Clawson DDA elects officers after debate over mayor serving as chair

The Clawson Downtown Development Authority on Oct. 15 elected Mayor Paul Milan as chair and business owner Charlie Sampson as vice chair after a prolonged discussion about potential conflicts of interest.

Board members voted on nominations during the meeting’s officer-election agenda item. After roll-call voting, the board recorded a majority in favor of Paul Milan for chair; Charlie Sampson was later approved as vice chair. The board also approved Jeff Markley as treasurer and Valerie Glander as secretary.

The debate centered on whether the mayor, who nominates DDA board appointees for council approval, should also hold the DDA chair because the chair can influence meeting agendas and has procedural authority over removals. “I just don’t think that having the head of already city council sit in the chair position for the DDA…represents a conflict of interest,” business owner Charlie Sampson said during the meeting. Sampson and several business owners argued that a business-owner chair could likewise create an appearance of favoritism.

Mayor Paul Milan defended his willingness to serve and cited his role in building relationships downtown. “Just for the record, the mayor nominates people and the council approves the appointments,” Milan said, arguing that the nomination process limits unilateral mayoral control. He added that he took the chair last year to help stabilize the board and that he believes continued service would help sustain recent progress.

Several business owners and board members spoke in favor of keeping the mayor in the chair role, citing improved downtown engagement and coordination during the past year. Other members said the perception of fairness matters and that any chair drawn from business owners or city officials could be viewed as a conflict.

Votes at a glance - Chair (nomination of Paul Milan): majority recorded in favor; Paul Milan established as chair for the coming year. - Vice chair (Charlie Sampson): approved by roll-call vote. - Treasurer (Jeff Markley): approved by roll-call vote. - Secretary (Valerie Glander): approved by roll-call vote.

The board conducted the votes by roll call during the public meeting; members used nominations and seconds before taking individual votes. No formal amendments or conditions were attached to the officer approvals.

The newly elected officers will serve the one-year term established in the DDA bylaws, and the board chair and vice chair positions will take effect immediately.

Board members and business owners at the meeting said they intend to focus on continuity, relationship-building with downtown businesses and collaboration with city administration in the coming year.