Look up in the sky! It’s a bird! No, it’s a plane ? and it’s carrying Oxford’s new village clerk.
Council last night unanimously approved the appointment of Christine M. Burns, a resident of Clare, Michigan, as the village’s new clerk, assistant manager and treasurer designate.
Officials approved a five-year employment contract for Burns, who’s a flying enthusiast and airplane owner, with a starting annual salary of $53,000 plus benefits effective Aug. 1.
The 36-year-old will replace the village’s current longtime clerk, Rose Bejma, who’s retiring July 15 after 30 years (see page 4), and Treasurer Linda Smith when she retires Oct. 21 after 27? years of faithful service.
‘I’m excited to call Oxford home and ready to hit the ground running,? Burns said. ‘It’s just a gorgeous little community.?
She and her husband of nearly 15 years, Bill, are in the process of buying a house on Sunset Blvd. in the Oxford Lakes subdivision. There they will raise their two children, Bradley, 13, and Breanna, 9.
Born and raised in Clare, Burns has worked for the small northern Michigan city (population: 3,173) since July 1991, spending seven years as deputy clerk/treasurer and two years as assistant to the city manager.
Since 2000, she’s served as Clare’s city clerk, obtaining her Certified Municipal Clerk designation in 2003.
In June 2005, she enrolled in the International Institute of Municipal Clerks? Master Municipal Clerk Academy Program.
A 1990 Central Michigan University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Burns is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Public Administration from the Mt. Pleasant school. She expects to complete the degree program in December.
After a lifetime of living in Clare and 14 years of employment with the city, Burns said leaving is ‘kind of bittersweet,? but it was time to move on and face new challenges.
‘I think we always knew that in order to further our careers, we were going to have to relocate out of Clare,? she said. Her husband is also a lifelong resident of Clare.
‘I’m a little nervous (about the move), but I’m really excited too because other than leaving to go to college, we’ve never lived outside the bubble we were born and raised in,? Burns said. ‘I’m excited to meet new people. We’re excited to try new things. Our kids are looking at this as an adventure . . . The whole family is all fired up.?
‘Oxford is home now and Clare is some place that we’ll visit,? she added.
Other than having a Starbucks and Meijer, Burns said Oxford and Clare aren’t too different.
‘Clare and Oxford are very similar in size, taxable value and staffing.?
Both municipalities are also newly designated Main Street communities working hard to revitalize their downtown areas.
Burns helped write the application and make the presentation that earned Clare its status as a Michigan Main Street Community in 2004.
Because of these similarities, Burns said, ‘I don’t anticipate the learning curve to be real steep? for her new job.
Husband Bill, who’s a middle level manager for Consumers Energy, commented that he was ‘surprised? Oxford had ‘such a hometown feel.?
‘Up north, it’s a preconceived notion that everything south of Flint is Detroit,? he said.
When they’re not working, the couple enjoys flying their airplane ? a single-engine, four-seat, Grumman Traveller.
Flying together since 1997, Bill serves as pilot and Christine as navigator. With eight takeoffs and landings under her belt, Christine plans to go for her pilot’s license once she obtains her master’s degree.
The couple has flown to Chicago, Traverse City, Ann Arbor, Muskegon and over Mackinac Island. Every year the whole family flies to Ohio for some fun at Cedar Point.
With their Clare home sold, an Oxford home secured and the family ready to move, the only thing left is to find a place to store their plane.
‘We’re trying to find a home for it,? Christine said.
‘So, if you know of any cheap hangers for rent,? added Bill.
We’ll keep an eye out, but for now welcome to Oxford. Glad to have you here.