BID-ding a Fond Farewell to Tom Lonergan

The board of the Montclair Center Business Improvement District (BID) appointed its former vice president Luther Flurry as interim executive director Wednesday evening.

Flurry will replace Tom Lonergan, who announced he will be leaving the post of executive director this month to take a job as the director of economic development for the city of Gaithersburg, Maryland, a city of about 65,000 people.

"[Flurry] is a property owner in town and he is a great guy," said Mayor Jerry Fried.

Flurry accompanied Fried on the mayor's first trip to China last year, during which they visited nine cities in two weeks.

Meanwhile, the BID has formed a search committee to seek a permanent replacement for Lonergan.

Lonergan had been in charge of the BID, a nonprofit that promotes and maintains the town's Central Business District, since the organization was founded in 2002.

"It is tough to leave a job I absolutely love but this opportunity seems like a good career move," said Lonergan, who has recently been away on paternity leave.

Councilor Cary Africk said Lonergan was a dynamo and will be "hard to replace."

"Tom was the engine driving 'economic development' of the central business district. I met with him on a routine basis to explore ideas.  He knew, and was respected, by everyone," Africk said. "Officials at the State level in planning and development, local property owners, business owners—everyone! I would often have a thought about some potential development and I would bounce it off Tom and he would say 'How about I put together a lunch at Palazzo tomorrow and bring everyone together?' And he would. He was terrific!"

Fried also sung Lonergan's praises, saying he set a high standard for the BID.

Over the past few years, Lonergan had been a strong advocate for the redevelopment of South Park Street, a project finally approved by the Township Council in April.

According to Lonergan, the redevelopment project "will create a true town center" and will extend the success of Church Street.