Agenda - 06-15-2021; 8-a - Minutes

Browse Search

20 1 None 2 3 Commissioner Bedford said she supported Kevin Thomas, Barbara Jessie-Black, and 4 John Morris. She said she does not support one-year extensions for Anthony Carey, James 5 Watts and John Anderson. 6 Commissioner Greene asked if there is a reason behind the extensions. 7 Tara May said the board said it is following the economic and social justice goals, and 8 the extensions would provide continuity. 9 Tara May said she did not see anyone who could fill the tourism seat. She said there is 10 an applicant for agriculture, and there are several people who could fit with core business 11 community. 12 Commissioner Greene said she could support Anthony Carey and James Watts. She 13 said she is ambivalent about core business community position, as there are many who can fill 14 that position. 15 Commissioner McKee said he remembered a conversation about one-year extensions, 16 and the BOCC was not in favor. He said he does not want to establish a precedent. 17 The Board agreed by consensus on Thomas, Jessie-Black, and Morris. 18 Commissioner McKee said one member is in Little River, and one is out in the county. 19 He said David Gephart could serve in the tourism or core business community role, and 20 suggested him for either of those positions. 21 Chair Price asked if there was consensus on Gephart for core business community. 22 Commissioner Fowler said she thought it was tourism. 23 Chair Price and Commissioner Greene said they could see him on core business. 24 Commissioner McKee said he did not care which seat the board agreed on. 25 All commissioners except Commissioner Fowler agreed on Gephart for core business 26 community. 27 Commissioner Fowler said she liked Estella Johnson, who is a former director of 28 economic development and is an African-American female, and Jane Saiers for agriculture. 29 She said she is not sure there is a place for Johnson since Gephart was put in the core 30 business seat. 31 Chair Price said David Gephart was a better fit for business. 32 Chair Price asked for clarification on Commissioner Fowler's second suggestion. 33 Tara May said the suggestion was to put Jane Saiers for the agriculture position. 34 The board agreed by consensus on Saiers for the agriculture seat. 35 Chair Price asked for clarification on Commissioner Fowler's first suggestion. 36 Commissioner Bedford said it was Estella Johnson for the core business seat. 37 Chair Price asked if Johnson would not fit in tourism. 38 Commissioner Fowler said she was the director of economic development in Cambridge. 39 Commissioner Bedford said she had a good application. She said she is an African- 40 American woman, and recently retired here and is a former director. 41 Chair Price said there is a lot of tourism in Cambridge. 42 Commissioner Bedford wondered what the rules are for the Economic Development 43 Advisory Board. 44 Commissioner McKee asked how strict are the rules for appointments. He said Estella 45 Johnson could represent tourism based on her experience. 46 Chair Price said Estella Johnson's background indicates a great deal of experience. 47 Tara May reviewed the requirements for the tourism seat in the bylaws. 48 Commissioner Fowler suggested moving Kevin Thomas to the tourism seat, and putting 49 Estella Johnson in Kevin Thomas's core business community seat. 50 Commissioner McKee asked for clarification. 51 Chair Price reviewed the appointments.