By JIM BUTLER

Directors will consider initiating liquidation of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority at a special meeting Thursday.

The proposed timeline would close GAEDA’s door by September’s end and includes repeal of the hotel-motel occupancy tax which funds it. The proposal would cancel any further scheduled board meetings.

The authority, created under a 2003 legislative act, has been adrift in controversy since early February.

An old guard of three members is butting heads with a coalition of two members appointed in February and two previously appointed.

The factions have gone to the mat on two issues – hiring, then rescinding the action, of an executive director, and dismissal of the board’s attorney.

Waiting in the wings from the majority group are their questions about budget, grants accountability and positive results from such awards.

Based on the agenda for Thursday some among the four think the alleged breaks beyond repair.

According to the agenda, the liquidation resolution proposes to pay special counsel retained for that purpose $250 hourly, the same rate allocated for the recently dismissed attorney.

The expense would be covered by the existing legal fees appropriation and a $30,000 budget amendment.

By ordinance the authority operates independently of the City Council. Each council member has an appointment to the board. Members serve at will of the appointing authority.