A proposal by Councilman-At-Large Joseph DeIorio to help the municipality not only attract business but develop a better working relationship with the business community is on Thursday night’s agenda as Ordinance 2542.
The bill will create the position of Economic Development Director and establish its duties and responsibilities. The 14 job responsibilities will include:
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- Generally and regularly assist current and prospective businesses communicate and interact with the Borough government to promote a business-friendly environment;
- Identify existing businesses seeking to expand and assist in furthering their goal;
- Identify prospective businesses seeking to locate to the area and market Roselle Park as a viable business opportunity;
- Assist businesses in the permitting process, including, but not limited to, health, building, and zoning;
- Assist in the redevelopment process with the objective of securing new commercial or mixed-use spaces;
- Market the local business community to interested developers, customers, and investors;
- Maintain a running list of commercial and retail locations available for rent or purchase;
- Research grants and programs available for business improvements;
- Create networking opportunities for realtors, developers and chambers of commerce;
- Create welcome and educational materials for the local business community;
- Periodically host workshops and gatherings on various commerce-related topics for the benefit of the local business community;
- Regularly monitor and report on the conditions of the local business community to the Mayor and Council as a whole;
- Make recommendations to the Mayor and Council as to how to improve processes of the Borough to gain efficiencies;
- Perform such other duties as may be assigned to them by the Mayor and Council.
The director will be responsive to the entire business community, not just the area known as the T-District on Chestnut Street and along Westfield Avenue. Other foreseeable responsibilities will include being the point-of-contact for the borough’s Transit Village application as well as the coordinator for the Redevelopment Review Committee.
The appointment will be a mayoral one but will need the approval of the majority of council. The salary range for the position will be between $50,000 and $95,000 if Ordinance 2540 is approved earlier in the evening. There is no probationary period cited in the ordinance but a source familiar with the matter states that there will be an annual evaluation as well as a six-month review.
Although the candidate for the position was at a closed special meeting last month, the duration of a contract was not publicly disclosed at that time.
The ordinance lists the qualifications as being “on the basis of executive and administrative abilities and qualifications”.
The public hearing and vote on this bill are set for the 7 p.m. municipal meeting on August 16th in the Roselle Park Municipal Complex located at 110 East Westfield Avenue.
A copy of the ordinance is available below:
Download RP Ordinance 2542