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Few of the dozens of people who joined the Economic Development Council of Jefferson County a year ago have renewed their membership this year.
The council’s membership ballooned from approximately 80 members to more than 155 — including 131 voting members — in January 2000.
The expanding membership was due to an anti-growth activist Freida Fenn’s effort to refocus the attention of the Economic Development Council on business retention rather than recruitment.
At the time, some speculated anti-growth activists were taking over the board.
Subsequently, the Port Townsend City Council criticized the economic development agency for losing its way.
More than a year later, Executive Director Ann Avary said those concerns appear unwarranted.
Avary said she expected the membership to decrease by 25 percent this year.
“So far, that’s bearing itself out,” Avary said, noting dropouts are “predominantly those who signed up last year.”
This entire report appears today in the Peninsula Daily News’ Jefferson County edition. Click on “Subscribe” at left to order your copy, or buy it at locations throughout the county.
