Downtown body to eye members

Replacing its chairman, finding a niche and clarifying open meetings laws made the first year chaotic for a local economic development group.

And just as the Downtown Economic Development Corporation seems to have gotten its bearings, the group is preparing to face more change.

Members of the group must decide soon if they need to have such high-ranking University and local officials on the board.

The corporation — convened last July to represent jointly the interests of the town, the University and the private sector — was scheduled to discuss how it should reappoint its members at its 7:30 a.m. meeting today.

The mayoral task force that helped build the corporation suggested appointing high-ranking officials from all sectors during the group’s early years to guarantee that the group’s work is valued until it becomes entrenched in the area.

Roger Perry, a member of the University’s Board of Trustees; Nancy Suttenfield, UNC’s vice chancellor for finance and administration; and Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy are among the current members.

Interim Executive Director Nick Didow said the board’s current makeup is crucial to its success.

“My understanding is that good people do this because they are passionate and supportive of the mission of an organization like this,” Didow said.

Perry and Suttenfield are schedule to serve until 2006 and 2007, respectively. Foy, who was appointed by the council in February following the downtown group’s hiccup with the state’s open meetings law, is expected to serve until 2006.

The three other town appointees are set to serve until 2007.

The seventh member, Betty Kenan, was appointed by the corporation’s members to a one-year term that expires in June. Kenan said she is unsure whether she will be reappointed. “I serve at the pleasure of the rest of the board,” said Kenan, who also owns the University Square shopping complex.

Foy has said he will stay on the corporation only if he is needed. After he was appointed, he said he would not have to be so involved once the group matures.

Relief for Foy might come soon, as the board now is interviewing finalists for a permanent executive director post — viewed from the beginning as key to the group’s efforts.

With a permanent executive director, the role of the corporation might change to allow less prominent representatives to serve comfortably on the board.

Duties of the executive director will include the development of strategies for growth, as well as following the board’s directives, the job description states. The group expects to hire a director by the end of its first full year.

Didow said he hopes to guide the group as it makes reappointments for the future.

 

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.