Council rejects representatives for nonprofit fund
Auditor, safety director denied seats on board.
TROY — Troy City Council declined to appoint two city representatives to the new nonprofit Troy Reinvestment Fund.
Council voted 7-1 with one member absent Tuesday night to reject the proposal to put the city auditor and service-safety director on the organization board. Other board of directors members are local business representatives Mike Twiss, Doug Lins and Mike Earhart.
Councilman Tom Kendall, a member of council’s personnel committee that initially recommended the appointments last week, said Tuesday he had subsequently heard there was not support among council members. A concern was the potential request to contribute taxpayer money to the nonprofit organization’s efforts, he said. Without city financial participation, there was no need to have city representatives on the board, Kendall said.
He along with Bill Lutz, Robin Oda, Bobby Phillips, John Schweser, Brock Heath and Todd Severt voted “no” while Bill Twiss cast a “yes” vote on the request to appoint the city representatives. Councilman John Terwilliger was absent.
With the Tuesday vote, a presentation on the Troy Reinvestment Fund scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday before council’s personnel committee was canceled.
The Troy Reinvestment Fund has filed for its 501(c) (3) nonprofit status with the Internal Revenue Service and may have to amend the request to change the board structure. The impact of the city decision will need to be discussed, an organization representative said late Tuesday.
The fund is designed to provide gap funding, loans and other assistance to individuals, businesses and organizations seeking to preserve and enhance the economic viability downtown and beyond. The fund, which is in the final steps of formation, would get its money from foundation grants, individuals, businesses and other entities.
Initial funding was approved by The Troy Foundation board, which has approved $1 million, contingent on finalization of its nonprofit designation.