The final in a series of discussions about the business climate and the future of economic development, open to Bedford residents, was an attempt at once again tackling the issue of how to attract and maintain business in town.

The Bedford Economic Development Commission has been holding the forums with different groups of business owners and leaders in the town as part of their process of making a recommendation to the Town Council on what kind of economic development function the town should adopt.

Some have advocated for a full-time, paid economic development professional, while others have maintained that a plan for a volunteer position is more likely to be met favorably.

“I think there needs to be a group like this and a possibly a paid person, for someone to be held accountable,” Shana Potvin, who recently moved to Bedford said.

But in a tough budget season, such a position might not be something the Town Council would support, Bill Dermody, a member of the council, said.

“Where are you going to put your money? On a policeman to protect your property, or on an economic development person to, in this economy, bring development into town?” he said.

Early in the meeting, Dermody asked those in attendance what businesses they thought were missing from Bedford.

Joanne Gerety Rice, a real estate professional with Keller Williams Realty, said she thought the town could use a “recession-proof” business such as a pharmaceutical company.

Bedford has only 300 acres of developable, commercially zoned land, planning director Rick Sawyer said. Most of that is in small parcels. Jack Sullivan, a member of the commission, said that may make it difficult for companies who want to set up large facilities to move to Bedford.

Alice DeSouza, a member of the commission, said it would be helpful to think less about boundaries and more about putting businesses that people like into Bedford. She said she shops outside the town if it is at a place she likes.

“It doesn’t matter to me that it’s not in Bedford. That’s where I like to go,” she said.

Because the town is approaching build-out, Mark Prestipino said a considerable part of economic development in the town would be redevelopment of existing land. Sawyer said the Bedford Mall is a good example, but with three different people owning the parcels there, and with the economy in a slump, it has been difficult to plan for the site.

“Why can’t there be a big IKEA or a Christmas Tree Shoppe?” Potvin said about the Bedford Mall. “My whole life it’s been junk in there.”

The commission also intends to work closely with those putting together Bedford’s 10-year master plan. Barbara Salvatore, who is the adult and senior connections representative on the Master Plan Steering Committee, said Bedford is one of the fastest-aging communities in southern New Hampshire.

She said the town is not very “elder-friendly” because most homes have multiple stories and too much land, and it is difficult to walk to businesses.

“Would mixed-use (developments) be an exciting new alternative for us to consider?” she asked, referring to developments that include both residential and commercial properties.

Salvatore added that the town might not be able to house the workers of many businesses that would want to move into the area.

“Frankly, we don’t have the housing stock that supports folks who are middle class that would like to participate in our community,” she said.

Dicky Desai, owner of the Hill-Brook Motel on Route 101, brought up two issues business leaders have previously mentioned: water and sewer connections, and signs.

“We desperately need water and sewer,” he said.

Desai said the amount of fertilizer being put in the ground in town is harming wells.

“It is not if we are going to lose the water source, it is when,” he said.

He said signs, especially for businesses like hotels and restaurants that are frequented by people from out of town, are there to attract people to businesses. If they are too small, they cannot do that.

“If it doesn’t serve that purpose, then it’s just wasting space,” he said.