rallying the local business community into a cohesive, energized voice — given that the local chamber lacks a real working website. With the village building a dedicated group of volunteers with professional business expertise who have Suffern top of mind, the wider business community should benefit greatly from an active and engaged Volunteer Downtown Committee.

The Downtown Committee will include Mayor Abato, members of the Village Board and Suffern Chamber of Commerce, as well as other interested property and business owners. The committee will hold meetings in the the Community Room in Suffern Village Hall.

For more information, please email Cathy Mills at: cathym@suffernvillage.com, or call:  845-357-7943.