By Susan Bromley

Staff Writer

By a 3-2 vote and amidst some debate at their July 25 meeting, the village council approved the hire of David M. Jenkins as the new Downtown Development Authority (DDA) director. Council President Wayne Wills and Councilmembers Tonja Brice and Keith Dylus voted yes. Councilmembers Courtney McClerren and Coleen Skornicka voted no. Councilmember Dan Eschmann was absent. Councilmember Debbie Baker abstained from the vote due to having a stake in the matter.

Jenkins was the recommendation of the DDA Board, by a 5-2 vote at a meeting earlier this month after six applications were received and three candidates were interviewed. Baker, a DDA board member and president-elect, and the interim DDA director for the past eight weeks since Molly LaLone left suddenly to take the same position in Lake Orion, was one of the candidates.

“We wanted someone who is results and business-oriented, an articulate professional, with a fresh perspective,” said Brauer of the choice of Jenkins. “But the most important piece was his experience and education. He has over 20 years experience in marketing, fundraising, grant writing and he has done extensive charity and volunteer work.”

Prior to the council’s vote, during public comment, supporters of Baker spoke on her behalf, including Greg Switz, former councilmember and current Brandon Township Trustee Liz Waters, as well as Village Treasurer Beth Forys— all citing her long-term volunteer work on behalf of the DDA, her passion for the community in which she has resided for 20 years, as well as her most recent paid 8-week stint as DDA interim director.

“I believe we have a great asset right here in the community,” said Waters. “She has done nothing but exceeded expectations. I am shocked it went to someone outside the community.”

Jenkins, 47, is a White Lake resident who is currently self-employed as an organizational and fund development consultant. He earned a bachelor’s of business administration in marketing management from Northwood University in 1992, as well as a certificate in fundraising management from Indiana University Center on Philanthropy in 2002. He most recently worked for seven years in the credit union industry, leaving Michigan Legacy Credit Union as the vice-president of marketing and cooperative services when his position was eliminated in November. Previously, he had a dozen years in non-profit management and fund development, working for organizations including the Huron Valley Educational Foundation, the Huron Valley Community Coalition, and the Alpha Phi Rho Educational Foundation.

During Monday night’s council meeting, he said he had helped these various organizations solicit roughly $500,000 in grants and charitable contributions from individuals over the course of 20 years and also led a $2 million campaign more than a decade ago.

Legislators have been considering changes to a 40-year-old law that authorizes tax increment financing (TIF), among other functions for the DDA. Last year the Ortonville DDA collected $72,000 in tax-increment financing from commercial properties within the Downtown Development Authority zone, which consists of the dowtown business district, as well as some commercial properties on M-15. Loss of that revenue would cripple the DDA.

“(Jenkins’) background is such that he has done extensive fundraising and we need to be about the business of raising funds from outside sources rather than raising taxes,” said Council President Wayne Wills. “If we didnt have a way to survive or function, all you can do is go to the public, through the council, ask the public or business owners to pay more taxes and we’re not going to go there. Our only choice is to find funds through grants and other resources on a very aggressive basis.”

Jenkins has prior DDA experience having served as a volunteer for the Highland DDA for the past seven years, currently as a chairman of the economic restructuring committee, although he will now leave that post to avoid any conflicts with his new position as director of the Ortonville DDA.

“I came here because I wanted to do something I am passionate about,” said Jenkins. “I love to be able to see how the DDA can bring value to businesses, engage residents, see the excitement it generates, see the growth and ultimately create an even better environment and community. To use my expertise to do that in Ortonville is an exciting opportunity. I am going to jump in with both feet and work with the board to identify a strategy moving forward and do everything that I can to succeed for both businesses and residents. Where I lay my head at night won’t interfere with that.”

A question raised at the council meeting about whether the 3-2 vote counted as a majority since there are 7 members of council was answered affirmatively by Christina Nassar, attorney for the Michigan Press Association.

“In accordance with the Open Meetings Act, a majority of the council appointed and serving shall constitute a quorum. Since there were six members present, even with one abstaining and only five voting, a quorum and majority was reached. It counts.”

Brauer said she appreciated what Baker has done and hopes she will continue to serve the DDA in a volunteer capacity.

“We love Debbie, every one of us echoes what her supporters say, we’re not questioning her dedication and commitment,” she said. “We thank Debbie, she stepped in as interim director and she did a fine job.”

Baker will succeed Brauer as DDA board president in 2017 if she chooses to stay on, but as of Tuesday, she was unsure of her plans, other than to remain serving as market manager for BB&E through the remainder of the current season, which ends Sept. 2.

Jenkins will have a salary of $38,000 annually as DDA director. His official start date is Aug. 8.

“One of the things that is important for me is to work with the DDA board to identify priorities moving forward,” said Jenkins. “We’re more than halfway through the year, so we really need to take a look at the current work plan to see where we are with those projects, are they still the priority and is it feasible to achieve this year or stretch out over a long period of time… There are plenty of ways to attack and succeed, it is important to create value for these businesses. Ortonville is not the only community that has experienced a lack of sewers, in Highland it has been an issue for master planning, they don’t have sewers. Through the DDA Board, village, local businesses and residents, we can identify strategies that work and are attractive to us in Ortonville. I am looking forward to us having a conversation in the near future where we can unveil a solid strategy.”