By Dean Vaglia
Leader Staff Writer
Michael Young, chairman of the Oxford Township Planning Commission, is retiring from the commission on Nov. 1.
Announced by Township Supervisor Jack Curtis at the end of the Sept. 22 Board of Trustees budgeting meeting, Young will be moving down to South Carolina to be with his daughter as she attends medical school.
“My daughter lives in South Carolina and is going to continue her studies … to become a PA, so we are moving our family down to where she’s at,” Young said. “We bought a house down there and sold the one up here, so we’re gonna make the move. It wasn’t supposed to happen this fast but something popped up and we took advantage of this opportunity.”
According to his LinkedIn profile, Young joined the commission in March of 2012 and became the chairman of the commission that May.
“I’m sad to see him leave,” Curtis said. “I think it is a loss to our community. Mike has been very important at planning and development in our community. He’s been on the economic development subcommittee with us, he’s moved a lot of processes forward, he’s offered a lot inspiration and a wealth of knowledge from his job experience. … It’s a sad day to see him leave; we’re losing a valuable asset on the Planning Commission.”
Young plans to continue working for four more years once in South Carolina, but says his days in public service are over. Once fully retired, Young has plenty of plans for the time ahead.
“Put my toes in the sand,” Young said. “Play a lot of golf. I don’t think I’ll be serving the public down there … I plan to just relax and enjoy the view.”
Young thinks Tom Berger, the current vice-chairman, will take over the role of chairman until someone else can fill the vacancy on the commission.