ERB for Camden Holds Special Meeting; Appoints Officers and Approves Consultant Contract for...

Business Editors

CAMDEN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 19, 2002

Demonstrating the Economic Recovery Board's commitment to hands on management of the state's efforts to revitalize Camden, members of the Board conducted a neighborhood tour today, followed by the second board meeting

During the Board meeting, held at the Cooper Waterfront Homes and Camden Lutheran Housing Inc. Offices, the ERB also appointed Reverend J.C. Jones as the Vice Chairperson of the Board, selected committee memberships, and unanimously approved the selection of a collaborative consortium of professional firms led by Hammer, Siler, George Associates (HSGA) of Silver Spring, Maryland to prepare a Strategic Revitalization Plan / Capital Improvement-Infrastructure Plan.

"This Board has been issued the challenge of implementing Camden's economic recovery plan," said ERB Chairperson John McCormac, who is also the State Treasurer of New Jersey. "Our actions must be responsive to the City's needs as we develop a strategic plan for revitalization," he said, noting that the consultant firm will also be directed to develop a web site dedicated to providing the Camden community with information regarding the progress of the revitalization efforts.

The Economic Recovery Board (ERB) was created under Municipal Rehabilitation and Recovery Act. The Act created the ERB as a subsidiary corporation within the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA), and is charged with implementing a comprehensive strategy of revitalization for qualified municipalities, such as Camden.

"The Municipal Rehabilitation and Recovery Act set forth the objectives of the Board and provided us the means to carry out our job. Neighborhood tours will provide a real understanding of the challenges ahead, while building key relationships between board members and the community," said McCormac.

The tour was conducted prior to the Board meeting and was led by Betsy Russell, Executive Director of the Camden Lutheran Housing Corporation, Chief Operating Officer Randy Primas and Sean Closkey, Executive Director of the New Jersey Housing Mortgage and Finance Agency who is also the former Executive Director of the St. Joseph's Carpenters Society. The tour allowed the members to meet with neighborhood residents and experience the plight of Camden neighborhoods first-hand. Following the tour and a lunch a lunch at the Camden Lutheran Housing Offices, the Treasurer convened two separate meetings of state agency staff and Board members to discuss how the Board can work effectively together.

In addition to the election of the new Vice Chair, Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Susan Bass Levin was elected as ERB Secretary and EDA Chairman Anthony Coscia was selected as the Treasurer. EDA Executive Director Caren Franzini and Michael Francois, Director of the EDA's Real Estate division, were selected as Assistant Secretaries of the ERB.

The ERB's bylaws also provide for the appointment of members to three committees that will meet throughout the year to advise the Board on various matters. The committees and their members are as follows:

Audit Committee: The Committee shall monitor the financial operations of the Corporation and shall review the annual budget (as necessary) for final approval. The Committee meets at such times and places as may be determined by the Chairperson of the Board. The Audit Committee is composed of the Chairperson, Chairperson of the Authority, the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the State Treasurer, and two other Members appointed by the Chair. The appointments are as follows: Angel Fuentes, Jeffrey Nash.

Plan Implementation Committee: The Committee reviews the implementation progress of the Strategic Plan and Capital Improvement and Infrastructure Master Plans. The Committee meets at such time and places as may be determined by the Chairperson. The Plan Implementation Committee is composed of the Chairperson, the Chairperson of the Authority, the COO and four other Members appointed by the Chairperson, one of whom will be appointed Chairperson of the Plan Implementation Committee. The appointments are as follows: Daniel Dalton, William Hosey, Rosa Ramirez and Reverend J.C. Jones.

Project Review Committee: The Committee will review all projects for financing. Projects will be reviewed for their consistency with the strategic revitalization plan, capital improvement and infrastructure plan or annual recovery program or financial plan. After consistency review, and in accordance with the Act, the project will be advanced to the Board upon receiving the written recommendation of the COO. From time to time, other duties may be prescribed by the Chairperson of the Board. The Committee meets at such times and places as may be determined by the Chairperson. The Project Review Committee will consist of the Chairperson, the Chairperson of the Authority, the Commissioner of Community Affairs and three other Members appointed by the Chairperson, one of whom will be appointed Chairperson of the Project Review Committee. The appointments are as follows: Rodney Sadler, Angel Fuentes and Camden Mayor Gwendolyn Faison.

The Board was also given presentations by the Camden Lutheran Housing Corporation and the South Jersey Port Corporation on plans for current projects.