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.
On Monday night, the DDA board agreed to advertise for a new director at the local and national levels through various publications and organizations.
‘Realistically, I don’t think we’re going to have anybody in here for (a) minimum (of) eight weeks. That’s just an estimate,? said DDA Secretary Sue Bossardet.
As a temporary measure, the DDA board appointed village Manager Joe Young as the interim director. He volunteered for the position.
‘We kind of divided up some duties (among the DDA board members), but (Young’s) going to be the point person because he’s around here all day,? said Bossardet, who’s going to handle ‘all the office work.?
DDA member Dave Weckle will be the point person regarding issues in the southeast parking quadrant. Board member Chris Hendrix will be the point person concerning the possible sale of the DDA-owned properties at 32, 36 and 38 E. Burdick St.
The Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce is ‘going to step in and help us with the Scarecrow Festival,? Bossardet noted.
Bossardet said she regrets Cassidy’s resignation.
‘I think she’s worked very hard,? she said. ‘She’s made Celebrate Oxford bigger and better and more popular. We’re actually making money now. We made money this year after losing for how many years.?
‘She’s going to be missed,? Bossardet added.
Looking back at her time here, Cassidy said, ‘I’m proudest of my volunteers and being certified as a Main Street community.?
Main Street Oakland County is an economic development program designed to provide technical assistance to the 30 traditional downtowns in the county.
Accepted into the program in September 2004, Oxford was certified as a Main Street community in January 2006.
Bossardet attributed the certification to Cassidy’s ‘efforts.? She ‘pushed? to get Oxford certified ‘the very first year? in Main Street, ‘which is phenomenal.?
‘There’s not ever been another community that’s done that,? Bossardet said.
‘I really felt we had the spirit for a while,? Cassidy said.
But that ‘spirit? seems to be fading, 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 nil. 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.