Bailey quits as JCCD (6/2/05)

The first and only community developer in Jay County has resigned.

Wayne Bailey, who said last week he believed his job might be in jeopardy, resigned in a letter dated Tuesday to Chuck Huffman, president of the Jay County Development Corporation board of directors.

“It’s time for the struggle to end,” Bailey wrote in the letter to Huffman. “I don’t think any one of the people involved is really the fault. I do believe that the lack of a clear structure within the organization defining the relationship of JCCD and JCDC is the factor that contributed to the contention, and contention, once set in motion, can mushroom.”

Huffman said late this morning he received Bailey’s letter of resignation today, and said the JCDC executive committee had accepted the resignation in a conference call.

“I would say that Wayne had a very good track record with his grant writing, Huffman said. “His record speaks for itself. The county enjoyed a lot of success with various communities and projects through his abilities in grant writing.”

Bailey, who said this morning that he has accepted another job, wrote in the letter that several areas of conflict between himself and JCDC executive director Bob Quadrozzi contributed to his decision to resign.

“Leaving Jay County is not easy for me,” Bailey told The Commercial Review late this morning. “I’m leaving my home, my neighbors, my friends.”

Huffman said this morning that he will work with other JCDC employees and officers to put together an advertisement to fill the community developer position. Bailey’s current annual salary is about $43,000.

Last week, a JCDC board meeting that was not announced to the media was postponed after some — including The Commercial Review — questioned whether the meeting would comply with provisions of Indiana’s Open Door law.

JCDC board members met in executive session for more than an hour on Tuesday, opening for a public session that lasted less than 90 seconds.

In the open session, board member gave JCDC’s executive committee complete authority to hire, fire and discipline employees.

The position of community developer was created through a strategic development plan adopted by JCDC in the late 1990s through the concept of a countywide chamber of commerce.

The position evolved into community developer, which was designed to give communities assistance in a variety of ways, including grant-writing.

Bailey began his duties in August of 2000. The position and office of community developer is funded by Jay County property tax revenue.

Bailey, who became a certified grant writer after taking the position, had several high-profile successes in obtaining grant funding — including a nearly $500,000 state grant that helped move forward an expansion project at the West Jay Community Center and two grants for fire trucks in Pennville and another one in Salamonia.

An application for a $500,000 grant that would help rehabilitate the Weiler Building in downtown Portland for the John Jay Center for Learning is currently pending.

“My focus and dedication to Jay County has been extreme. Many times I have worked past midnight and back into the office by 5 a.m. Hopefully the Weiler and GFT grants will be a testament even after I am gone,” Bailey wrote.

Huffman said that in filling the position, JCDC will search for someone who can “fill the broader responsibilities” of community developer.[[In-content Ad]]