Published: September 07, 2008 10:29 pm      

MEETING: Council to vote on new economic development job.

Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster chose a baseball analogy to best describe the city’s current status in terms of economic development.

“We’ve got the bases loaded and we want a slugger to step up to the plate,” Dyster said.

The hitter he has in mind is Peter F. Kay, who has more than 20 years of economic and community development experience in both the private and public sectors. Before Kay can swing for the fences, however, the City Council needs to give its blessing.

A vote to create a new economic development director position at a proposed annual salary of $100,000 is on tonight’s meeting agenda. If approved, Dyster has already decided to hire Kay, who most recently served as director of the science and technology corridor at the University of Toledo in Ohio.

“I think it’s important to move forward with this,” Dyster said. “We have a lot of positive things happening in the area of economic development and we’ve got some problem areas we’re trying to deal with. We’re starting to establish some positive momentum and it’s really important to put the people in place to continue that.”

Economic development director is one of two new positions Dyster is hoping to add to his administration. Kay was selected from a national recruitment search and his experience in the field makes him an ideal candidate who can work with current and potential developers, Dyster said.

While at the University of Toledo, Kay helped procure federal and state grants for the construction of a $4 million science and technology business incubator. His other experience includes serving as CEO of an economic development corporation in Erie, Pa. from 2000 to 2003 and as economic development advisor for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 1995 to 2000.

Kay was in Niagara Falls this past weekend and had the chance to meet with a few councilmembers and discuss their goals for economic development.

“I see great potential here in Niagara Falls,” Kay said. “The time is perfect to organize our efforts and apply the resources we have in the most efficient manner.”

Councilman Chris Robins said he was impressed by not only Kay’s background, but what he had to say during their meeting. He believes the new position is needed to help streamline development efforts citywide.

“I think he would offer a lot to our city and the timing is perfect right now,” Robins said.

Dyster chose Kay earlier this summer, but later requested the resolution to create the position be removed from the July 28 meeting agenda because not all councilmembers were in attendance. The council has been on summer break since that meeting.

The mayor believes he has enough support on the five-member council to create the job, but is hoping for a unanimous vote of confidence.

“I think it would be wonderful if we could have a consensus on this,” Dyster said. “I don’t think anyone on the council would want to vote against economic development.”

Councilman Robert Anderson Jr. said he’s not against economic development, but he still has questions about the proposed position’s salary and how it will be funded. Dyster’s proposing that $40,000 of the annual cost comes from the “Building a Better Niagara Falls Fund” set up by the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo.

Consisting of private donors, the fund has fallen under scrutiny in recent months because of its anonymity. To prove its legality, Dyster has requested State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s office investigate the fund and make recommendations.

Anderson refers to the foundation money as a “007 account.”

“I will not vote on anything that has to do with those dollars,” he said. “I will either abstain or vote against it.”