Newly Created Business Committee Seeks Members
Ad Hoc group to proportionally represent city industries
The Asbury Park City Council is seeking candidates for an eleven-member Business Committee created by resolution last month.
“The business community is the lifeblood of Asbury Park,” Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton said in a written statement. They provide services, they bring in guests from other locations, and they’re the basis for the revitalization of the city. Without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today. We have to support them and make it easier for them to do business in this city. This is an opportunity for us to listen to [their] concerns and address them.”
Committee members will be appointed by the City Council by early April, according to a news release. Public meetings will be held quarterly, with more frequent meetings designated if necessary.
“During both our campaigns in 2013 and 2014, we consistently heard from businesses that the City wasn’t business-friendly; that it’s not easy to start a business in Asbury Park, it’s not easy to get information about businesses in Asbury Park from City Hall,” Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn said. “What we’re hoping to do is to come up with ways to become more business-friendly for all the businesses in Asbury Park.”
The committee’s makeup will be based on Census Bureau data, reflecting the city’s top industries: retail [two members]; health care and social services [one member]; accommodations and food [two members]; professional, technical, and scientific services [one member]; and two members appointed by Mayor John Moor to ensure all parts of the City are represented.
Membership also will include a council member, City Manager Michael Capabianco or a designee, and an Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce representative.
The committee will be chaired by City Manager Michael Capabianco for an introductory period. A vision or mission statement and a list of attainable goals are to be completed within the first year.
Once those have been confirmed, the committee will elect a Chairperson from among its members.
Interested candidates should e-mail City Communication Director Hannah Walker at communications@cityofasburypark.com.
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