Davidson is continuing its search for its first finance director, a new position that would help the town manager and Town Board with budgeting and looking for new ways of financing town government.

Also in this column, a report on the Town Board’s annual planning retreat, held last week at the Mint Museum in Charlotte, where discussions included economic development and budgeting amid the economic downturn. Also, an update on the prospects for bond issues to build the Davidson IB School renovation and community center project.

WANTED: FINANCE DIRECTOR

Davidson has re-advertised its opening for a finance director, a new position the town board created last year, but which has yet to be filled.

Town Manager Leamon Brice said the town has made job offers to two candidates in recent months, only to have them turn the job down. “In the (first) round, someone decided to stay where they were. In the second one, same thing, we mailed out an offer and they called a few days later and said thanks but they took a job elsewhere,” Mr. Brice told DavidsonNews.net.

So, he said, “We have gone back out looking. We’ve gotten a batch of resumes.”

New applications are due at the end of the month, Mr. Brice said. The starting salary will be around $85,000. Read the job description on the town website.

A staffing study last spring by consultant Susan Manning recommended that the town add the finance director position. Her study said that as the town grows and its finances become increasingly complex, a finance director could help with a variety of specialized financing techniques including tax-increment financing for transit and bond referendums for community improvements. The director would also help with long-range financial forecasting.

The position was included in the 2009-2010 budget, though town officials initially delayed filling it to save money.

RETREAT REPORT

Davidson’s Town Board and town department heads traveled to Charlotte last week for a 2½ day annual retreat that included discussions of goals for the year ahead and capital spending amid the tight economy.

The retreat also included a day-long session Wednesday on economic development, and specifically what the town might do to re-balance its tax base away from a heavy reliance on residential taxes.

“I think we’re working with a little more focus now,” said Mayor John Woods. “We had a real honest discussion.” He said the weak economy and all-but-dead residential development market might present an opportunity for recruiters and the town to work on attracting commercial or industrial firms.

“Now is the time to act on these opportunities. We’ve got to do some long-range planning and do some strategic planning on how we can effect a change in the tax base,” Mayor Woods said..

He noted that the town recently began a long-ranging project to develop a new “comprehensive plan,” and one of the subcommittees is charged with looking at economic development.

Jerry Broadway, executive director of the Lake Norman Regional Economic Development Corp., which represents area towns in business recruiting, led the board through a review of potential development sites in town, as well as current and existing projects.

They included Childress Klein’s Harbour Place project near Exit 30, where office sites are available behind the Homewood Suites; Davidson Commons (the Harris Teeter shopping center, which has undeveloped parcels); the Stowe Building, which David Stewart is developing at South Main and South streets; the N.C. 73/Davidson-Concord Road intersection; and sites nearby in Huntersville and Cornelius.

He also talked about the potential of Davidson East, off Davidson-Concord Road, Westmoreland Farm, land owned by Ingersoll-Rand next to its plant, and town-owned land along Beaty Street.

“What he did was gave pros and cons. One may not have water and sewer. Another the price is too high,” for example, said Town Manager Leamon Brice.

“The biggest thing he said is if you’re looking for industry, you need a building they could move into now,” Mr. Brice said.

The session produced a list of “action steps,” including some specific immediate economic development situations:

• Liburdi Dimetrics, an industrial equipment manufacturer on Armour Street, is “is looking for a new larger location,” Mr. Brice said. The goal is “for us to do what we can to keep them in town.”
• The town is negotiating with the developer of the proposed Sheraton hotel and conference center, off Exit 30, where a lack of bank financing is threatening the project. Mr. Brice said, “This is not dead, but it is on life support. … We’re trying to figure out a way to get them over that hump through some kind of incentive. … It’s a slow process.”
• Helping Childress Klein find tenants for its office sites at Harbour Place, off Exit 30. Paul Devine, a representatives of Childress Klein, was at the Wednesday session and discussed the project and other broader economic development strategies for the town.

Mr. Brice said the session made it clear the town needs a more finely tuned economic development strategy. “We are a little bit rudderless. I don’t know how else to put that. We need a little more plan of action on how we’re going to approach economic development. What kind of offices or industry should we be looking for? Should we be trying to secure properties while they’re cheaper (now). Should we identify developers and property owners and try and partner up with them?”

Wednesday’s discussion also included a conversation about downtown Davidson with Budd Berro, the president of Downtown Davidson Inc., and Sandy Lemons, the organization’s executive director.

COMMUNITY CENTER

Town officials hope to know more in early February about the prospects for two key bond sales that would finance parts of the proposed $7.6 million renovation and expansion of the Davidson IB Middle School, on South Street.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools hope to use a bond issue approved by voters two years ago to pay for their share of the project, which would include renovations and system upgrades at the aging school. But officials have said that in the current climate, they’ll likely only issue bonds for projects already under construction, to allow those to keep moving forward.

Mecklenburg County Parks & Recreation is providing another $1.5 million to help pay for a new gymnasium and offices that would house the Davidson Parks & Recreation Department and programs.

Whether the bond sales go forward will depend on the condition of the bond market, where sales have been difficult in recent months. School officials are planning to begin construction at the end of the current school year. If the bond sales are put on hold, the project could be delayed at least a year.

“We expect word in February. We have been in very close touch with the county finance director and CMS,” Mayor Woods said last week.

One nagging question is whether the two separate bonds might wind up on different schedules. That could create some confusion about how the project might be phased. Mayor Woods said officials hope to avoid that scenario.

“The county is interested in making a unified effort to get it done,” he said. “Splitting it (the bonds) would not be good for us, if they did the school renovation, and then (wanted to) come back later to do the community center.”

Stay tuned for news about the bonds in the next couple of weeks.