Agency appoints screening committee

The Redevelopment Agency has appointed a screening committee as part of the selection process for a new executive director. A legal notice published today lays out the timeline, qualifications and salary range for the position.

Commissioners appointed to the screening committee were Chairman Egon Behrmann and Armando Sanchez, who were appointed to the agency last month, along with Michael Staryak. The committee will review resume submissions and recommend a candidate to the full seven-member board of commissioners. The agency passed a resolution during its meeting tonight after a 40-minute executive session, which included discussion about the search process.

Today’s legal notice set an Oct. 15 deadline for interested candidates to submit resumes.

The salary range is $50,000 to $70,000 annually. The position is not full-time but on an “as-needed” basis, similar to the arrangement with former Redevelopment Director Peter Pelissier, though he earned a salary twice that amount ($143,264).

Pelissier resigned at the Sept. 3 meeting, effective Sept. 30. He will receive a severance payment equal to four months’ salary, in lieu of getting 120 days’ notice of being relieved of his duties, according to Resolution 41-14 adopted by the agency last month.

Following last month’s resignations, people familiar with the situation expected Parking Authority Executive Director Leonard Bier to become the next redevelopment director, however, a legal notice is required by redevelopment law.

Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college in public administration, social science or other appropriate program, “‘such as urban planning, community development, finance or business administrator and at least five years’ experience in public administration, public finance, real estate management or other similar professional employment appropriate to the management of redevelopment projects.” A master’s degree in an appropriate program can be substituted for two years’ experience, according to the ad.

Qualifications will be subject to the review and approval of the state Department of Community Affairs.

The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency recently appointed a new executive director. A former councilman, David Donnelly was expected to be appointed executive director at an annual salary of $110,000, on top of  the $93,600 salary as an administrative analyst in Mayor Steve Fulop’s office, according to the Jersey Journal.

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