Belleville DDA meets in special session to consider Thompson replacement

The Belleville Downtown Development Authority met in special zoom session on May 26 to discuss how to replace DDA Coordinator Carol Thompson who has resigned as of June 1.
After one hour and 24 minutes of discussion, the DDA informally agreed to:
• Not rush into any decisions and study whether a part-time coordinator could be used instead of a full-time person;
• Have the DDA attorney address the board in a teaching session on the rights and responsibilities of the DDA;
• Continue to use Belleville Police Department Records Clerk Brianna Hootman to compose agendas as directed by DDA chairperson Alicia McGovern and to prepare minutes of the meetings. City Manager/Police Chief Dave Robinson said that would be without charge to the DDA because Hootman will be increasing her skills; and
• Wait until the new city deputy administrator is hired and see if that person’s skills in economic development and knowledge of DDAs could help the DDA. Chief Robinson said the new deputy would attend planning commission meetings and prepare minutes and this information would be valuable to the DDA. This new person could work on gathering information for the DDA as directed and the DDA would make the final decisions, as required.
When asked how soon they could expect to have the city deputy administrator in place, Chief Robinson said he expected to have an agreement by early the following week or even the day after this special meeting. He said they would have to have a background check so there are no surprises, a contract approved by the city attorney and, since he is now employed by another city as city manager, he would need to give his employer 30 to 45 days of notice.