“Now that the TCIC is up and running successfully, it is time for fresh new ideas and new energy to take the TCIC up a notch. I have been doing economic development for over 25 years and I am ready to re-retire,” Essman told this newspaper last week.
Essman recommended in the letter that both the TCIC and the city make the executive director’s position a city job.
“The CIC doesn’t generate a whole lot of cash on its own to support its own activities and really contracts with the city of Trotwood to provide economic and housing development services with the city,” Essman said.
It would be less costly for the city if the executive director received benefits and it would help attract qualified candidates, Essman said.
City officials will evaluate the suggestion, as well as other options available that relate to economic development, Quincy Pope, interim city manager, said.
The search for a new executive director comes as the city is going through transitions in key administrative positions.
Michael Lucking announced June 26 that he was retiring from his city manager’s position. Pope was appointed interim city manager in July.
Chris Peeples, former Miami County auditor, was recently hired to replace Patricia Shively as the city’s finance director when she retires Sept. 1. Eric Baxter, former project designer/systems administrator for the Greene County Department of Public Works, has been hired as public works operations manager. He replaces Dalton Hines who resigned in March.
Essman, former economic development director for the city of Dayton, said he will continue to work with the TCIC board under the terms of his expired contract until December or until a new executive director has been hired.
Essman said the TCIC pays him an amount that is under $100 an hour for his services. He added that his service rate is based on the needs of his clients.
Celik said the board was disappointed that Essman decided not to renew his contract.
“Mr. Essman’s performance as Executive Director of the TCIC has been excellent,” she said. “He is very knowledgeable and has really done wonders for the TCIC since he came on board to direct us.”
Essman pointed out that he was the first executive director for the organization, which was established in 1984.
“What I committed to the city of Trotwood at the time (when the contract started), is that I would get the Community Improvement Corporation up and functioning and kick off their housing program and lay out their plans for economic development. Frankly, I’ve accomplished that,” Essman said.
One program TCIC oversees is Trotwood Now!, a partnership with the city designed to address foreclosure issues. TCIC works with the Montgomery County Treasurer’s Office to acquire foreclosed properties, which are sold to and revitalized by prospective homeowners and qualified developers. The idea is to return these properties to tax paying status. Thus, bringing revenue back to the city.
The city provided TCIC with $155,000 in support for the housing and economic development program for 2015, according to a memo Essman sent to Pope dated July 6. This newspaper received the memo via the public records request. The city provided $160,000 in support in 2014.
Essman told this newspaper in July that TCIC had targeted 16 properties for redevelopment and has managed to make a modest profit of about $15,000.
TCIC also identifies properties for demolition.
Essman said in July that the city plans to demolish about 30 houses this year, on par with each of the past five years. The city estimated in July that it has 150 vacant properties in the pipeline that could be heading for demolition.
Carolyn Rice, Montgomery County treasurer, also told this newspaper in July that Trotwood stood out among other local cities when it came to dealing with the foreclosure crisis.
Not everyone associated with the TCIC board was pleased with Essman’s performance as executive director.
Anita Schmaltz, a former TCIC board member described Essman as inconsistent in an email to Sandy Riege, the city’s clerk of council, and directed to the mayor and city council. She added, in the email obtained through the public records request, that she resigned from the CIC because of “inconsistent behavior, lack of attention to detail and our inability to find a common goal.”
Both Essman and Schmaltz declined to comment on the email.
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