KINGSTON >> The city’s top economic development official walked out of a 2016 budget meeting of city lawmakers over what he said was the casual consideration of his job’s future.
The city Common Council’s Finance and Audit Committee met Monday to continue discussions about changes aldermen wanted to make to Mayor Shayne Gallo’s proposed $40.7 million budget for the coming year. Part of that discussion centered around the city’s Economic Development and Strategic Partnership office, which is run by Gregg Swanzey.
In his proposed budget, Gallo had reduced the salary for the director of Economic Development and Strategic Partnership to $50,000 annually. Swanzey currently earns $72,658.
As a city employee answering to the mayor, Swanzey was caught this year between Gallo and electoral challenger Steve Noble when Gallo, during a Democratic primary election campaign, accused Noble of poorly administering city grants. Swanzey fronted administration efforts to present the case that Noble had poorly managed grants and projects.
Noble defeated Gallo in the primary election and went on to win the general election.
Aldermen went back and forth Monday on how to handle funding for the office, considering several options, including leaving the mayor’s recommendation intact and adding additional funding to the city’s contingency budget in case it is needed next year.
“I can’t listen to this,” Swanzey eventually told aldermen. “I’ve worked too hard.” He said it was very frustrating to listen to the aldermen talk so casually about his job. Swanzey said he had hoped for more support.
Earlier in the meeting, Swanzey had said his office was responsible for $8 million in grants and $10 million in projects. He said it was very high stakes for the city and the committee’s discussion about his future was “distressing” to him.
Swanzey had asked the city budget include $106,885 in salary for the Economic Development and Strategic Partnership office in 2016. Of that, $74,474 would be for his position and $32,411 for a clerk.
Additionally, Swanzey had proposed increasing the grant revenue his office earns from $40,000 to $65,000. He cautioned, though, that someone would need to be in the office to earn that additional $25,000 in grant funding.
Part of aldermen’s discussion Monday centered around uncertainty as to whether Mayor-elect Noble planned to continue with the current staff and make up of the Economic Development and Strategic Partnership office.
Alderwoman Maryann Mills, D-Ward 7, said there had been talk that Noble planned to restructure city government to create a combined business and economic development office.
Alderwoman Nina Dawson, D-Ward 4, said it was difficult for the committee to make decisions based on the number of unknowns. She said the city may not have the same department next year.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen,” Dawson said.
The committee ultimately decided to continue with the mayor’s recommendation and to add $89,000 to the contingency budget line for economic development.
The entire proposed budget for the coming year must still be voted on by the full Common Council, which meets next week. Eight of the nine council members were present during Monday’s committee meeting. Alderman Brian Seche, D-Ward 2, was absent.
In other discussions, the committee voted 3-2 to restore the environmental program operations specialist position currently held by Noble. Gallo had eliminated the position in his budget proposal.
Majority Leader Matthew Dunn, D-Ward 1, and Aldermen Brad Will, D-Ward 3, and Steven Schabot, D-Ward 8, voted to restore the position. Minority Leader Deborah Brown, R-Ward 9, and Mills, the committee chairwoman, voted against. The position would have a salary of $53,760 in the coming year.
Noble currently receives a total compensation of $56,848, which includes a buyout of his health insurance benefits.
Instead of restoring the environmental program operations specialist, Mills had argued for the city to hire only a supervisor for the Everette Hodge Midtown Community Center on Franklin Street. Her motion to do that was supported only by Brown.
Mills had said Noble spends little time at the Hodge Center and his additional duties could be handled by other city employees.
Dunn argued that Noble favors maintaining the position, while Will said he thought it would be a mistake to eliminate it.
Dawson, who is not on the committee, said the Hodge Center and the environmental program operations specialist position are two separate issues. She said no children would be hurt by the loss of the environmental specialist. Dawson added that more important programs could be funded at the center.
Noble has said his position is important, especially as it pertains to youth programming at the Hodge Center, overseeing the city’s stormwater management program, obtaining state-required permits, security grant money for city programs, compiling state-mandated reports on recycling programs, overseeing city environmental programs, managing recreational facilities and conducting outdoor activity programs, among other things.
Noble’s wife, Julie, holds a similar position with the city, but is not tasked with the non-educational tasks.
In supporting Mills’ motion, Brown said the city would still have an environmental educator in Julie Noble.
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