LIBERTY — A Glamorous History; A Challenging Future.

That was the title of a fellowship report of the Town of Liberty conducted by Jonnie Wesley-Kruger on behalf of Pattern for Progress, a Hudson Valley think tank.

The report was presented to town and village officials during a joint meeting held in the Town Hall on Tuesday night.

The purpose of the presentation was to highlight the town's strengths and weaknesses in order to help residents better understand what they want Liberty to become.

“I think you have an opportunity here,” said Jonathan Drapkin of Rock Hill, president and CEO of Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress. “There's something unique that's finally happening in this county, and the question is how to be a part of it.”

There was also a presentation by Marc Baez of the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development. Both the town and village voted to approve Delaware Engineering to complete an assessment report for an infrastructure project in the “Liberty Commerce Park” located on Old Route 17 between Ferndale and Harris.

By increasing access to sewer, water and wifi, Liberty officials hope to create an environment that will attract ancillary industries to the future Adelaar resort.

“We don't want to attract the $8 an hour jobs,” said Town of Liberty Supervisor Charlie Barbuti, “we want to attract the $20-$22 an hour skilled labor jobs that young people can make a living from.”

“If this was already in place today, we'd be a major player in the game,” said Baez. “If you really want to bring a business base into the area, they want to hear that they can hit the ground running.”

Town and village board members also agreed to form a joint committee to study possible consolidation of services, which increase the chances of a consolidated funding application (CFA) for state grants being approved.

Delaware Engineering are expected to come back the village soon with their concept so the board can schedule another public hearing and apply for a CFA grant.