Three new but familiar faces may join the board of directors of the Augusta Economic Development Authority.
Mayor Garnett Johnson added the appointments – each to be made by a sitting commissioner – to Tuesday’s Augusta Commission meeting agenda, based on the “term expiration” of three members. Commissioner Francine Scott added a fourth nominee.
The AEDA recruits new industry and associated jobs to Augusta through networking and the use of incentives such as revenue bonds, tax abatements, available land and transportation infrastructure. Led by President Cal Wray, the AEDA has a staff of five.
During his campaign for mayor last year (against AEDA Chairman Steven Kendrick) Johnson vowed to improve relations with the authority, stating there was a disconnect between it and state development officials. Johnson serves on the board of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
The agenda item calls for Commissioner Tony Lewis to appoint Gregory Hill to replace Henry Ingram. Ingram, the founder and president of International Formal Wear, has served on the authority since 2005, according to a commission document.
Hill, a retired Army combat veteran, owns a medical equipment and supply business, G.B. Hill Medical Supply. He is the former son-in-law of former Senate Majority Leader Charles Walker.
Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle is expected to appoint former Mayor Deke Copenhaver to replace Remer Brinson on the authority.
Brinson was recently named state president for Ameris Bank and had served on the authority since 2008. Copenhaver owns a consulting business and allied with Johnson and Guilfoyle during last year’s elections.
Commissioner Sean Frantom is expected to appoint Melanie Taylor to replace Brenda Bonner on the authority, according to the agenda item.
Taylor is an entrepreneur who owns a salon and business incubator. Bonner, a retired accountant and the wife of Laney High School basketball coach Norman Bonner, was first appointed in 2005.
Scott is expected to nominate another woman, Collette D’Antignac, to replace Bonner. D’Antignac is a branch manager for Security Federal Bank.
While members serve until they are replaced, by the same logic the commission could replace all but three of the board’s nine members. Three other members’ terms are set to expire June 3: Butch Gallop, Shell Berry and Wayne Gossage Jr.
Gallop is a sub-consultant for various city contractors, having held the role of “public and government relations” for Infrastructure Systems Management, Gold Cross EMS, Constantine Engineering, Heery International and others. Berry is president and CEO of the Community Foundation for the CSRA and Gossage is vice president of energy services at Jefferson Energy Cooperative.
Other appointments going for approval Tuesday include Arlean Edwards Williams to the board of zoning appeals, Mira Hobbs to the Historic Preservation Commission and the reappointments of Bryan Simkins and Robert O’Neal to the board of tax assessors.
