Voters in the Village of Oxford will go to the polls Tuesday, Sept. 11 to choose who will occupy four of five council seats.
To assist in this decision, the League of Women Voters-Oakland Area and The Oxford Leader conducted a candidate forum on Aug. 29 in the village’s community room.
Only seven people attended to pose questions and hear answers from four of the five candidates running for council. Candidate Mike Hamilton could not attend due to a previous engagement. He submitted his answers in writing.
Meet the candidates
Tony Albensi: A village resident for about two years, the 39-year-old develops retail inventory software for RGIS Inventory Specialists in Auburn Hills. ‘I have a passion for serving my community,? said Albensi, who’s been active in Republican politics since 1999 and lives on Park St. ‘I’m committed to preserving Oxford’s unique character and helping ensure that it will remain a great place to live, work and raise a family.?
Christopher Bishop: Born and raised in the township, this 1990 Oxford High graduate has lived in the village since 1995. Bishop, 35, is employed as the Grove family’s general manager, overseeing five True Value Hardware stores and the Dollar King, a dollar store in the village. He and his wife, Janine, have two young children and live on Moyer St. Bishop was appointed to council in May 2006. ‘I believe both the village and township of Oxford are one community,? he said. ‘When I’m asked where I’m from, (I say) I’m from Oxford.?
George DelVigna: A resident of the village for the last nine years, DelVigna has served on council since September 2002. He’s currently village president. The 72-year-old owns Del’s Window Fashions, a business he runs from his home on Sunset Blvd. ‘I have a lot to give. I enjoy the village. It’s a great place to live,? he said.
Michael Hamilton: A 12-year resident of the village, Hamilton is a master electrician and electrical contractor employed with Hamilton & Sons Electric. The 34-year-old has served on the village planning commission since August 2006. Hamilton and his wife, Amy, have three young children and live on Park St.
Teri Stiles: A village resident for more than 20 years, Stiles was appointed to council in March 2006. The 51-year-old, who grew up in Lake Orion, is working as a program coordinator/producer for Orion Neighborhood Television. She resides on N. Glaspie St. with her husband, Don. ‘Everything and anything that residents bring before the council, it is our job, and I feel it’s my job personally, to help the residents resolve whatever issues they have,? she said.
Where do you personally stand on the issue of cityhood? Are you pro or con and why?
‘Right now, I do not support that,? said Albensi, citing the fact that village residents would ‘lose any right to participate in township elections? and ‘therefore they won’t have a say in the township.?
Albensi expressed concern over the possibility of village residents losing access to the public library and township parks, if cityhood was approved. He also said he didn’t like the idea of the village having to ‘pick up some services currently provided by the township. . . I simply can’t support that.?
‘I’m personally not for cityhood,? Bishop said. ‘Much for the same reasons.?
‘I believe the decisions that are being made in the township have a direct impact on our community, the Village of Oxford,? explained Bishop. ‘I think we as a council and village residents can have a large impact on …the decisions that are made in the township, if we are a voting block.?
‘I’m for cityhood,? DelVigna said. ‘I think in the long-run it would be beneficial for the village.?
DelVigna said village residents could also contract for use of the library and parks if cityhood were approved. He said ‘it’s not a loss,? it’s just a ‘different way of handling? those services.
‘In the long-run I’d like for us to be self-contained, be our own governing body without any outside influence,? said DelVigna, noting the village already has its own police, DPW and water system. ‘We don’t have to go outside for any other services.?
As for the taxes paid to the township, DelVigna said those are used to cover administrative costs. ‘We don’t get very much for our taxes that we send them,? he said.
‘I still haven’t decided (about cityhood),? said Stiles, noting she’s still researching the issue. ‘While I believe this community is strong enough (to become a city) …and would be able to hold its own …I also believe that cityhood would further divide this community.?
‘I am against cityhood due to the services that we benefit from,? Hamilton said. ‘For the last 12 years I have enjoyed being a part of and raising my family within the village. To me the village atmosphere is special. I also realize there are other issues and additional information that may change my position on cityhood in future.?
Aside from cityhood, what do you think is the largest single issue/challenge facing the village today?
‘I think the largest issue facing the Village of Oxford currently is the relationship between the village council and our DDA board,? Bishop said.
Bishop believes the ‘interaction? and ‘communication? between the two boards ‘needs to greatly improve so that we can assure? the tax dollars collected are spent in ways that benefit both downtown development and residents.
For DelVigna, the main issue is ‘fiscal responsibility.? ‘If you don’t keep dollars and cents under control, then you find yourself in trouble,? he said.
‘My biggest concern is maintaining our budget without increasing taxes,? Stiles said. ‘We’re not in a situation right now where we need to even look at increasing taxes.?
‘We have people in our community that are losing their homes and I think we owe it to them to be as fiscally responsible with what taxes they pay right now,? she explained. ‘Right now, I think financially we are very responsible, but it’s important to keep an eye on that.?
For Albensi, the biggest issue is ‘being a good steward of the taxpayers? dollars, ensuring money is not being wasted.?
‘We shouldn’t spend more than we bring in. You should spend it wisely,? he said.
‘I believe the expansion of the downtown area is one of the biggest issues our village is now facing,? Hamilton said. ‘We must attempt to address all concerns regarding the expansion with the residents and businesses best interests, including alleyway development, sidewalks, lighting, and other areas outside the Washington Street corridor.?
Do you feel the village’s current millage rate of 11.12 mills is too high, too low or just right? Explain why you feel this way?
‘I think it’s just right at this point in time,? said DelVigna, noting the village reduced its rate by 1.5 mills in 2006.
As for further reductions, DelVigna said the village is still waiting to ‘see what happens? with state revenue-sharing monies.
Even though the state’s indicated it’s not going to be reduced, ‘we don’t know that for a fact,? according to DelVigna.
