Oxford’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA) board is decreasing in size, but hopefully increasing in productivity.
The village council voted last night to lower the number of DDA board members from 13 to nine by amending the local ordinance which governs the make-up.
Instead of consisting of the village president and 12 appointed members, the board will now include the village president and eight appointees.
No less than a majority of the board ? in this case, five members ? must be people who have ‘an interest in property located in the downtown district,? while at least one member must be a resident of the downtown district, if it has more than 100 people residing within it.
DDA Executive Director Amanda Cassidy said the change is based on recommendations from both the national and Oakland County Main Street programs.
A smaller board is meant to make the DDA ‘more efficient? with a membership that’s ‘committed? to acquiring the necessary education and involving itself in a more hands-on way, according to Cassidy. ‘We’re trying to be more of a working board,? she said.
Prior to becoming a Main Street community in September 2004, Cassidy said the demands of being a DDA member were fairly limited, the main one being regular attendance at board meetings.
Now, DDA board members need to play an active role, especially by attending Main Street workshops, seminars and training events, according to Cassidy.
‘They’re required to spend a lot more time now.?
Due to resignations (most recently Michael Jabour in December and Pat Halleck on Monday), the board currently has 10 members, but two members, Dave Gerber and Victoria Connolly (owner of Victoria’s Delights), have stated in previous meetings that they too plan to resign.
This would leave eight members plus a vacancy, which Cassidy said would most likely have to be filled by a resident of the downtown district, something the DDA board is currently lacking. She explained that the number of residents living in the downtown district must still be researched to make sure it’s more than 100.
Oxford’s DDA board meets on the third Monday of the month at 6 p.m. in the Oxford Community Room at 22 W. Burdick Street. For more information about the DDA or how to volunteer in downtown revitalization efforts call (248) 628-3095.