The City of Leominster doesn’t need a bigger government bureaucracy and that’s why we’re skeptical of Mayor Dean Mazzarella’s plan to create a new Redevelopment Authority with specific powers.
If the mayor’s serious about restoring unproductive parcels of land and buildings to the tax rolls through economic development — and we believe he is — it would wise to study the city’s existing framework and improve it to do the work that a Redevelopment Authority would do — without the increased power and payroll of another taxpayer-funded agency.
We think the foundation is already there at City Hall.
There’s a director of Planning and Development (Kristen Kelly); Small Business Coordinator (Melissa Tasca), Community Development Block Grant Administrator and Housing Rehab Secretary (Ellen Racine).
What’s missing is an Economic Development Coordinator, a position recently vacated when Lisa Marrone took a director’s job in Chelmsford.
Marrone’s departure presents an opportunity for the city to add a dynamic individual to its team, preferably someone who can bring private and public sector experience to City Hall.
First, however, the mayor and City Council should get on the same page as to what it is looking for. It begins with a review of the city’s Planning and Development Department. Is it meeting its mission? If not, what does it need?
We suggest taking input from employees and discussing what they believe to be the city’s short- and long-term economic development aspirations.
Can the PDD as constituted handle duties that would otherwise go to a Redevelopment Authority, or does it require a revamp to deal with urban center issues?
There are inspiring urban planners out there whose skills can complement and expand those of other city department directors in a positive way.
Like any company CEO, Mazzarella should explore the talent pool and strategically create a job that will give Leominster the biggest bang for its buck. We suggest a call to Jay Ash, the state’s secretary of Housing and Economic Development. He’s the former mayor of Chelsea and knows a thing or two about revitalizing the urban core. He’s also covered Massachusetts from stem to stern in his present capacity and knows where the up-and-comers are making a difference in their communities.
Leominster doesn’t need the extra expense of an agency to identify vacant lots and abandoned buildings for the purpose of launching eminent domain proceedings.
What it does need is a strong and forward-thinking economic development team that can work with city leaders and the public to create a great vision for improving neighborhoods, infrastructure, parks, and other public areas; entice investors to build much-needed housing; and market the city’s amenities to employers who can be proud to call Leominster their home.