Two appointments to the Oxford Downtown Development Authority board made by the village council Tuesday night will allow it to meet next week.
Victoria Connolly, owner of Victoria’s Delights, and Michael Jabour, vice president of retail banking for Oxford Bank, were appointed to the DDA board to offset a number of recent resignations.
DDA Chairman Mark Young, Vice Chairperson Lisa Farlin and Treasurer Paul Cervenak all resigned their positions on the board in late May following a dispute with village officials over changes to the authority’s 2006-07 budget and council’s passage of said budget over the DDA’s objections.
The resignations left the DDA board with only four members, including the village president, not enough for a quorum to conduct meetings, the next of which is scheduled for Monday, June 19.
Amanda Cassidy, executive director of the DDA, said Connolly’s appointment is only ‘temporary? until a long-term replacement can be found. Her term expires in October 2006.
‘That’s what she requested,? Cassidy said. ‘She wants to help out while we’re a little low (on members), make sure that business can be conducted.?
‘Victoria stepped up to the plate because she’s already been on the board,? she said. ‘She knows Main Street. She understands all that.?
‘That’s kind of what we’re looking for right now with the resignations we’ve had,? Cassidy explained. ‘People that can jump right in to it, understand and go.?
Jabour’s appointment, on the other hand, is more long-term, she said. His term expires in October 2008.
‘Oxford Bank is a great business to have in the DDA district and his appointment would help continue our partnership,? stated a DDA memo to council.
Jabour previously served on the DDA.
Cassidy said Jabour had already expressed an interest in rejoining the board when the DDA was searching for applicants to fill the two vacant seats it had prior to the three resignations.
Right now, the nine-member DDA board has six seats filled, but applicants are needed to fill four seats due to Connolly’s temporary status.
Cassidy noted that one of the appointees must be someone who lives within the boundaries of the DDA district.
A number of people have already applied for seats on the DDA including Chris Hendrix, general manager for Coldwell Banker Shooltz Realty, and Jennifer Duncan, executive director of the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce.
But Cassidy said more applications are always welcome. Anyone interested in applying for the DDA board should contact Cassidy at (248) 628-3095.