In an effort to save it from a future wild card budget cut, the town is trying to make the economic development director’s job an appointed position whose term would run with that of the Board of Selectmen.
Herman Schuler has been the town’s economic development director since October 2005, when August Palmer III was in office.
He contracts with the town through a private company he owns and is paid $49,704 a year for 32 hours a week. There are no health benefits.
The move to make Schuler’s position an administrative officer comes after Ed Carver, a member of “Keep Oxford Green,” attempted to have the contracted line item’s salary eliminated from the 2011 – 2012 budget during a May 2 town meeting.
Carver said the position just isn’t working out, according to minutes from the meeting.
In past interviews, Carver has criticized Schuler for promoting inappropriate development that threatens to undermine Oxford’s rural nature.
Schuler said he’s brought more than $5 million a year in tax revenue since he’s had the job.
Carver’s request failed at the town meeting by a vote of 32 – 15.
While the move failed, it got apparently got Dave McKane thinking. He appeared at a meeting of the Charter Revision Commission and talked about Carver’s move.
He expressed concerns over the ability of residents to cut out a contracted position within town government, according to meeting minutes.
He was apparently worried the situation exposed Oxford to a potential lawsuit, had Carver been successful.
McKane could not be reached for comment.
So, based on that input, the Charter Revision Commission — a group that is looking to tweak the town charter, the document that serves as a blueprint for Oxford government — suggested making Schuler’s position appointed.
(The Charter Revision Commission held a public hearing on some proposed changes Wednesday. Click here to read a story about the meeting.)
However, Schuler — and Rob Saracino, chairman of the Economic Development Commission — don’t want to see the position become appointed.
It runs the risk of making the job less stable and professional, Saracino said. Furthermore, the move could limit the independence of the the Economic Development Commission — a group of appointed members whose terms are not tied to Oxford political cycles.
As it stands, the EDC is responsible for interviewing director candidates and making recommendations to the Board of Selectmen. Keeping the position away from the political cycle provides stability — including during times of transition in Oxford Town Hall, Schuler said.
Schuler said he welcomes Oxford’s efforts to protect his job description — but the town should make sure the EDC remains involved.
“I have no criticism of them trying to resolve the issue, but it needs to be rethought. To make it a political appointment is a disaster, that’s the bottom line,” he said.
Brett Olbrys, the chairman of the Charter Revision Commission, said any recommended changes are far from being finalized.
A list of recommendations will be passed to the Board of Selectmen by the end of May. Voters ultimately get the final decision through a referendum.
Questions about the charter changes should be directed to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
