Davidson will hire a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., again this year to push for federal funding for the North Commuter Rail Line and town needs, including a parking deck downtown.

The Town Board on Tuesday approved, 5-0, a contract with Washington lobbying firm, McAllister & Quinn. The contract will pay the firm a $3,000 monthly retainer through February 2011.

“I think it’s a sound investment,” Commissioner Brian Jenest said during the discussion.

Last year, the board exercised its right to opt out of the contract in September, after it became clear that none of its hoped-for projects were to be funded. Several board members said they want the town to consider a similar move this year.

Town Manager Leamon Brice told the board that’s a possibility. “You could be faced with a judgment call when we know how we’re doing,” he said.

Board member Margo Williams said lobbying is a fact of life for governments now. “Until the system changes, I think we’re at the mercy of someone who can work the system,” she said.

As part of the contract discussion, the board on Tuesday reviewed the lobbying priorities it discussed with the town manager at last month’s meeting.

The town is asking lobbyist Steve Dye to pursue legislative funding, grants and other funding in main areas:

• The federal transportation bill – The town will seek $4 million to help construct a badly needed parking deck downtown next to Town Hall. The funding would require the town to match 20 percent, but would allow up to 6 years to complete the project.
• The federal appropriations bill – Davidson will ask for $40,422 for six new mobile police car cameras, $12,824 for an update to a security system, funding to help with the “green business” incubator.
• General assistance funding – The town is hoping for $395,000 to rebuild a dam, restore a stream and improve the water quality of a pond on property it owns off Beaty Street. Davidson also joins other local governments in the area in pushing to have the North Commuter Rail Line included in the federal “New Starts” funding program.

Several commissioners expressed concern that the North Commuter Rail Line was not emphasized enough in the list they were discussing. But Mayor John Woods said lobbyist Mr. Dye would be working hard on the issue, and coordinating with other area governments, Mecklenburg County, and CATS, the Charotte Area Transit System.

“Our neighbors all have the same issue in their lobbying agendas,” Mayor Woods said.

RELATED COVERAGE

See a related story about other actions at Tuesday night’s board meeting, “Board approves budget cuts, approves trail plans.”