Jamestown (CSi) The Buffalo City Tourism Grant/Executive Advisory Board met Friday at the CSi Technology Center, at Historic Franklin School, and approved three grant requests.

Following a presentation by National Buffalo Museum Director Kim Penrod the board approved $3,675 to expend on White Cloud Days, July 4-6, 2014. She said most of the dollars will go toward advertising.

She requested $14,130 for summer of 2014 staffing.

She said the staffing salary increase from $13,682 stems from an increase in the hourly wage this summer for three employees, adding the hours open this summer will be 8-a.m., to 8-p.m. seven days a week from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Swedlund2Buffalo City Tourism Director, Searle Swedlund recommended $14,229 dollars, which was approved.

The board also approved a request for 2014 staffing of Fort Seward, represented by Dale Marks, in the amount of $9,500. He said the staff consists of two interpreters, Tom Norman and Jane Norman.

In other business, board member Tenea Clocksene update marketing, including progress on re-branding Buffalo City Tourism. She said three of four profile options provided by Red Plum Media have been chosen for further consideration. An announcement is planned at the Annual Meeting on March 24,2014.

After meeting in closed Executive Session, the board voted an increase in the annual salary of Searle Swedlund to $51,700 plus a percentage increase in his benefit package.

Four board members conducted a job performance review, and in a range of 1-3 Swedlund’s score was 2.175.

The board also approved adding the James River Rodeo to the Site Advisory Board, and to add Mitzi Hagar to the open position on the Executive Board, coming from the Tourism Full Board.

The board also discussed, in the near future, to recognize the late Harold Newman, and his legacy to tourism in Jamestown.