Drescher, Llewellyn explain EDA departure decisions

As Ed Daley and Tom Sayre, rear, listen Greg Drescher reads from prepared statement on his decision to resign from EDA board. In August Drescher resigned as EDA Board Chair one day after he and then-EDA Executive Director Jennifer McDonald met with town officials who informed them of discovery of years of town debt service overpayments to the EDA.

Both Greg Drescher and Ron Llewellyn announced their resignations, effective Saturday, March 23, following a second EDA Board of Directors closed session of Friday, March 22. For Drescher it was his second resignation in the past seven months.

On August 24, one day after he and former Executive Director Jennifer McDonald met with town officials over debt service payment irregularities discovered by the Town Finance Department, Drescher resigned his chairmanship of the EDA board.

Under increasing scrutiny from her own board, McDonald resigned her position four months later on December 20.

Noting completion of his third term on the board at the end of February, Drescher said, “During this last year there were several areas of concern raised and several investigations were started. I sincerely hoped all this would be done prior to the end of February. When it became evident it would not be finished at the end of February I asked the board of supervisors to continue allowing me to stay on so I could support whatever needed to be done to keep the EDA moving forward despite these issues. And they graciously agreed.

“I believe they understood that it would be helpful to have someone with a longer history to be part of the process. With the conclusion of the audit investigation imminent the board is on a path of reworking many of its practices and policies and hiring a new executive director. This is a good time for me to step aside from this voluntary role.

“It’s unfortunate I was unaware of any of the specifics of the investigation, as was the rest of the EDA board.

“But I remain committed to making this community a wonderful placed to live, work and play. The future of Warren County, the Town of Front Royal and the region depends on a strong, aligned and supported economic development authority to lure jobs, talent and investment in our community. And I stand ready to assist in any way possible as we begin a new chapter for the EDA.”

“It’s been a pleasure working on the board – I’ve been on for 12 years and a lot of good things have happened,” Drescher said, adding that without the unresolved investigation his plan was to step down at the February 28 end of his third term.

Llewellyn then offered the board his statement of departure.

As Tom Patteson, right, listens Ron Llewellyn explains his decision to leave the EDA board. Later he told media he was planning to spend more time at his Florida property and even planned on selling his and his wife’s lavish Rose Hill estate in town.

“Mr. Chairman I share Mr. Drescher’s comments on his term on the board. I have enjoyed working with this board for almost 10 years. I’ve experienced an awful lot of good things. I think we have set a pretty high bar to continue out as far as creating opportunities and jobs in Warren County.

However, it comes with much thought and consideration I think it’s in the best interest of the EDA and the Warren County population that I tender my resignation – and I’m making it effective tomorrow, March 23, 2009 (lost a decade there, Ron), from the Warren County Economic Development Authority.

“This has been an extremely difficult decision to make. I have very much enjoyed my time on the board, and it is a decision that one, I think is in the best interest of all concerned. Our county needs to move forward, they need to understand there are a lot of positive things going on in the county; and hopefully we’ll get past this chapter that’s been very difficult for all of us who have been on here.

“And I stand ready to assist the board in any way I can in the future. I’ve made that known to the board of supervisors and I’m also now making it known to you,” Llewellyn said to his EDA colleagues, adding, “I wish you all the best.”

Gray Blanton, who volunteered to accept the chairmanship in the wake of Drescher’s August 2018 departure from that role, thanked Drescher and Llewellyn for their service to the EDA.

“We certainly appreciate all your time and efforts, and all the good things that have happened – it’s unfortunate that we’ve gone into such a snag here,” Blanton said of the audit and anticipated consultant report on EDA finances.

Ed Daley then offered a motion to allow Llewellyn in the absence of a replacement to continue as liaison to one of the executive director candidates as the application and interview schedule suggested by Interim Executive Director John Anzivino has been underway. That motion passed by a unanimous voice vote.

The board authorized Llewellyn to continue as a liaison to one executive director candidate as he had been previously. The board hopes to have a permanent EDA executive director in place in May.