DelVigna believes 11.12 mills is a good rate to maintain until the village finds out how much money is ‘coming in and going out.?
‘As a taxpayer, of course, I’d like to see (it) go down,? Stiles said. ‘That certainly could help out some of the families in the community that are struggling because of the economy.?
However, Stiles noted the village’s current practice of keeping at least 12 percent of the budget in reserve is a good amount to keep. The village can afford to ‘take a hit? and remain ‘fiscally strong.?
‘We’ve been really good with our money,? Stiles said. ‘Yes, I’d like to see it go down, but I think we’re at a good rate right now, too.?
‘I’m always for lower taxes,? Albensi said. ‘If elected, I promise that I will take a good hard look at the budget.?
If there are ways the village can cut spending, save taxpayers some money and reduce the millage rate, Albensi said, ‘I’m all for it.?
‘At this current time, I am comfortable with the current millage rate, although in the last budget session we went through there was some discussion of lowering that,? Bishop said.
However, Bishop doesn’t see the rate being lowered until the real estate market improves. Right now, home values are ‘dropping? and houses are ‘being sold for less than they’re being taxed for.?
Given this, Bishop said council chose to be ‘cautious? about the millage rate and keep it at 11.12 mills for now.
‘In the event that we see some stabilization there, I do believe that there is room for a small reduction in taxes, but without some stabilization in the real estate market, I don’t think we can look for that,? Bishop said.
‘I feel that the village’s current millage rate of 11.12 mils is just right,? Hamilton said.
What would you do specifically to improve the relationship with and communication between the council and DDA?
‘In a nutshell, better communications,? DelVigna said. ‘We need to communicate better with each other.?
DelVigna said the DDA has to realize its not a ‘self-contained? entity. For example, council approves its budget and ‘sometimes the DDA doesn’t always respond to that very well.?
‘I just think we have to open the doors a little more, talk to each other a little more,? he said.
Stiles agreed that better communication is needed. ‘As a body, we need to have more hands-on (interaction) and goal-setting with the DDA,? she said.
Communication and ‘not taking things personally? are the keys in Albensi’s mind.
‘I think that if you bring a reasoned voice and (a) common sense approach. . .you can work out any differences that you have,? he said.
‘The biggest thing is for the two boards to try to attend one another’s meetings so that we can be more on the same level,? according to Bishop, who’s been attending DDA meetings as a way to improve relations and voice his concerns as both a council member and resident.?
‘A representative from the council should be able to convey to the DDA the intentions of the council in a clear and concise matter with frequent meetings, if necessary,? Hamilton said.
How would you promote/improve community involvement in council decision-making?
‘I believe getting out into the public and speaking with them personally, walking around, talking with them,? Stiles said.
She noted that the local newspaper and other media sources should be used to keep people informed and solicit their involvement. Council members must also be willing to listen to anyone and everyone. ‘I am absolutely willing to hear every single person’s complaint in this community,? Stiles said.
Albensi said the key is going out into the public, meeting people and listening to what they have to say. ‘We do have to listen to those residents? concerns and take that to heart as a council person,? he said. ‘If you get out there and talk to the public, show an interest in what they’re interested in, I think that in itself will get people more involved in the community.?
Whenever vacancies on village boards and commissions arise, Bishop said council needs to encourage people who come forward with concerns or complaints to get involved.
‘You can encourage those individuals to A) come to meetings to speak their mind and B) to perhaps have an interest in the planning commission or being on the DDA,? he said. ‘The more involved and full that you have your boards, the more likely they are to talk to their neighbors and interest them in coming to meetings.?
DelVigna said people have to become more vocal and involved in their village government. ‘We as a council don’t know what they’re thinking if they don’t say something or come to the meetings,? he said.
DelVigna said he got involved because he wanted to know ‘how can I make this place better.? His involvement on the planning commission and cable commission led to his appointment to council.
Above all, DelVigna said council must be responsive to residents? concerns because if officials? ‘ignore them,? people will ‘never come? to the meetings and ‘we’ll never find out the true facts.?
‘Encourage the residents to help improve our community,? Hamilton said. ‘The village is special to all of us and we invite others to attend meetings and give suggestions and recommendations. I would also be available to discuss village issues whenever necessary.?
How would you improve the relationship with the township?
Bishop believes council members need to attend more township meetings and introduce themselves to township board members. This alone ‘can make a big difference.?
‘That’s how I think the relationship between the village and the township can be improved, not through attorneys,? Bishop said.
In addition to better communication, DelVigna said the village and township must try ‘to find areas where we can agree? and ‘pool our resources.? He said the two governments must look for the positives and not dwell on the negatives.
Stiles said attending more township meetings and ‘making ourselves more available? is the key to improving relations.
‘I’m always welcome to speak at their meetings when I attend,? she said. ‘I think that we need to be more welcoming when they come to our meetings, which I feel like we are.?
‘I believe that we need to create opportunities with the township to have more communication with them,? Stiles added. ‘I’m certainly willing to do that. They’re willing to have input from us and I think we should do the same.?
Communication is ‘a must? to working out any disagreements between the two governments, according to Albensi.
‘I like to think as a council person, I can bring a reasoned voice and understand that what is good for the village is good for the township and what’s good for the township is also good for the village,? he said.
‘Communication is the key to improving the relationship with the township,? Hamilton said. ‘Proper representation should be at meetings to encourage the village’s best interests.?

Village election low down

WHO: Oxford Village Council
WHAT: Elect four people to the five-member board. The two candidates who garner the most votes will each receive four-year seats. Third and fourth place finishers will earn two-year seats.
WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 11 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
WHERE: Oxford Veterans Memorial Civic Center
(28 N. Washington Street)
WHY: Because you care.