Susan M. Bellairs, 60, has lived in Oxford 38 years and works as a caregiver. She’s served as a township trustee for eight years and the ZBA for 11 years. Bellairs also serves on the Polly Ann Trail Management Council, North Oakland Transportation Authority and other township committees. She’s attended numerous Michigan Townships Association classes and seminars. Bellairs is married to Bill and together they have two grown daughters, one son-in-law and five grandchildren.
Question #1 Why are you running for township office? What experience, skills, talents or qualities do you have to offer the public?
I have been married 40 years to husband Bill, lived in Oxford 38 of those years, and have 2 grown daughters and 5 grandchildren all living in the township. I believe if you sit and do nothing, you get nothing, or worse, get something you don’t want and only have yourself to blame. Always two sides to every issue, I love to research and read between the lines and have experience and current education regarding township operations and law. My philosophy is to listen to all sides, investigate the ‘facts,? and always keep in mind the relationship of the issue to the long term good of the whole. I have served on the ZBA, Polly Ann Trail, numerous township committees, community projects, youth programs including my current involvement as support staff in the Young Marines and was instrumental in expanding our Township Clean-Up Day event resulting in cleaner township roadsides.
Question #2 What are the top three issues/priorities facing the township and how would you go about addressing them?
1) Water is the main problem facing the township today including the need for strong plans to pay off our water bond debt keeping in mind the importance of improving water quality. The Water/Sewer committee should be directed to strategize option plans for meeting payment obligations while keeping current with State mandated upgrades.
2) Communication between all local entities needs to be improved. I would like to see the use of citizen task forces brought back because they proved to be a valuable tool in the past in bringing the pulse of the community to the table.
3) Although I strongly support our rural atmosphere, historical beauty roads and excellent parklands, I also see the need in bringing in businesses and services to the community to keep pace with ever-changing economic times and to enhance the quality of life for our current and future residents.
Question #3 What would you do to increase public involvement/input in township decision-making?
If nothing else, I am hoping this is the year I will succeed in getting approval to implement an annual township meeting to take place in the beginning of each year. I see this as a two part meeting, the first being a presentation of the board showing where the township currently stands, where it is going, and what goals the board will strive to reach that year. The second part of the meeting should be set aside for an open question and answer period from the public to the board to address all topics involving township operations.
Also as stated above, in helping to provide more community insight, I would like the board to actively pursue forming more citizen task forces on issues impacting their daily lives and pocketbooks.