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Charter Review Committee urges Solon to add director of economic development to city charter
Summary
At a public hearing, Theresa Widom, speaking for the Charter Review Committee, urged the council to place a charter amendment on the ballot creating a director of economic development, arguing the position would centralize leadership for business retention, attract employers and protect municipal revenue.
Theresa Widom, a member of the Charter Review Committee, told the Solon City Council that the committee recommends adding Article 6, Section 11 to the city charter to create a director of economic development and asked the council to allow the measure to reach voters this fall. "The Charter Review Committee feels strongly that it is in the best interest of Solon residents and the growth and the future prosperity of the city of Solon to allow Article 6 Section 11 to reach the ballot this fall," Widom said.
Widom said the committee revised its language after concerns raised at the June 1 council meeting and proposed compromises on whether the role would be full-time, part-time or filled by a consultant. She described the position as a "cabinet level" role that would help the city attract and retain employers, "create jobs, and grow our tax base," and argued that placing the role in the charter would ensure executive-level attention to economic development over time.
She also raised a concern about potential conflicts when a consultant serves multiple communities. "We later learned that the consultant works full time as a director of economic development for one city and has as many as four other local cities where he works part time," Widom said, asking the council what assurances the city would have that the best economic opportunities would "fall our way."
Council members did not close the hearing. The council chair said the public hearing would remain open and the ordinance would be left on first reading, allowing further public comment and council consideration at subsequent meetings.
