Could port entity have found someone even more qualified?

Our use of the words “even more” in the headline is an acknowledgement that the Western Reserve Port Authority’s newest hire, Sarah Lown, has the qualifications and experience to transform old industrial land — brownfields — into environmentally clean sites for new businesses. Lown also has a record of success in securing federal and state grants, which is what the port authority has been eyeing for quite some time. That said, the headline also reflects our concern that the authority may have shortchanged itself by not conducting a nationwide search for a brownfield specialist/grant writer.

One of the reasons we have consistently demanded that public entities, especially governments at all levels, advertise when important jobs are being filled is that there are many imminently qualified and experienced individuals who have fallen victim to the national economic downturn.

Thus the question: Could the port authority have found someone even more qualified for the job? Perhaps, or perhaps not, but at least the taxpayers in Mahoning and Trumbull counties could have rest assured that Lown’s r sum was just as impressive as any received through the application process.

This isn’t about the individual, it’s about the process.

A couple of year ago, when the port authority was looking to hire an economic development specialist, we called for a nationwide search — as Congressman Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, also did — and said applicants would have to provide proof of solid accomplishments. We also let it be known that “political hacks” need not apply. That again was a pledge made by Ryan, who was instrumental in creating the regional economic development initiative under the auspices of the port authority.

The result of this stringent application review process was the hiring in 2009 of Rose Ann DeLeon, whose credentials in the economic development field were impressive. DeLeon had worked for the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority since 1993 and was instrumental in arranging financing for Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Vote of confidence

Last week, DeLeon received a vote of confidence when port authority Chairman Scott Lynn said, “The board as a whole supports her, and the funding partners are pleased as well.” The funding partners — a coalition put together by Congressman Ryan — for the economic development initiative are the cities of Youngstown, Warren and Niles, commissioners of Mahoning and Trumbull counties, plus Howland Township and the Western Reserve Building Trades Council. The partners are contributing a total of $375,000 a year for three years. That means the economic development team will be in business for at least another two years.

DeLeon, who holds the position of executive director but does not have anything to do with the operation of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, is adamant that the hiring of Lown will be a boon for the region.

One of the first assignments for the veteran Mahoning County grant writer will be to complete an application to the U.S. EPA due Nov. 30. If the application is approved, it would enable the port authority to develop an inventory and assessments of various brownfield sites in Trumbull County. The county lags behind Mahoning County in the restoration of such properties.