by Logan Gruber
operations@thenewsleaders.com
The St. Joseph City Council voted 3-2 to approve adding the position of community-development director to the city staff and to begin hiring for the position. Council members Bob Loso and Renee Symanietz voted against it.
The Nov. 16 council meeting was tense as members debated the merits of the position.
At the Nov. 2 city council meeting, the Economic Development Authority presented a recommendation to the city council to hire a full-time community-development director in 2016. At that time, the community-development director’s duties were described in general as to establish and administer an economic growth plan for the city; to develop and administer city planning policies and procedures; to plan projects; and to coordinate Planning-Commission activities; and more.
The proposed position would have a salary of between $55,620-75,692, not including benefits. Including benefits, the price tag sits at around $95,000 per year.
“I’d like the council to look at the past, present and future. This is a $95,000 ticket on people’s taxes,” Loso said. “Plus the government center and police will need more funding . . . What’s coming down the road that you need someone right now?”
“I still think using an intern is a good idea while we figure out what we need them to do,” Symanietz said.
Council member Matt Killam said he could agree to budgeting for a community-development director if some changes were made to the proposal. Killam arrived at this decision after speaking with some neighboring cities.
The changes he wanted include the following: The director would need to report directly to Judy Weyrens, the city administrator; the city council would need to be involved in the interview process; and the director would need to take advice from both the Economic Development Authority and the Planning Commission, among other things.
After a hearty debate, the motion passed. Weyrens says it will take a few weeks for the paperwork to be finished before the job is posted anywhere.
The city used to have a community planner who reported to the EDA, but that was years ago. The EDA is currently served by a contractor who is hired one day per week at a cost of around $30,000 per year. Cynthia Smith-Strack, the current contractor, has resigned her position for 2016.
St. Joseph City Council members debate the merits of hiring a community-development director for the city at the Nov. 16 meeting.
