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Canton Chamber wants full-time executive director and funds to change from part-time chief

Posted 6/22/17

By ADAM ATKINSON CANTON -- The Canton Chamber of Commerce is seeking additional financial support from the village and town to help expand chamber membership and hire a new executive director to …

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Canton Chamber wants full-time executive director and funds to change from part-time chief

Posted

By ADAM ATKINSON

CANTON -- The Canton Chamber of Commerce is seeking additional financial support from the village and town to help expand chamber membership and hire a new executive director to replace Sally Hill who will retire later this year.

Chamber president Jessica Zuhlsdorf told the two boards at their joint meeting Monday, June 19 that the chamber board wants to make the part-time executive director’s position a full-time job. With the increase in hours there would be a proposed increase in pay.

The chamber office’s overall budget is $48,000, said Zuhlsdorf.

The chamber plans to start advertising for the position in August, said Zuhlsdorf. She said the chamber also wants to enhance its marketing efforts and hopefully increase membership.

“We really need to get back to business and be a value add for businesses,” Zuhlsdorf said.

She presented a written proposal for support and request for increased funding from both boards. The chamber is seeking a response to the proposal from the municipalities in about 6 weeks.

Village Mayor Michael Dalton said that if the chamber’s membership was increased, thereby increasing revenues from membership dues, then perhaps the chamber would not require as much additional financial support.

“If there was a buy-in from everyone, we would be happy to jump on board too,” he said.

Village board member Carol Pynchon said the funding request was more of a short-term investment to allow the organization to field a full-time director and enhance its operations.

Town councilman Phil LaMarche asked what other municipalities contribute to their local chambers, and where the town and village rank in relation to that percentage.

Zuhlsdorf said she would gather those numbers for the village and town to review.

Pynchon pointed out that Canton is the only chamber in the North Country with a part time director.

To learn more about the chamber, log on to http://www.cantonnewyork.us/chamber/.