By THOMAS GRILLO
LYNN — Less than two weeks after Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy outlined the idea to hire a planner, the city has secured the cash to pay for the position.
On Tuesday, the Lynn Economic Development and Industrial Corp. (EDIC) board of directors unanimously approved contributing $150,000 to fund the job for three years. The city’s nonprofit development bank has agreed to pay half the salary while the Department of Community Development offered up the other $150,000.
Under the terms of the deal, the mayor in consultation with EDIC and Community Development will hire a planner at a salary between $75,000-100,000.
“Some people have called for having an entire planning department, which would be great, but I really don’t have the money to do anything like that,” said Kennedy. “We will start small and simply get a planner who will centralize many of the functions that are going on already.”
The mayor said she hopes to have the job description written by month’s end and post the opening on a number of online job websites next month. She expects to hire someone by July 1.
“This person should have the biggest voice on any decision about planning, housing, economic and community development,” Kennedy said.
The new hire will have a desk in the city’s Inspectional Services Department alongside the Planning Board and support staff.
James Cowdell, EDIC’s executive director, said his office typically spends $150,000 annually on consultants. The new planner will be able to do some of those functions and save the agency money.
“A planner would be a great help to us to fulfill our mission,” he said. “It’s a much-needed position and overdue. Hopefully it will be someone with a master’s degree in planning.”
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Charles Gaeta, EDIC’s chairman, backed the concept.
“I am glad you are doing this,” he told the mayor. “I’m not sure one person can do it, but as time goes on, we will reap so many benefits by having this position. It will strengthen what we have, but the person must be somewhat independent.”
The employee will be a contractor worker who must abide by the city’s residency requirement, Kennedy said.
Lynn has been without a planner for more than two decades.
“Now’s the right time,” Kennedy said.
Thomas Grillo can be reached at [email protected].
