Development Corporation of Snyder Executive Director Brooke Proctor will stay on the job for at least another month.
Proctor, who is resigning her post to move to Lubbock with her family, offered during Wednesday’s DCOS meeting to stay an additional 60 days to see the DCOS through the COVID-19 pandemic. Some board members felt, however, that money which would pay her salary might better be reserved to see the DCOS through an uncertain financial future.
“My heart is here in Snyder and I desperately want to help. Now is not the time when you can hire somebody and they’re going to be willing to move to Snyder at this exact moment in time, and it would be really hard for somebody to step into this position, all things considered,” Proctor said. “So I’m offering to suspend my resignation for at least 60 days, or indefinitely, until we can get around the bend, whatever that looks like.”
DCOS board member Tommy Henderson said that while he appreciated the offer, he felt the current crisis lessened the need for Proctor to stay.
“Just on my view of the financials and our current market, what really is going to happen in the next 60 days as far as anybody wanting to come to Snyder, Texas, I think that’s off of everybody’s mind. I think they’re all in survival mode,” Henderson said. “That’s the reason why I don’t really see the need right yet. I can be persuaded, but I don’t see the need to extend past whatever date it was on the resignation.”
Board member Michael Hoyle agreed with Henderson’s assessment.
“I feel like preserving our cash right now is going to be best for us,” Hoyle said. “So I would agree with Tommy. While I appreciate what Brooke has done and her offer, I feel like in the best interest of the DCOS, we should not extend the contract for 60 days.”
Board member Kirsta Koennecke spoke in favor of retaining Proctor.
“I think there’s a lot to do in the community,” she said. “People have questions on what loans, what things are out there to assist them in getting through, and it might not just be manufacturing entities, but as a whole, the community business owners don’t know what’s out there, what they can apply for, what assistance they need, and I think that’s where the DCOS can fill in in this time of uncertainty.”
Mayor Tony Wofford agreed with Koennecke.
“If we went ahead and honored the contract and Brooke left, and you didn’t have to shell out that money, the few bucks we would save there I think is just pennies compared to what is going to happen if this country begins to come back,” he said. “I understand all the stuff that you’re saying, but I’m for continuing as we are, having somebody in place that can help direct and encourage and maybe build up our businesses as we go through this time.”
DCOS Chairman Bill Robertson questioned whether Proctor would be willing to accept a reduction in pay, should the board approve her extension.
“Flat out: Would you take a pay cut?” he asked.
“Yes, if that’s what it takes,” she said.
“And I’m not hard and fast set on 60 days. That was just an offer. If we want to let it roll another 30 days and re-evaluate, I’m 100 percent fine with that. I just think it’s crucial that we remain the face of this and try to offer some kind of assistance.”
City manager Merle Taylor suggested extending Proctor’s contract for 30 days instead of the 60 Proctor offered, and the board members unanimously approved that motion.
Henderson said the primary reason he suggested not extending Proctor’s contract involved the DCOS financials. He expressed concern about the drop in the price of oil creating a chilling effect on DCOS income.
The board approved the DCOS’ financial statements as well as the plan Proctor developed to follow state and local guidelines for opening or closing the DCOS office. Proctor said the office is currently closed to the public, and that calls to the office are being forwarded to her phone. She said DCOS is available to meet with business prospects or the public by appointment.
She also told the board that she would provide daily updates to board members and work with other entities to distribute information that would be helpful to small and large businesses.
The board didn’t take any action on USDA loan recipient payment relief or a proposal from the Mark Barnes Group to provide recruiting and training services as the DCOS searches for a new executive director.
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