It appears the Oxford Downtown Development Authority won’t be placing a ‘help wanted? ad in the newspaper for a new executive director.
After less than 20 minutes worth of deliberation Monday night, the DDA board voted 6-0 to suspend Executive Director Carolyn Bennett for two weeks without pay beginning Sept. 24 as punishment for her violations of DDA and village policies.
‘I think the board did what they thought was right,? Bennett told this reporter. ‘I’m happy to stick around as long as they want me to be here. I think I can do some really good things here.?
Termination was the other option under consideration by the DDA board, but the idea found no support.
‘I don’t condone what Carolyn did,? said Board Secretary Sue Bossardet. ‘But I feel that dismissing somebody over something like this is too harsh.?
‘We all make mistakes once in a while,? said Board Member Patrick Thompson. ‘It’s a pretty big one (Bennett made), so I think something should be done, but certainly not dismissal.?
‘From a pure management standpoint, I would just want to make sure that Carolyn understands the significance (of what she did),? said Board Member Chris Hendrix.
Board Treasurer Diana Griggs admitted the prospect of searching for a new director was not an appealing one.
‘I personally don’t want to go through the recruiting process again for a director,? she said. ‘That was a long and drawn out process, something that we need to avoid.?
The board’s decision to suspend Bennett was precipitated by her $8,250 purchase of 300 polo (or golf) shirts from Creative Embroidery for volunteers working Celebrate Oxford.
She made this purchase without prior board approval and without obtaining three bids ? a violation of two DDA policies she wrote and convinced the board to adopt.
Bennett admitted it was an oversight on her part made because she had to plan and coordinate Celebrate Oxford without the aid of a paid event planner as was done for the previous two years.
‘I was simply overwhelmed by Celebrate Oxford and I made a mistake,? she said. ‘I was alone and it showed . . . This is in no way an excuse simply an explanation.?
Bennett also violated the village’s credit card policy by charging $235.60 worth of gasoline, which is considered a personal expense and therefore not permitted.
In performing her duties as director, Bennett told the board she’s travelled to Pontiac, Novi, Lansing, Birmingham and Highland. She’s also used her vehicle to make deliveries of work-related materials.
‘I have never asked for mileage reimbursement and have donated the cost of mileage to the DDA,? Bennett told the board. ‘I reimbursed the (DDA) VISA card within two weeks. I was never given a copy of village policies upon being hired.?
Because these policies were violated, Chairman Kevin Stephison said there was concern among the DDA officers and a belief that the board had to make a decision as to what the ramifications would be.
‘It is not, and it never has been, my intent to drive DDA directors out of town,? he said. ‘We went through two rounds of applications to find Carolyn.?
DDA board members had nothing but praise for Bennett and the job she’s done thus far.
‘I myself have been very impressed with Carolyn’s performance,? Thompson said.
‘I think Carolyn has done a good job for the DDA,? Bossardet said. ‘I sincerely think that she wants to do the best job that she can for Oxford.?
‘She is very talented,? Stephison said. ‘She is an asset.?
Bennett also found much support from business owners and DDA volunteers.
‘I’ve found that her personality actually is quite pleasing every time I’ve had to deal with her,? said Mark Young, owner of Mark A. Young Jewelers and a member of the DDA’s Organization Committee. ‘I think you have an asset there and I think you should retain her.?
‘I’ve never had any difficulty dealing with her,? said village resident Cindy Wheeler, who’s done volunteer work for Celebrate Oxford. ‘There was even an issue on which I was quite upset with the DDA. I came in and talked to Carolyn. In contrast with most of my dealings with other things within the village, she was very willing to sit down, discuss the issue and take responsibility for any part she had in the decisions that I disagreed with.?