By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Dowagiac's Downtown Development Authority at City Hall this morning reaffirmed its support of a 15-year-old agreement that lets Vickie Phillipson be considered a fulltime city employee as program director for the DDA and Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce.
Mayoral candidate Howard Hall criticized whether the arrangement is appropriate at recent City Council meetings.
The DDA, meeting for the first time since Feb. 6, 2003, said in a resolution it adopted that the DDA and the Chamber "have several goals in common, such as their pro-active campaigns of business recruitment, retention and expansion, community promotion and the expansion of commerce.
That arrangement "has worked very well since 1990 and continues to be of mutual benefit to both organizations," the DDA reasserted, committing to continue the agreement.
The DDA further resolved that the DDA/Chamber program director is considered a fulltime City of Dowagiac employee.
The city will continue to invoice the Chamber on a monthly basis for reimbursement of 50 percent of the staff person's salary and fringe benefit costs.
The DDA will continue to provide office space within the historic depot for the program director, including utility and maintenance costs.
In other business, William Livingston was re-elected chairman and Ned Sutherland will continue as vice chairman as the DDA adopted three other resolutions.
Another recommends to City Council that it amend the boundaries of the downtown development district to include property at 322 S. Front St. at High Street, contiguous to the district.
The apartment house across Front from Harding's Friendly Market is being redeveloped by Richard "Butch" Accoe, who asked for the inclusion.
City Manager William H. Nelson Jr. said the parcel is "notched out" of the present district so it makes sense to grant the request, which will essentially square off the boundaries.
The DDA also approved a three-year management and maintenance services agreement from Oct. 1, 2005, through Sept. 30, 2008, for streetscape upkeep. The $27,488 fee is paid quarterly at the rate of $6,872, with yearly increases contingent on city salary increases given to non-union employees.
DDA member Sue Kazlauskas of The Marshall Shoppe praised the city Grounds Department on behalf of merchants.
DDA member Richard Judd remarked on the thoroughness of the three-page contract, which spells out what tasks are undertaken by month and the services expected for special events.
Bills totaling $190,621.53 since October 2004 were approved for payment.
At its last meeting on Feb. 6, 2003, the DDA conducted a public hearing to consider a liquor license for a new restaurant, Wood Fire.
Livingston, Sutherland, Judd, Kazlauskas, Mayor Don Lyons and Mary Myers were present. Larry Seurynck and Charlie Maher were absent.