Dear Brookline Selectmen:
I am writing in regard to the elimination and/or reduction of hours for the Commercial Areas Coordinator in the economic development office of the Town of Brookline. I understand in these economic times that you have to consider all areas of your budget for reduction and to find ways to save money. I am doing that in my business as well. I wanted to talk a little bit about the position and what it does for the business community, and then I will comment on the person who holds the position.
I would view this position as an outgoing sales effort that is maintaining relationships with the town and the business community. As tough an economic market we are in, one area I would never cut would be my sales effort. You always need that person out there to bring in the top line sales and maintain the clients that you have. There is always another community that would love to fill their empty storefronts with a business that could currently be located in Brookline. If you don’t have that relationship between local businesses and the town, there is no loyalty and that creates empty storefronts. Empty storefronts, in turn, create less revenue for the town. Although some would view cutting the coordinator a “quick” fix with today’s budget issues, I believe you would be making a decision that will have a long term negative effect on the town financially. Although you are making decisions for today, you have to think about the long term effect these decisions will have on the community for the future.
Over the 6 years I have been the General Manager of the Brookline Courtyard, Marge has been an invaluable person for me to know. She attended all of the neighborhood meetings during the construction phase of the hotel. She represented the town very well to ensure that I, as the General Manager representing the Brookline Courtyard, would follow through on all the promises made when the hotel was being built. She is literally a ONE STOP SHOP for a business owner. When there is ever a doubt of who to call, you know you will always get a direct honest answer from Marge that directs you to the right person. This saved my time in removing the necessity for multiple calls to obtain information. I would also guess it saved time for the many other town associates that I would have had to call and from whom I would most likely been re-directed.
For the mutual financial benefit of the town and Brookline business, I would ask you to leave the position of the Commercial Areas Coordinator as a full time position.
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.
Cathy O’Brien
General Manager
Brookline Courtyard by Marriott
40 Webster Street
Brookline, MA 02446
617-734-1393-hotel
617-396-2000-direct line
617-734-1392- fax