WANTED – Oxford Township residents with common sense, who care about the future of their community and desire involvement in their local government. No previous experience or qualifications necessary.
Applicants are currently being sought for openings on the Oxford Township Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals.
Supervisor Bill Dunn stressed that there are no special qualifications or previous experience necessary to apply or be appointed to either board.
“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist or hold a Ph.D to get the job,” Dunn said. “You just need some good old-fashioned common sense.”
“I think a lot of people are scared to apply because they don’t know anything about planning or zoning,” the supervisor said. “But nobody starts on those board knowing it all. They learn as they go.”
From “more seasoned” board members to the township planner to the township engineer, Dunn said there are always plenty of people on hand to answer questions and guide new board members through the process.
Educational materials, seminars and special classes for planning commissioners and ZBA members are also available through the Michigan Townships Association, the supervisor added.
In addition to the MTA, Oakland County Planning and Economic Development offers a “citizen planner” course to residents that meets once a week for six weeks.
Of course, any approved classes related to serving on either the planning commission or ZBA will be paid for by the township, Dunn noted.
“If you want to learn, we’ll teach you or pay for it.”
Dunn emphasized that the people who sit on the planning commission and ZBA are “not professionals,” but “ordinary citizens.”
“Those people are your neighbors,” he said. “They’re no different than you. If they can do it, so can you.”
Because they’re also township residents, Dunn said village residents are “more than welcome” to apply for the openings.
“The chairman of the township planning commission (George Herring) lives in the village,” he noted.
The township planning commission meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 7:30 p.m.
The ZBA meets on the second Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. (except for March when its the third Monday).
Those interested for applying for either the planning commission or ZBA or both are asked to submit a letter of interest to Dunn by 4 p.m. Jan. 19.
For more information about the openings see the township’s Public Notices on pages 22 and 23.
Or call Dunn at (248) 628-9787.