As Bel Air's New Planning Director, Small has Big Shoes to Fill

In the days before Kevin Small was , Terence Hanley criticized the appointment.

The town commissioner as Carol Deibel’s replacement, citing potential cost savings in salary differential.

"We’ve got a gentleman who served the town of Bel Air for 20 years … and can hit the ground running,” Hanley said at last week’s town meeting. "It’s nothing personal. It’s just business."

But Small, who held the same position at Frederick Ward Associates since 2001, looks forward to working with Hanley and the rest of his new colleagues.

“I know Terry and I would want him to vote the way he feels that he should so certainly I don’t have any problem with that at all,” Small said. “I don’t feel that will be any kind of impediment with us working together.”

Small, whose first day is Monday, has plenty of other issues to tackle.

“There’s a ton of projects that Carol has started and many of them I know about,” he said. “I really want to make sure that those come to fruition. ... I’d love to see the Ma & Pa Trail get connected.”

Town Administrator Chris Schlehr said Small’s forward thinking made him stand out among the 18 applicants.

“He is all about sustainability and green construction and I think he has a very broad base from which to work,” Schlehr said. “He’s respected in the community and in his own field. I think he suits us as we go forward and try to concentrate on redevelopment.”

Even Hanley, who voted against the hiring, praised Small once the commissioners confirmed him by a 4–1 vote.

 “I think he will do a wonderful job,” he said.

Schlehr added that even if Syphard had been selected as Deibel’s replacement, his position of senior planner would not have been eliminated, as Hanley suggested. Syphard, who has been a town employee for more than 20 years, makes $75,808. Schlehr said Small, who was the town’s first choice for the position, will have a starting salary of $81,300. Deibel’s salary was $98,971 when she retired.

Small does not expect any tension with his new colleague.

“I’ve known Bob as long as I’ve known Carol and I think we’re good friends and we’ll remain so,” said Small, who is expected to attend his first commissioners work session Tuesday, and first town meeting March 21.

Syphard, who has been serving as the interim director of planning since Deibel retired Dec. 30 after 26 years with the town, may have to fill in for Small on projects he helped design with Frederick Ward. The most significant one could be the recently-announced .

“I’d basically be reviewing myself. I don’t want to do that,” Small said.

The 46-year-old lives in Forest Hill with his wife, Christine, 45, and two sons. Andrew, 16, is a sophomore at while Connor, 13, is an eighth grader at , who plans to attend next year.

Kevin, who worked at Frederick Ward Associates since 1993, said he would like this job to be his last.

“It is something I want to retire from. That’s for sure,” said Small, who would not be eligible for pension until he was 71. “I foresee going into my 60s. It’s probably appropriate. I don’t know if I’ll go all the way to 70.”