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BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
Englewood, New Jersey — Despite previously postponing a vote to seek more information, the city council unanimously passed – without comment – a resolution Feb. 20 to appoint six business owners to the special improvement district (SID) created to manage and improve the downtown business community.
The six trustees were up for appointment at the Jan. 23 meeting but Councilwomen Katharine Glynn and Cheryl Rosenberg and Councilman Michael Cohen voted to table the motion, with Glynn and Rosenberg asking for more time to review the appointments, while Cohen questioned the process used to select candidates.
The new SID, or downtown management corporation, replaces the former Englewood Economic Development Committee disbanded last year amid charges it was not transparent or responsive to local business owners.
The downtown management corporation consists of seven members, six trustees who are business owners and a council liaison, whereas the defunct economic development committee comprised 15 members, 13 appointed by Mayor Frank Huttle III.
The six trustees are Matthew Cardona of Cardona Cardona Salon; Marcia Ochoa Dominguez of Buckley’s Drug Store; Linda Dunham of Dunham Management Corp.; Andy Tronick of Blue Moon Mexican Cafe; Albert Krull of TREECO; and Dennis Williams of Chick-fil-A.
All six trustees were appointed for between one- to three-year terms, states the resolution.
Previously, Council President Wayne Hamer cited the trustees’ hands-on knowledge of the business community.
“They were chosen primarily because they’ve been in business…for between 20 to 30 years. They literally have skin in the game, so they are interested in serving,” he said.
The downtown management corporation members were selected by temporary trustees—two council members and two public members—appointed when the EEDC was dissolved, Hamer said Jan. 23.
Hamer said downtown management corporation trustees met on Feb. 20 and would next meet March 6. A separate resolution unanimously appointed Hamer as council liaison to downtown management corporation through Dec. 31, 2018.
Last year, Hamer and Huttle sparred over replacing the economic development committee, and recently Huttle has alleged the city has collected $737,500 in special improvement district taxes and not used the funds to benefit downtown businesses.
Hamer said once the new downtown management corporation hires a manager and other professionals, it will begin expending funds on projects and activities to enhance Englewood’s downtown businesses.
The corporation derives its funds from a special tax on district property owners, and Hamer said its last 2017 budget showed $600,000. He said its annual budget is approximately $250,000.