West Springfield Mayor Gregory Neffinger determined to fund economic development director job cut by Town Council

WEST SPRINGFIELD ? Mayor Gregory C. Neffinger is looking for a way to come up with about $65,000 to fund the position of economic development director, a post the Town Council cut from his fiscal 2013 budget.

Neffinger said Friday the newly created position is required by ordinance and is too important to leave unfunded.

?I think it is just as important as building commissioner or health director or any other position listed in the ordinances,? he said.

Currently, he said, the positions of building inspector and sealer of weights and measures are unfilled and could be combined into a position held by one person. The mayor said there is money in the general government salaries account that could be tapped, as well as another source of funding he said he is not yet at liberty to discuss.

The mayor had estimated filling the position of economic development director could cost anywhere from $54,000 a year to $75,000 a year. The responsibilities of an economic development director could also be taken on by someone already holding another position, Neffinger said.

The Human Services Department has posted on the city bulletin board that it seeks to fill the position with ?a dynamic leader with energy, skill, creativity and experience to provide professionally highly responsible administrative work in providing complex policy direction and economic development activities for the town of West Springfield. Candidate will also perform other project-driven responsibilities in the Office of the mayor.?

The posting calls for someone to be responsible for all aspects of economic development strategies and for establishing and achieving the overall economic development goals of the city, including long-range plans for economic development and recommendations as to the allocation of funds.

The city seeks a graduate from a four-year college or university supplemented by graduate studies or equivalent experience with course work in economic development or community organization with more than three years of experience of an administrative or professional nature in economic development in municipal government or ?equivalent experience.?

Source: http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/07/west_springfield_mayor_determi.html

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