After a false start and a lengthy delay, the town is moving forward with plans to search out and hire North Branford's first Economic Development Coordinator, a new, part-time position.

On February 20, at the urging of Economic Development Commission (EDC) as voiced by member Chris Kranick, the Town Council voted to put out a new call for the $25,000 per-year, part-time position. On the downside, the 19-hour per week job has a shelf-life that runs out at the end of this fiscal year -- on June 30, 2018 -- and will require the support of the Town Council to be renewed for another fiscal year as part of the 2018-19 Town Budget. The council will be working to finalize the 2018-19 Town Budget in the coming months.

Last June, shortly after the Town Council adopted the 2017-18 Town Budget with the part-time coordinator position as a new line item, Town Manager Michael Paulhus put out a search for what was then billed as a part-time Economic Development Coordinator/Grant Writer. However, the search had to be called off within a matter of weeks, after the Town Council pulled back on hiring while awaiting uncertain state budget impacts.

Following the resolution of the state budget in mid-October, town hiring began to open up a bit. But instead of returning to the plan to hire the part-time position, the council took a new direction to fill the need -- the idea of hiring a case-by-case grant writer, who would work, when requested by the EDC, for a flat fee paid from the $25,000 line item.

On Feb. 20, Kranick asked the council to go back to the original plan and hire a part-timer to assist the all-volunteer EDC, which has made great gains in supporting town businesses and promoting North Branford over the past few years. Kranick and other EDC members have been pressing the idea with the council during Citizens Statements at recent Town Council meetings.

Telling the council he had been thinking over the discussion from the last Town Council meeting on the topic, “...it occurred to me that Councilman [Al] Rose made the argument for a part-time Economic Development Coordinator, better than I could have made it,” said Kranick on Feb. 20. “It’s precisely because we don’t have I-95, I-91, Route 1, a railroad station; that we need an Economic Development Coordinator. We need that extra effort for all those reasons Al so eloquently stated. So I would like to work together with Al to make North Branford the best it can be, to embrace what we have. And if North Branford is unique, it doesn’t mean we can’t be more successful.”

Kranick pointed to recent successes obtained on the town’s economic development front, from a Milford doggy daycare applying to move into the former Save and Discount location to an expanded veterinary business on Route 80 and another veterinary operation which renovated and moved into the former Twin Oaks Pharmacy location. He also noted two popular businesses continue to show commitment to being in North Branford, with Dalton’s restaurant renewing its lease (2924 Foxon Road) and bakery JCakes having expanded and moved into a new North Branford location (5 Foxon Road).

Kranick then asked the council to put the part-time position back on the agenda, saying, “I think the votes are here to have this happen for our town.”

Rose good-naturedly thanked Kranick for “giving credit where credit’s due” and added he’s willing to help put the work in; and has recently, to help reach out to corporations which might be a good fit for economic development opportunities for the town. Rose said he, Paulhus and Town Planner Carey Duques recently helped look into an idea from Town Clerk Lisa Valenti on the potential to reach out to the corporate office of Trader Joe’s to consider opening a retail location in North Branford.

“I just want you to know I haven’t given up the town. If there’s a good idea out there, I will support it,” said Rose.

That being said, Rose added he wasn’t sure how much a $25,000 part-time position could do to make a big impact.

Kranick responded, “I think the small steps the EDC has taken over the years has [borne] some fruit; and I think the journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.”

Kranick pointed to recent positive feedback North Branford received from out-of-town leaders as part of a UCONN extension’s “First Impressions” town assessment visit; and EDC’s work to help facilitate and produce the 2017 “North Branford-Nothford Grown” agricultural tourism brochure and trail map. He added postive efforts including another Town Council agenda item set to be discussed that night, procuring new roadside signs for the town’s entrance points and town parks, are also going to assist.

“It’s keeping the business we have, and also building a brand for North Branford,” said Kranick. “This is how you pick up momentum. I really think if everyone got behind it, instead of sort of fighting, there’s such an opportunity to make North Branford even more unique and more successful. And I think the part-time position is first step of that.”

Councilman George Miller (D) moved to put the question of hiring a part-time Economic Development Coordinator on the night’s agenda. The Town Council later voted, 6-3, to put the job out for hire in the coming weeks. Voting in favor were Miller (D) and Rose (R) as well as Mayor Michael Doody (R) and council members Joseph Faughnan (D), Marie Diamond (D) and Thomas Zampano (R). Voting against were Deputy Mayor Rose Marie Angeloni (R) and councilmen Anthony Candelora (R) and Robert Viglione (R).

On Feb. 23, Town Manager Paulhus told Zip06/The Sound he was working to finalize the advertisement for the part-time opening. With optimistic timing for responses and the interview process, a person could be hired and fill the role for the months of May and June, he said. By June, the council will have to decide whether the EDC’s request for the position would continue by being funded in 2018-19 budget, which kicks in as of July 1, 2018.

Based on the EDC’s responsibilities as listed in the Town Charter, Paulhus said he expects the person who wins the job will help the EDC by working with current businesses to promote retention and expansion, while also reaching out and marketing North Branford to businesses that could be a good fit for the town.

In related news, on Feb. 20, the Town Council voted unanimously to reappoint Elisabeth Caplan to the EDC, for a term to expire Dec. 31, 2020.

In addition to Caplan and Kranick, the other appointed members of the town’s EDC are Jan Finch (chair), Joan Tutor (vice chair) and Scott Small.