Mayor introduces city to economic advisers

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The whole world may be in dark economic times, but Mayor Gabriel J. Campana was not taking a doom and gloom approach when he introduced his new economic "think tank" Friday morning.

"We have faced difficult times before," Campana said. "The sky is not falling."

The comment came as he introduced members of the new Mayor's Council of Economic Advisers in his third-floor office at City Hall.

Sixteen of the council's 17 members were present and introduced one by one to the media representatives before the media was ushered out of the room by Campana so he, his new advisers and members of his staff could begin their first meeting.

Campana began his comments Friday morning by describing the country as in a "deep recession" but promising "proactive measures" by the city to attract new business and development projects and recited a familiar list of "ready to go" projects: the William Street development which includes the proposed Kohl's department store, the proposed $75 million conference center-hotel complex east of Basin Street and the two new downtown parking deck projects.

Campana said he wished to applaud Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce President Vincent Matteo for his efforts to organize a county-wide economic summit in the near future and promised "the city (will have an) active role" when it takes place.

Matteo was present for the announcement but did not stay for the new council's first, closed-door meeting.

The mayor's comments were pro-business and optimistic in tone. "Government does not create jobs," he said. "Business people do."

He described his new advisers as a group of "bi-partisan, bright minds."

The members are John Albarano, president of Albarano Construction; Al Clapps, president of Gentry Development; Lee Dawson, national account analyst; Dr. Bonita Kolb, Lycoming College marketing professor; William Rischar, administrator with Susquehanna Health; Richard Rohrer, retired businessman; Andrew Sauers, CEO of Chillitech; Stephen Shope, president of Utopia Marketing; Dr. Larry Stout, president of Lead on Line; Rhonda Taggart, chairman of Our Towns 2010; James VanCampen, CEO of VanCampen Motors; Dina Palmer Wascher, CEO of Palmer Industries; Dr. Dennis Williams, member of the Pennsylvania College of Technology business faculty, and former mayors Jessie L. Bloom, Philip E. Preziosi and Steven W. Cappelli, who is also a former state representative.

According to Campana, the members were picked because of "their combined insight (into) the economic opportunities and challenges facing" the city.

He said the council's "primary charge is to act as the mayor's 'think tank," providing insightful and considered recommendations ... toward the ongoing growth of the city's business community, the creation of family-sustaining jobs, opportunities for business investment in the city and the increase of the city's tax base."

Appointments to the council are made by the mayor.