The East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority’s new interim CEO, Gwen Hamilton, says she is ready to roll up her sleeves and get busy helping the cash-strapped agency identify a permanent funding source.
But Hamilton will not be devoting all her energies to the RDA, which is paying her $75,000 per year. Hamilton will continue to work full time as director of community affairs with New Schools for Baton Rouge, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing in top-quality charter school operators to the city’s achievement zone.
In a statement issued shortly after the RDA board meeting at which Hamilton was named CEO, New Schools for Baton Rouge said, “New Schools for Baton Rouge has a commitment to the Baton Rouge community and Gwen being asked to serve is an excellent example of that commitment. During her time at the RDA, Gwen will continue to work at NSBR, delivering excellence to the community.”
The RDA board of commissioners met behind closed doors earlier today to discuss Hamilton’s proposed compensation package before officially voting to give her the job, which was vacated when Walter Monsour announced his resignation last month. His resignation is effective Nov. 30. However, even after the open meeting resumed, no mention was made of her full time arrangement with NSBR.
NSBR President and CEO Chris Meyer says the statement from his group was intended to communicate how valuable Hamilton is to the community and to both organizations. He declines to say how much she is paid in her role as director of community affairs, which involves “being a bridge to the community, partnering with organizations about their demand for high-quality schools and being a liaison to different community interests and partners.”
But he says that role will not change. Meyer adds he is confident Hamilton will be able to juggle duties with both the RDA and NSBR.
Hamilton, for her part, says before she was asked by the RDA to consider the interim CEO job she consulted with attorneys to make sure there would be no conflict of interest working for both organizations. As for the practicalities of working two full-time jobs, Hamilton says her schedule and hours with NSBR are flexible and that “the RDA will get everything from me that they engage me to do.” —Stephanie Riegel
