McHenry Times

City of Harvard Community Development Committee met Sept. 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Chairman Carncross called the meeting to order at 6:32 pm. Committee members present: Chairman Dan Carncross, Aldermen Jay Schulz and Raul Meza. Also present were Mayor Michael Kelly, Alderwoman Lisa Haderlein, Aldermen Charlie Gorman, John Lavallee, City Administrator Dave Nelson, and Finance Director Deb Bejot.

Public Comment

None

Economic Development Dept. Budget

Mayor Kelly Highlighted the contract with Charles Eldredge as an economic development consultant. The agreement has been vetted by the City’s Corporate Counsel. The yearly amount is around the same amount that the Harvard EDC was paying him and the total cost includes Medicare. This contract payment will be paid in a lump sum monthly and a 1099 will be issued at the end of the year.

Alderman Schulz made a motion to amend the current budget to include a line item for professional fees and to create a separate department for economic development in the amount of $36,000. Seconded by Alderman Carncross. There was discussion concerning the structure, organization, and overall direction of the consultant. Mayor Kelly noted that this is a transition period with Economic Development and when a new City Administrator is chosen there will be a clear direction on where we are going. Alderman Meza had concerns that perhaps we should wait until the new Administrator is chosen before we embark upon this. Administrator Nelson noted that if you wait any momentum in the program will be lost and you will indeed have to start over from scratch. There are some current projects that Mr. Eldredge will be and has been working on.

All ayes motion passed.

New Business

Administrator Nelson handed out a memo from Code Enforcement Officer Anne Nutley that updates the Committee on three abandoned homes. Administrator Nelson requested that the Committee schedule another meeting to discuss options of what we can do about the homes.

The Committee called a meeting for October 20, 2022 6:00 p.m. to discuss.

The Mayor will also invite Mr. Eldredge to the meeting so that he can present a report to the committee.

Motion made by Alderman Schulz seconded by Alderman Meza to adjourn the meeting. All ayes motion passed.

Meeting adjourned 7:25 pm.

https://www.cityofharvard.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/community_development_committee/meeting/14650/minutescommunitydevelopment2022-09-21.pdf