published: Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Avon Park does away with CRA director position

By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY

christopher.tuffley@newssun.com

AVON PARK -- City council signaled a new direction for the city's Community Redevelopment Agency Monday night when it did away with the position of a city-wide director.

Instead, the council wants the Chamber of Commerce to work more closely with each CRA district and for the advisory boards to take a more active role.

The reason behind this, city council members said, was financial. It had nothing to do with the CRA's current director, Wes Hoagland. In fact, councilors went out of their way to praise him.

Mayor Sharon Schuler opened the discussion by saying financial shortfalls, especially in the Southside where tax increments are minimal, meant the city "can't afford (the cost of a director) as it stands right now." She said the approximately $60,000 to $70,000 that would be saved by eliminating the position could be used for redevelopment.

Councilor Paul Miller, in support of doing away with the position, said he was disappointed by the lack of progress. "The job's not being done," he said. "People are just dragging their feet."

Councilor Terry Heston agreed, "We have to go in a new direction," he said.

"Wes was always responsive to me personally and to the boards," Councilor Parke Sutherland said. "I don't want people to think he hasn't done a good job, it's just that we can get a better bang for our buck. What's being done by the CRA can be done in-house.

"No way are we saying you've not done your job," he said, looking directly at Hoagland, "but the money could be better used."

No date for ending the position was set Monday.

Gerald Snell, chairman of the Southside CRA advisory board, has hope for the future. He sees the advisory committee as the ears of the community, but puts the responsibility for success in his neighbors' hands.

"People have to get more involved," he said, "not 10 percent, 100 percent. A CRA is only as good as its community.

"We've got some wonderful people on the board, but at most meetings hardly anyone is there."