DDA currently uses village counsel
By Joseph Goral
Staff Writer
jgoral@mihomepaper.com
OXFORD — Oxford’s Downtown Development Authority Board of Directors unanimously approved a motion for DDA Executive Director Kimberly Smith to investigate and create a list of candidates for a DDA attorney on March 17.
Chair Pete Scholz joined the meeting online, but did not vote on any motions. Board member Jae Choi was absent.
Smith said the DDA has always leaned on the village’s legal representative for any legal questions or concerns, but there were questions around finding someone focused on the DDA. She also recommended the DDA have their own attorney.
“Really, it’s just a subject matter expert for us to be able to ask questions to, and then if we were to have any reason where we were at an impasse in regards to … a negotiation with another entity, that person would then help support us through that process as well,” she said.
Smith said through conversations with Oxford Village Manager Joe Madore, she found out village attorney Bob Davis’s rates would cost around $120 to $150 per hour, adding she believes the DDA could get comparable pricing if they find a candidate from the same firm.
“Then I reached out to two other attorneys, and we’re looking at one that’s $240 per hour, and the other one is anywhere between $250 and $500 per hour,” Smith said.
Lower-level legal staff would conduct research and the higher-level partner would appear on site if necessary, according to Smith.
Of the two Smith spoke to, the more expensive option has worked “extensively” with DDAs in the past, while the other worked more with municipalities.
“I’m not crazy with the firm the village uses right now based on the Weckle building (project) and things like that,” said Board Member Rod Charles, Oxford Township’s representative to the DDA.
The Weckle building is a Planned Unit Development (PUD) at 32 E. Burdick St. Its agreement was approved nearly 10 years ago, and the planning commission approved its site plan in 2016. The building is still unfinished.
The DDA’s next meeting is at 7 p.m. April 21.