The Italy Economic Development Corporation met Monday evening in council chambers. Although the meeting lasted two hours, the EDC took little action.

Elmerine Bell, EDC member, presented an extended report on the 2009 Texas Economic Development Legislative session held in Austin.

She said the economic stimulus package has passed in Washington, D.C. and Texas will receive $17 billion and some of that will trickle down to the EDC.

She highlighted some of the focal points of the EDC. She said economic development packages focus on Community Development Block Grants, Neighborhood Stabilization, National Recovery Zone bonds, New Market Tax Credits and University Research Development.

She explained that private sources do provide money with matching grant money. She learned of a bank in Wisconsin, owned by African-American women, who will match federal grant money.

Bell also explained there is an Austin Economic Grant Development Service that offers services, including website services, for other EDCs within the state.

She stressed the need for computer science education for the community’s youth. She said the University of Texas offers a master’s degree program in computer science that students can complete in five years.

Bell said she came away from the meeting feeling the need for a professional to lead the EDC in Italy.

In other business, Terri Murdock, city secretary/administrator, administered the oath of office to Tom Little, newly appointed board member.

The board discussed but took no action on reviewing the EDC by-laws, membership with Association of Rural Communities in Texas (ARCIT), EDC financials, EDC management, hiring an EDC professional and future EDC projects.

Discussing finances, Mark Stiles, president, noted there is one remaining payment of $27,000 on the fire truck. Total expenses for the year thus far are about $30,000.

A great deal of discussion centered on payment to Murdock for her services to the EDC.

Stiles explained that the city, along with Murdock, need to be reimbursed for the time she spends on the EDC. He said working with the EDC was not part of Murdock’s job description.

Stiles requested $600 per month. She said this involves making bank deposit, reconciling the bank statements, keeping minutes, preparing packets for board meetings, negotiating with auditors, answering questions regarding EDC, making hotel reservations, keeping with up membership and getting answers from the attorneys.

Several members questioned spending that amount.

Little asked how much of this work did she do on “city time.” She said it she did it all on city time, except for the evening meetings. She did admit that she often works through her lunch hour and does not always leave at 5 p.m.

Little said he did not mind paying her for the time she spent at the night meetings but thought being involved with the EDC should be part of Murdock’s job description.

Stiles said if they did not pay her to do the job, they needed to pay someone else to do the job she is doing.

Randy Boyd asked Murdock if she could keep track of the hours spent per month working on the EDC. She responded that it would be difficult for her to keep track.

Garcia also said he would not feel comfortable paying someone unless he had a chart of time spent during the month working on the EDC.

Jason Escamilla suggested they find out what other EDC employees are paid in similar sized communities. He said it was hard to OK $600 per month.

Boyd said the previous city administrator (Cynthia Olguin) did the job without pay since her salary came from the city. He added, There are probably a lot of things that go on (in city hall) concerning the EDC that the average board member doesn’t see.”

Little suggested talking to the mayor about the issue. He added that he did not think the EDC should punish Murdock but did not want to over-extend the EDC liabilities either.

Stiles said he appreciated Murdock’s time and effort. He appointed Garcia to oversee a subcommittee consisting of Escamilla and Boyd. This committee is responsible for coming up with a reasonable salary and he wanted this information by the next meeting. He said whatever salary was set will be retroactive back to October of 2008.

Stiles said the city formed the EDC in 1996-97 in Italy. From his research, he said the EDC was active at times and was not active at other times.

He pointed out the need to hire an EDC professional to come into the community, aggressively pursue businesses, and research various grants available to the city.

“We want to provide jobs for our children,” he stressed. “There is a trainable work force here, I’m just not sure of the level.”

He said someone just out of college would be ideal, but also pointed out that they would be expensive.

“If we are going to create jobs and expand the tax base, we need to make an effort if we are going to move ahead.” Stiles added, “We can create jobs or we can continue to have meetings. If you want to just have meetings, you chose the wrong guy to lead this group.”

Bell said, “If we want change in Italy, we need to step out.”

Boyd said, “Everybody wants to complain about spending but nobody shows up at these meetings.”

Little added, “The attitude of the town needs to change a little bit.”

Stiles said he would talk with someone about hiring a professional and get further information together to pursue the matter.

Murdock pointed out that she had researched what projects the EDC might pursue. She said the EDC could pursue building a park. A senior center could be included as long as it was in the park. She added that, within the park, the EDC could plant trees, provide walking trails and construct a pavilion. The EDC could also fund a citizen’s center, a concern that has plagued committee and community leaders since the community center was deemed unusable.

She added, “It’s hard to hire a professional if you don’t have something to get people here.”