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February 1, 2020
Bandera EDC Board approves candidate for administrative assistant
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi Goode
The Bandera Prophet
Bandera Economic Development Corporation board members on Thursday unanimously approved hiring Megan Lamb as an administrative assistant. Lamb narrowly pulled ahead of second candidate Leah Peterson, who was the board’s second choice.
“We’re really fortunate to have either one of them,” Board President Toni Kunz said during Thursday’s special meeting.
After some discussion over both applicants’ qualifications, experience and availability, the board voted five to zero for Lamb. BEDC Member Art Crawford was not present.
The board voted four to one, with BEDC Member Tom McEachin the lone nay, to pay $17 per hour, which was the same hourly rate as the former administrative assistant.
“Deanna had a lot of experience for $17 per hour. I’m comfortable with $15, and after six months consider bumping to $17,” McEachin said, clarifying, “may the record show I heavily endorse hiring her.”
The job is expected to average about 20 hours per month (including minimum monthly meetings), with some fluctuation on either side of that total once initial concerns and organization are resolved.
In other business, Kunz reported earlier in January that the BEDC received the first payment for the Mulberry’s Pub, Grub and Espresso loan. The owner of the restaurant/wine bar had defaulted on her loan from the BEDC after she closed the business, forcing a renegotiation to recover the funds. Kunz said she will begin working on renegotiating a second BEDC loan to the Hippy Cowboy Smoothy and Juice Bar, which is also in default since closing.
Kunz said she will present an update to Bandera City Council members on Feb. 6, and the BEDC first quarterly update in April.
“I’ve been working quite well with the mayor and city administrator,” Kunz said. “They’ve been instrumental in the success of BEDC.”
“We’re really fortunate to have either one of them,” Board President Toni Kunz said during Thursday’s special meeting.
After some discussion over both applicants’ qualifications, experience and availability, the board voted five to zero for Lamb. BEDC Member Art Crawford was not present.
The board voted four to one, with BEDC Member Tom McEachin the lone nay, to pay $17 per hour, which was the same hourly rate as the former administrative assistant.
“Deanna had a lot of experience for $17 per hour. I’m comfortable with $15, and after six months consider bumping to $17,” McEachin said, clarifying, “may the record show I heavily endorse hiring her.”
The job is expected to average about 20 hours per month (including minimum monthly meetings), with some fluctuation on either side of that total once initial concerns and organization are resolved.
In other business, Kunz reported earlier in January that the BEDC received the first payment for the Mulberry’s Pub, Grub and Espresso loan. The owner of the restaurant/wine bar had defaulted on her loan from the BEDC after she closed the business, forcing a renegotiation to recover the funds. Kunz said she will begin working on renegotiating a second BEDC loan to the Hippy Cowboy Smoothy and Juice Bar, which is also in default since closing.
Kunz said she will present an update to Bandera City Council members on Feb. 6, and the BEDC first quarterly update in April.
“I’ve been working quite well with the mayor and city administrator,” Kunz said. “They’ve been instrumental in the success of BEDC.”