One Oxford Village official is staying, while another is leaving.
Manager Joe Young last week decided to reject a $90,000-per-year job offer from Pontiac to become the city’s deputy mayor and finance director ? positions he’s already familiar with.
Young served as Pontiac’s acting deputy mayor from June 1993 to December 1994 and as deputy mayor and finance director from June 1982 to January 1986.
When asked what tipped the scales in Oxford’s favor, Young, who was hired here in June 2004, replied, ‘I didn’t realize how much support I had and how much of a difference I have made.?
‘I’m glad to be part of the team in a community that wants to work together to make things better and has the resources and the commitment of the people to do it. That’s exciting,? he said. ‘Good things are happening in the community.?
Council obviously wanted Young to stay. Following a quite positive evaluation of the manager’s performance at the Jan. 24 meeting, council offered Young a onetime, lump-sum merit bonus of $7,700, which equals 10 percent of his annual $77,000 salary.
?(Council’s comments) were very positive and supportive of what I’ve been able to accomplish here and my involvement in the community — the need to have me continue on to help them and the community progress with all the other challenges and opportunities that we face from traffic signals to parking to the need for a hotel,? Young said.
Young said he was also told he could renegotiate his contract sometime in the ‘near future.?
The manager’s decision to stay ironically coincided with Councilman Steve Allen’s sudden decision to call it quits.
In a surprise move Jan. 24, Allen announced his immediate resignation from village council, village Zoning Board of Appeals, the village parks and recreation committee and the DDA Promotions Committee.
‘I’m tired physically, spiritually and emotionally,? he said reading a prepared statement to council. ‘Our current issues and relationships have gotten quite out of hand. I’m tired of these situations and all of the nonproductive, disrespectful rhetoric that they have produced.?
He was referring to the ongoing battles between the village and township, particularly the latest legal wrangling over control of the fire department.
‘I no longer have the energy to roll around in the mud,? said Allen, who was elected to council in March 2000 and is currently serving his second term.
Allen told council these past three years have ‘taken a significant personal toll on me,? affecting his health, family relationships and life in general.
He said he owes his family ‘far more? than they’ve received over the last six years and owes himself ‘the gift of personal time.?
Allen said he had originally planned not to seek a third term when his seat came up for election in September 2007 and was ‘quite looking forward to that time.? His current term was set to expire in March 2006, however, changes to the state election laws extended it by 18 months.
‘I was just running out of juice,? said Allen via telephone the next day while on his way to Memphis, Tennessee for the International Blues Challenge.
‘I’m kinda tuckered out,? Allen said. ‘You get to the point where you start to question whether or not you’re contributing. If you feel like you’re not giving it your all, it’s time to move on.?
Allen said he wants to spend more time with his family and enjoying personal pursuits. ‘I’d actually like to start playing music again, instead of just listening to it.?
But don’t look for Allen to completely disappear from the village scene. ‘I’m still going to help out with some things,? he said. ‘I’m still going to do Hot Blues (and BBQ) and some other events here and there.?
“I’m only leaving this side of the desk,” he said during the council meeting. “I’ll be sitting out there (referring to the audience).”
In his statement to council, Allen made one final request of his fellow officials, ‘I would ask that you fill the remainder of my term with someone that truly loves the Village of Oxford, cares about its future, understands what’s required to be a proper public servant and would offer our community a firm, nurturing hand in its future governance and progress.?
Residents wishing to fill the remainder of Allen’s term, which expires in September 2007, may send resumes and/or letters of interest to the village offices at 22 W. Burdick St. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, a registered voter and resident of the Village of Oxford for at least six months.
For more information about the vacancy call village Clerk Christine Burns at (248) 628-2543.
‘I was just running out of juice,? said Allen via telephone the next day while on his way to Memphis, Tennessee for the International Blues Challenge.
‘I’m kinda tuckered out,? Allen said. ‘You get to the point where you start to question whether or not you’re contributing. If you feel like you’re not giving it your all, it’s time to move on.?
Allen said he wants to spend more time with his family and enjoying personal pursuits.
‘I’d actually like to start playing music again, instead of just listening to it,? he said.
But don’t look for Allen to completely disappear from the village scene.
‘I’m still going to help out with some things,? he said. ‘I’m still going to do Hot Blues (and BBQ) and some other events here and there.?
“I’m only leaving this side of the desk,” he said during the council meeting. “I’ll be sitting out there (referring to the audience).”
In his statement to council, Allen made one final request of his fellow officials, ‘I would ask that you fill the remainder of my term with someone that truly loves the Village of Oxford, cares about its future, understands what’s required to be a proper public servant and would offer our community a firm, nurturing hand in its future governance and progress.?
Residents wishing to fill the remainder of Allen’s term until September 2007 may send resumes and/or letters of interest to the village offices at 22 W. Burdick Street.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, a registered voter and resident of the Village of Oxford for at least six months.
For more information about the vancany call village Clerk/Assistant Manager Christine Burns at (248) 628-2543.