Bellaire City Manager Paul Hofmann said Monday that he has hired Marybeth Flaherty, a longtime Bellaire volunteer who has participated in fundraising for city parks, as a consultant on several key projects.
Flaherty is immediate past President of the Evelyn’s Park Conservancy, past board President of PATRONS for Bellaire Parks and The Nature Discovery Center.
Hofmann said that Flaherty will be paid $40,000 for a six-month contract with the city.
He said that Flaherty “will provide some communications and coordination services for me” in regard to a final Bellaire Town Square plan and the development of Evelyn’s Park.
Flaherty will also work on “developing a Bellaire brand” for the city, Hofmann said.
And, her third area of responsibility will include coordinating the city’s economic development efforts in the Urban-Transit Village zoning district in the city. That district, located on the city’s north side at S. Rice and Westpark, has been underdeveloped for many years. The city rezoned the area in hopes of attracting private developers to Bellaire.
Jane McNeel says
I’m confused by this report. This is would be an $80,000 a year position. Is this a full-time position? Other than her volunteer duties, what qualifies Ms. Flaherty to serve as a consultant for in these areas? Does she have a background in public relations, advertising, or marketing? Was this a position posted by the City and open to other applicants? Was this appointment approved by City Council?
Robert Riquelmy says
And, what happened to her job with Red Cross? Sounds like politics to me.