About 18 months ? that seems to be the average life expectancy of an executive director for the Oxford Downtown Development Authority.
DDA Director Amanda Cassidy, who was hired in March 2005, submitted her letter of resignation Monday, Aug. 14. Her last day is Aug. 28.
‘My leaving is really because I tried this (job) and it just isn’t what I thought it was going to be,? she said. ‘I just know it’s not my cup of tea.?
‘I can’t just go along with things if I don’t think it’s right,? Cassidy explained. ‘It’s not for me.?
Her predecessor, Michelle Bishop, served as DDA director from June 2003 to December 2004.
‘I’m getting my old job back,? said Cassidy, referring to her previous position at Soil & Materials Engineers, Inc, a Plymouth-based engineering consulting firm.
The DDA board is expected to discuss Cassidy’s resignation at its 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21 meeting. Any replacement the DDA eventually hires must also be approved by the village council.
Acting DDA Chairperson Sue Bossardet was unavailable for comment.
Looking back at her time here, Cassidy said, ‘I’m proudest of my volunteers and being certified as a Main Street community.?
Main Street is an economic development program designed to provide technical assistance to the 30 traditional downtowns in Oakland County.
Accepted into the program in September 2004, Oxford was certified as a Main Street community in January 2006.
‘I really felt we had the spirit for a while,? she said.
But that ‘spirit? seems to have disappeared, according to Cassidy.
‘The whole Main Street program could go down the tubes in a second right now because if nobody wants to put the effort forth, then it’s useless,? she said.
Cassidy said there’s ‘too much spinning your wheels and not enough getting things accomplished.?
‘Nobody wanted to make a decision,? she explained. And even when a decision was made, people were always ‘changing their minds.?
If Main Street is going to continue and succeed in Oxford, Cassidy said people have to start getting more involved, particularly in the four committees ? Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Restructuring ? that make the program work.
‘I think the players involved are more the issue with the Main Street program or the lack of,? she said. ‘My committees are like nihil. There’s nobody to lead them.?
‘The Organization Committee is pretty much on summer vacation,? she said. ‘I don’t know if they’re going to regroup again or not. I think the general feeling is no.?
‘The Promotions Committee there’s like four of them and they’re tired because they’ve done all these other events,? Cassidy explained. ‘It’s not fair to use and abuse the volunteers like that.?
The Economic Restructuring and Design committees ‘seem to be plugging along.?
For Main Street to work and work well, ‘people just have to step up and help,? Cassidy said.