RUMFORD – The River Valley Growth Council on Wednesday night nailed down the committee that will try to maintain solid communication between member towns, the council and the newly hired executive director.
The council wants the people of member towns to know that the council is working to retain existing businesses and is trying to bring in new ones.
The former president of the council, Joseph Derouche, submitted his resignation as a member of the board because he has been hired as the new director.
As part of Derouche’s contract, the council’s Personnel Committee outlined a variety of expectations. One of the most important, said Personnel Committee spokesman Greg Buccina, is a clearer line of communication than was provided by the previous director, Scott Christiansen.
“We need a better handle so we can be a better-informed group, so the needs of the communities can be brought to fruition,” he said after the monthly board meeting.
Toward this end, the Personnel Committee will meet weekly or biweekly with Derouche to discuss the steps he has taken or plans to take toward these goals. Included in these are plans for succession to the position, staff building, pursuing funding, working with existing businesses and going after new ones, maintaining communication with member towns on steps being taken to promote economic development, and developing organizational needs for the next three years.
The Personnel Committee holds it first meeting with Derouche on Friday. He begins his duties on Tuesday. His initial contract is through the end of June, at which time he will be evaluated based on contract objectives.
Interim Executive Director Rosie Bradley, who was assistant executive director until December, will stay on with the increased salary she was granted when she took the interim post.
Derouche’s prorated annual salary of $40,000 and the increased salary granted to Bradley come from a Maine State Planning Office economic development grant of $75,000. The remaining funds from the grant will go toward additional council support.
Some council members have objected to the amount of time Christiansen has devoted to long-term economic development projects, such as a biorefinery or the Fractionation Development Center. He is now the head of the fractionation project with his salary paid by a grant.
The River Valley Technology Center and the RVGC are working to bring a forestry bio-products research and entrepreneurial area to the local technology center. Fractionation is a process that can derive chemicals and other substances from wood for use in a variety of products.
With Derouche’s resignation as president of the council board, Vice President Dick Lovejoy will serve as chair until elections are held in September.
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