Politics & Government

Herndon Council Votes to Add Economic Development Staff Member

The Herndon Town Council voted 4-3 to hire an economic development staff person for the town, to work with and retain existing businesses and help attract new ones, among other duties.

The Herndon Town Council approved an ordinance that will allow the town to hire an economic development staff member by a vote of 4-3 Tuesday night.

Director of Finance Mary Tuohy said the recommendation to hire an economic development staff person came from the town’s economic development study presented in April 2011.

Tuohy said the tasks that person could be assigned to include coordinating joint activities related to economic development, business expansions, recruitment of new businesses, and retention of existing businesses in the town.

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The person hired for the position should have knowledge about competitive business assistance programs, economic trends, demographics, labor, the commercial real estate field and federate and state grants and incentive programs for businesses.

The staff member could also act as a liaison between the town and the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority as well as other local and regional business networking organizations, Tuohy said.

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She said the town’s start up costs of funding the position for this year’s budget will be about $85,000 assuming the person his hired by the fall of 2012. The funding is available this year through debt service savings achieved with the 2003 bond refunding that was authorized by the council in June.

Councilman Dave Kirby asked what the approximate yearly salary would be for the position. Town Manager Art Anselene said between $65,000 to $85,000 yearly, with benefits being equal to about 28 percent of the salary.

Vice Mayor Connie Hutchinson asked if there would be a cost savings by starting out with a part time, contracted economic development consultant. Tuohy said it would depend on the number of hours they were working and the projects they were working on.

Anselene said the $85,000 is a figure to get the town going to start the position, which was recommended by the economic development task force. He said the salaried position they have there is lower than many municipalities who hire a similar staff member to start out at, and is likely less than the cost of a consultant who could do the same work.

Anselene said this person would do a lot of outreach with the business community, help them through permitting other town processes, and work to keep businesses in the town as well as attract new ones. He said they would also work with the town’s restaurant community and they would coordinate with the town’s branding initiative.

He said he recommended it as a position in the town so they can develop a level of continuity that will pay longer dividends in the town in the long term rather than hiring a short-term consultant.

During public comments, Barbara Glakas, a Herndon resident, said the council has all said they want economic development and the town needs to generate more revenue. She said $60,000, $80,000, $90,000 is a drop in the bucket compared to the positive impact the position could have in the town.

Council member Grace Wolf made a motion to approve, seconded by Council member Melissa Jonas. Wolf said she fully supports funding the position, and they need to pay attention to more than the downtown. She said they need to remain competitive with Metro moving forward, and many communities also trying to attract new businesses. 

Hutchinson said economic development is very important for the town, but sees the initial task for economic development as creating a marketing plan, which could be contracted so the town could get professional advice without having to pay benefits to a full employee. She said an economic development position could then be used to follow that plan.

Hutchinson said she is also concerned the town may duplicate efforts, because the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority works to bring businesses to Fairfax County. She made an amendment to adopt the ordinance but to amend it so the town could hire a contracted consultant instead.

Kirby said he agrees with Hutchinson, and doesn’t see the need to expand the town’s government by a staff position using what he sees as windfall dollars. He said a consultant wouldn’t need to be full time and could provide some savings, and would provide more flexibility.

Wolf said using a consultant for a position like this could be sensitive. They will have access to confidential town, business and county data, which could be unwise, she said.

Wolf said using a consultant could also prove more costly because they are likely to be focused on the next contract they can sell a municipality. She said a full time person would mean the information stays in house and she’s opposed to hiring a consultant for the position.

Councilman Charlie Waddell said it’s a no-lose situation because they can have a consultant sign a confidentiality agreement. He said every day is career day for a consultant and it should be, but he is certain they can get a competent professional. He said they could also make it a contract-to-hire position, which would mean that person would likely give 100 percent-plus in their efforts.

Mayor Lisa Merkel said she agrees with Wolf that they need a person who stays in house and someone who can be on staff to help develop and implement a marketing program and work with town businesses.

The amendment to change to a contract position rather than a staff position failed 3-4. The main motion was passed 4-3.

The same ordinance also allowed for amended budgets for the General Fund, Water and Sewer Fund, Chestnut Grove Cemetery fund, Golf Course Fund, Downtown Parking Enterprise Fund, Capital Projects Fund and Information Improvement Fund.

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Other items voted on by the Herndon Town Council:

• Ordinance 12-O-11 — The council approved an ordinance that updates Herndon’s town code on firearms, crossbows and pneumatic guns to conform to Virginia’s legislation on the regulation of the discharge of pneumatic guns.

• Resolution 12-G-48 — The council has continued a resolution recommending endorsement of bicycle facilities for the inclusion in the Fairfax County Bicycle Transportation Plan to Aug. 14.

• Resolution 12-G-49 — The council approved a resolution authorizing the reserve of fiscal year 2012 funding for capital, ongoing and new or expanded projects and for outstanding encumbrances at June 30, 2012. Herndon’s Director of Finance Mary Tuohy explained that the town authorized and made funds available for specific activities in 2012 that were for some reason not concluded by the end of FY 2012, and this resolution allows those activities to move forward into the next fiscal year.

• Resolution 12-G-60 and 12-G-61 — The council approved resolutions for award of contracts for general water and sewer engineering services as well as automotive parts.

• The council also approved resolutions reappointing and appointing members of to the Architectural Review and Heritage Preservation Review Boards, Town Council Subcommittees, Town Council Advisory Committees, the Committee for Dulles Board of Directors, the Dulles Area Transportation Association Board, the Interjurisdictional Committee, Northern Virginia Regional Commission, Virginia Transportation Authority’s Planning Coordination Advisory Committee, Phase II District Commission, and Herndon Planning Commission. 


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