by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Mayor John Delaney is expected to appoint two new members to the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission Friday. Chief of Staff Audrey Moran said the mayor was in the final stages of replacing Y. E. “Chipper” Hall, who resigned late last year, and Kathy Barco, who resigned earlier this month.
“We are contacting a couple of people and expect to have a decision by Friday,” said Moran.
Hall and Barco were the JEDC’s last two original members and both were serving their second terms. Barco, however, had just been approved by City Council for her third, and last, term. Although the resignations came several months apart, both caught the mayor’s office by surprise. And, Hall and Barco resigned for vastly different reasons: Hall cited other commitments, while Barco resigned abruptly after being served a subpoena through her company in connection to a lawsuit filed by the Utility Contractors Association against the City.
“Kathy gave us a lot of years of service and she resigned because of personal reasons to her,” said Moran.
Although Moran declined to divulge any potential appointees — the mayor’s office does so in order to not embarrass those on the short list who are not asked to serve — she did say someone within the manufacturing industry is on Delaney’s radar screen.
Barco’s resignation not only surprised the Delaney administration, according to Moran, it will also force the administration to pay even more attention to those under consideration for any appointment to any board or commission. In addition to assuring that the potential appointee understands the time commitment required to serve, Moran said several other factors are discussed, including an individual’s professional associations.
“That is a question we do consider when we appoint anyone to a board,” said Moran. “Sometimes conflicts are hard to avoid and we always consider potential conflicts of interest. Sometimes, if a conflict arises, we will see if that person might be a better fit on another board or commission.”
Because the mayor has literally dozens of boards and commissions covering almost every facet of life, any time a potential issue arises a solution can usually be found that appeases both parties.
“Every time we’ve confronted something like that people have been willing to serve elsewhere,” said Moran. “We have so many boards we can usually find a fit.”
Whomever fills the vacancies created by Hall and Barco will likely outlast Delaney. Because the terms of service are set by City ordinance, the new members will receive terms that will go well beyond June 30, 2002, Delaney’s last day in office.
“Kathy was just beginning her last term,” said Moran. “Her replacement will fill her unexpired term. Chipper’s replacement, because his third term was set to start soon, will finish his second term and begin their own new first term.”