"You have to spend money to make money."

The old adage seemed to apply to the Bristol Town Council's economic development discussion Monday, which focused on creating a new position that has yet to be defined.

After a discussion that produced little conclusion, the council funded the new position, with its function and duties to be determined. But not without objection.

The economic development planner's time would be split up — 50 percent economic development, 30 percent administering Community Development Block Grant funds, and 20 percent community planning. The scope of duties, said Town Councilor Mary Parella, seemed too broad for one person to effectively accomplish.

Instead, she suggested hiring two part-time employees to share the job duties. In her opinion, the job description was “cobbled together because of the funding.”

“I don’t see that it will work very well,” she said.

Councilman Tim Sweeney disagreed. “I think it will work extremely well,” he said of funding the new position. “I think we need to figure out what the responsibilities are.”

The new position would fill the vacancy of the CDBG administrator, a part-time position, and bring the duties of the economic development consultant in-house. “The economic development position will be more proactive,” said Diane Williamson, director of community planning, who will supervise the new position.

While council members laid out 16 potential responsibilities for the $50,000-per-year position, Councilman Halsey Herreshoff said he wants a more specified direction for the job. “We need a hands-on, all-out effort that brings jobs into Bristol,” he said.

Eventually, the council agreed to fund the position as a “bookmark,” with the intent to hold a workshop to solidify the job title, description and duties of the position so that it meets the needs of the town.