Novak, Tapsak elected chair and vice-chair of Front Royal EDA

One day after a scheduled 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. “Retreat” to become familiarized with their new role as the Economic Development Authority for the Town of Front Royal, the “FREDA” Board of Directors and staff held its March monthly meeting in the Town Hall second-floor conference room. A review of draft bylaws and the election of a chairman and vice chairman occupied the bulk of the board’s noon-convened 46-minute meeting. In addition to town staff, Warren County’s in-house EDA Director Joe Petty was present and available to answer questions on the WC EDA’s existing schedule and potential future interactions with the Town EDA.

FREDA’s noon meeting of March 17 convenes. From Recording Secretary Tina Pressley’s left at near head of table, are board members Nick Bass, Jim Crowell, Isaac Rushing, Mark Tapsak, FREDA Director and Town Manager Steven Hicks, standing at far head of table, Rick Novak, Frank Stankiewicz, and David Gedney.

Elected board chairman was Rick Novak, owner of Royal Cinemas and the Royal Family Bowling Center. Mark Tapsak, owner of Mountain Music and a medical device research scientist, consultant and chemistry/biochemistry professor, was tapped as vice chairman. Both were elected by unanimous 7-0 votes. Asked how they felt about their respective nominations prior to votes, both indicated gratitude at the opportunity to lead the FREDA Board through its inaugural year of operations.

A vote of approval of draft bylaws was put off, as a variety of questions on wordings and implications of sections were raised. Prominent among those questions was what autonomy FREDA has in business recruitment efforts. A passage in a mind-numbing 160-word sentence in Article 10 (Powers, Duties, and Limitations on Authority), bullet 2, pages 8-9 of the draft bylaws seemed to focus the board’s attention on the “autonomy” issue:

(bold emphasis added) “… the Front Royal EDA may only cause, promote, finance, assist with financing, or facilitate such development or redevelopment such facilities as may be provided for in an economic development, redevelopment, financing, financing assistance, and/or or performance agreement or other similar agreement or agreements as may from time to time be jointly agreed in writing upon between the Front Royal EDA’s Board of Directors and Town Council prior to the Front Royal EDA entering into any agreement or memorandum of understanding or similar type agreement or arrangement with any third party.” (writer’s note: there were 70 more words prefacing this portion of the sentence).

After one board member had raised the issue of the “gigantic” sentence with many “ands” and “ors” in it obscuring that sentences intent, Novak, prior to his election as chairman, addressed the symbiotic nature of the FREDA/Town Council relationship. “I’m just concerned that we should be doing what the Town wants us to do, in my opinion. But I don’t want to work on a deal and have the Town screw it up.”

With the town manager also serving as the FREDA director, it was noted that Hicks could serve as a constant liaison between the two bodies. However, the concern seemed to be at what point the town’s elected officials would weigh in on continuing or abandoning an economic development project. And Tapsak, prior to his election to the vice-chairmanship, weighed in that closed meetings FREDA might have with prospective clients involving non-disclosure agreements could further complicate the process – “Where does the line cross to council? They’re not part of that non-disclosure then,” he observed.

Following a day-long retreat on Wednesday, FREDA’s noon meeting of Thursday, March 17, breaks up after a manageable 46 minutes.

Hicks tried to assure the board that he and other dual-functioning staff, from a town attorney, finance director, or his administrative assistant Tina Presley’s involvement on the FREDA side, would assure that council would be brought in at an appropriate moment in the process. “But that confidentiality binds us,” Tapsak remained worried on how and when council could legally be brought into the discussion.

So, with those questions perhaps needing further legal analysis, perhaps by the author of the 160-word Article 10 sentence that seemed to focus the board’s concerns, a vote of approval was not called for at Thursday’s meeting.

See this discussion, the officer elections and other discussion in the Town video.