A former deputy mayor of Pontiac could be the next village manager of Oxford.
Council last night voted 3-1 to offer the village manager’s position to Kervin Joseph Young, of Hazel Park.
According to his resume, Young has worked in many various positions for local governments since 1969, most notably serving as the Pontiac City deputy mayor from June 1982 to January 1986 and again as acting deputy mayor from June 1993 to December 1994.
Young is currently employed as the city clerk/treasurer/director of finance/FOIA Coordinator for the City of Hastings, Michigan. He’s held the position since February 2004.
Council interviewed Young on May 6, just nine days after they voted to accept former village Manager Mark Slown’s resignation on April 27.
Included in council’s approved motion was direction to ‘give? village President Renee Donovan and Councilman Steve Allen ‘the opportunity to sit down and work out a contract with the gentleman at their earliest convenience.?
Councilman Dave Bailey cast the lone dissenting vote for reasons he explained.
‘I have no significant reservations regarding this candidate,? he said, noting his no-vote is ‘merely a reflection on the process, not the candidate.?
‘My gut feeling is that the council is moving rather rapidly in this manager search,? Bailey said. ‘My feeling is that they’re moving too rapidly.?
Bailey explained that he was unable to attend one of the previous council meetings at which the manager search was discussed.
‘Since I wasn’t there, I have this gap in my memory and so it to me feels like we’re going too fast,? he said.
Despite Bailey’s feeling of being rushed, Allen urged council to move forward.
‘Time is of the essence,? Allen said. ‘Our Number One choice, no matter whom that person is, may fall off the table because of the job market out there. It’s a pretty hotly-contested job market.?
According to Acting Village Manager/Clerk Rose Bejma, council received a total of 14 resumes for the position.
In addition to Young, only two other candidates were interviewed by council. Phillip S. Vawter, former city manager of Walled Lake, and William S. Yost, former village manager of Lake Odessa, were interviewed Monday, May 24.
‘The interviews went very well,? Allen said. ‘The candidate field was actually quite good. And I was very impressed with the people we interviewed.?
Council was originally intent on hiring an interim manager, but some officials, like Allen, argued that making a ‘permanent? choice made more sense.
‘I just think for the permanency and stability of the village . . . I think now is the time to hire a permanent village manger,? he said. ‘I’ve very concerned quite frankly with the term interim. I worry about a different perception in the public where a person sees ‘interim village manager? and they think, ‘Well, this guy’s not going to be here very long. I’ll just wait until the new guy comes.?
Allen said the term interim brings to mind a ‘place-holder.?
As a compromise, Allen suggested council fill the manager’s position in a ‘permanent? capacity as opposed to ‘interim,? but ‘in the initial phases of hiring? offer the new person a one-year contract to start.
‘That would give them a chance to look at us. Us a chance to look at them. Make sure that we’re all extremely happy with the direction it’s going,? he said.
Donovan agreed.
‘I think a one-year contract should give us a good, solid feel ? both sides,? she said. ‘We can see if they can hold up to the fire they may get.?
Councilman Matt Weber also said he like the one-year contract idea.
Tracy Miller, Sr. ? husband of Donovan, chairman of the Cityhood for Oxford committee, and a former Pontiac City councilman ? agreed that a one-year contract, which included an evaluation process, ‘would be desirable.?
Miller urged council ‘don’t go into any long-term contracts,? which the new city government would be liable for.
‘Keep in mind cityhood will hopefully become a reality and possibly be on the ballot in November 2005,? he told council.
Miller also told council to ‘make sure? there is ‘no major severance (agreement)? contained in the new contract which ‘would possibly impede the move toward cityhood.?

Kervin Young’s Experience
Feb. 2004 ? present
City of Hastings
City Clerk/Treasurer/Director of Finance/FOIA Coordinator

Feb. 2002 ? Sept. 2003
City of Hamtramck
Administrator of Special Projects
Personnel/DDA Director

June 1997 ? Feb. 2002
City of Hazel Park
City Manager

City of Pontiac
March 1994 ? Novemer 1996
Public Utilities Director
* * *
June 1993 ? December 1994
Acting Deputy Mayor
* * *
Sept. 1991 ? June 1997
Public Works & Services Director
* * *
June 1982 ? Jan. 1986
Deputy Mayor and Finance Director

Dec. 1981 ? June 1982
City of Southfield
Director of Fiscal Services

March 1977 ? Dec. 1981
City of Kalamazoo
Director of Finance

City of Pontiac from June 1969 to December 1976 ? Accountant; Asst. Accounting Supervisor; Internal Auditor; and Comptroller