Article by Chris Giesen
Beginning in November 2011, Community and Economic Development Associates once again expanded a contract with an existing member community. CEDA now provides city administrative services to the City of Lewiston, a long-time CEDA partner.
In early 2011, Lewiston was without a city administrator and was considering various options when they approached CEDA to help in the discussion. Through the process, the various job duties were examined and different scenarios about staffing levels and qualifications were discussed at length. Then, the committee members approached CEDA President/CEO Ron Zeigler to see if CEDA could provide a contracted individual for the position. “My first thought was that our organization at the time didn’t have the expertise to take on this kind of contract,” said Zeigler. “But as we discussed the possibilities, we began to see how this could be a model for a ‘city of the future,’” he continued.
CEDA and the City not only had to revise job duties and determine a cost, but they also had to figure out how to satisfy the duties of the City Clerk that are required by state law. In the end, the city hired CEDA to provide 18 hours per week of city administrative functions and 40 hours per week of deputy clerk functions. The city also hired a 6 hour per week city clerk to perform statutorily required duties.
CEDA welcomes their newest team members, Jennifer Hengel and Beth Carlson, who will be serving the Lewiston city administration contract.