AG 2004 10 18 - Laserfiche WebLink

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August 16, 2004 (.'..I.~.. .. '.'....1.'..~......."'..'.".'.'~.'.'... ,~ lj)~;¡,{ 'w f!J.'2I Page 602 '.tF....' l!~ r that would include the EDC, Chamber of Commerce, Chamber Foundation and possibly, at some time in the future, the Convention andVisitor's Bureau. He stated plans for ¡DC to locate in the Chamber Building and contract with the Chamber for certain services with John Cox, Chamber CEO, to serve as CEO of the entities. HQwever,he emphasized that the EDC would remain a 501c4 organization and no funds of the EDC and the Chamber would be co-mingled. In conclusion, Mr. Prewitt said the public-private cooperative effort between businesses and government entities would benefit all and asked the Board to endorse the concept as presented. He stated he was visiting all municipalities seeking their input. Commissioner Privette distributed a copy of a document entitled .Organization: Creating Sustainable Communities" that listed the .existing Chamber PAC" as an entity under the new umbrella organization (Cabarrus Regional partnership) that is to be created. He questioned the involvement of the Political Action Committee (PAC) in the new EDC and expressed reservations about funding an organization that he stated would be connected with a PAC. Furtl1er, Commissioner Privette said the Chamber PAC had made contributions to defeat Vice Chairman Suggs in the recent election. Mr. Prewitt .stated the Chamber PAC is separate from the EDC and the Chamber of Commerce and had been listed in error on the document. He said a group of business people have a PAC but the PAC is not funded as a part of the Chamber. Commissioner Privette made a motion, seconded by vice Chairman Suggs, to cease any contribution to EDC until a definite plan for its organization is presented to the Board. John Cox, Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO, stated he had made a mistake in listing the PAC on the draft document. He apologized for the mistake and stated the error had been corrected. Further, Mr. Cox reiterated the PAC acts as a leparate entity from the Chamber, the PAC has nothing to do with the EDC and no taxpayer money would go to the PAC. Commissioner Carpenter stated two employees remain at EDC and pointed out Commissioner Privette's motion would put those employees out of work. Commissioner Privette amended his motion to cease all funding to the EDC, except for the current employees, until additional information is presented to the Board at its September meeting. Commissioner Carpenter quèstioned the proposal to include the Convention and visitors Bureau (CVB) as a part of the proposed Cabarrus Regional Partnership. Ann Sternal, Executive Director of the CVB, reported the CVB Board (Tourism Authority) has not discussed the issue in detail and would be addressing it at an upcoming Board meeting. Commissioner Carpenter made a substitute motion, seconded by Commissioner Carruth, to app~ve the concept of the restructured EDC as presented with additional information, such as a budget proposal, organizational structure, etc. to be brought back to the Board at a later date. Mr. Prewitt and Mr. Cox responded to a number of questions by the Board about the proposed EDC structure and the Chamber's role in EDC. Issues addressed during the discussion included current County funding of EDC, the planned involvement of the Towns of Midland and Mt. Pleasant in the EDC organization, plans for Mr. Cox to serve as an ex officio member of the EDC Board and the need to attract new businesses to Cabarrus County. Chairman Freeman pointed out that the County's unemployment rate is 7.5 percent and 548 foreclosures have occurred this year. There was also further discussion regarding the "Chamber" PAC and the assertion by both Mr. Prewitt and Mr. Cox that the PAC is a separate entity from the Chamber of Commerce.' Vice Chairman Suggs stated he was not against the basic concept of restructuring the EDC but had concerns regarding the Chamber's relationship with the PAC. Commissioner Privette suggested" it may not be appropriate for Commissioner Carruth to vote on the EDC issue as he had received a contribution from tile PAC. He said there could be the possibility of a direct conflict of interest, or the appearance of a conflict of interest. A- , .1