DERBY — A legislative subcommittee said the city should widen its search for an economic development director to include companies, not just individuals.
Derby government wants to add an economic development director to the staff.
But, given the statements made at the last few meetings of the Derby Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen, there’s a difference of opinion over how wide to cast a net for candidates.
Mayor Rich Dziekan’s administration wants to hire a person who will work full-time for the city. Some city Democrats pushed to expand the candidate pool to include companies — and they appear to have their eyes on the Naugatuck Valley Regional Development Corporation.
The Naugatuck Valley Regional Development Corporation is a relatively new entity created by the mayors of Naugatuck and Waterbury. Its CEO is a Derby native, Thomas Hyde, and it works in partnership with the Waterbury Development Corporation.
Hyde and the Naugatuck Valley Regional Development Corporation’s goal is to regionalize economic development in the Valley, instead of each town hall acting independently.
His group has already had success. They helped to seal a deal that will bring an Amazon warehouse and 1,000 jobs to a site straddling the Naugatuck-Waterbury border.
Hyde is familiar with state government. He was a special assistant to Gov. Malloy, and worked previously for the state’s Office of Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).
On Feb. 24 the “operations and procedures” subcommittee of the Derby Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen met for a very specific purpose –changing the job description of economic development director so that companies could apply for the job.
The members of the subcommittee eventually endorsed the change and voted to pass along the recommendation to the full Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen, a group that will take up the issue at a meeting later this month.
However, Alderwoman Anita Dugatto had invited Hyde to speak to the subcommittee about his corporation — something that Alderman Rob Hyder strongly objected to several times during the Feb. 24 subcommittee meeting.
Hyder pointed out a candidate search committee is in the process of being formed to interview candidates. He questioned the appropriateness of having a potential job applicant give a presentation, saying it’s something that should be done in front of a candidate search committee, once that committee is formed.
Dugatto said she saw no issue with Hyde talking to the subcommittee.
Hyde eventually gave a presentation, which can be viewed 27 minutes and 14 seconds into this video.
Prior to Hyde’s presentation, Alderman Gino DiGiovanni Jr. explained the Dziekan’s administration’s take on the economic development position.
“I feel that this job should be filled with an employee, not a company or a firm,” DiGiovanni said.
DiGiovanni said a firm has to set prices so that its employee is paid and the firm makes a profit.
Hiring an individual will get Derby more “one on one information,” and the new hire will be “more willing to share the same vision” as Derby to move the city forward, DiGiovani said.
Last year state lawmakers passed legislation that opens millions in matching grant funds to regional economic development corporations such as Hyde’s, specifically in the Naugatuck Valley.
Andrew Baklik, Mayor Dziekan’s former chief of staff, spoke in favor of the legislation last year during public hearings in Hartford.
Baklik “conveyed the difficulties Derby faces regarding sustaining economic development efforts when acting as a single entity,” according to a bill report. “He voiced support to form a regional entity, which could be better equipped to provide continuity relating to economic development efforts. He called the prospect of having regional staff “…a game-changer for small distressed municipalities like Derby.”
Valley towns are a mixed bag when it comes to economic development directors.
Derby had a full-time economic development person (and grant writer) under Mayor Anthony Staffieri. The position went part-time when Anita Dugatto was mayor. Mayor Dziekan’s administration has Carmen DiCenso, who serves as a part-time economic development liasion.
Seymour had a Realtor who served as part-time economic development director, then a part-time firm who withdrew from the business; and now uses Ansonia’s full-time economic director on a part-time basis.
