Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority fails to gather a quorum prior to discussion on absenteeism

The board has 13 voting members and needs seven for a quorum. Darryl Daniels, Sandee French, Rene Greff, Jim Karnopp, Karen Maurer and Bonnie Penet were all absent from the meeting. It was Penet and Karnopp’s last meeting before their terms expire.

It was the fifth meeting that Greff and Daniels missed over the last fiscal year. However, the new fiscal year begins July 1, at which time the attendance records reset.

Director Tim Colbeck said once the meeting commenced, the DDA's attorney was able to explain what the board is required to do in the event that a DDA member misses more than three meetings in a fiscal year.

Colbeck, as the executive director, must give board chair Dave Wheeler the names of people who have missed more meetings than are allowed. Wheeler then contacts those members, and they are to provide the board with a written response explaining their situation.

The letter is to be included in the DDA packet, and the board would discuss the issue at their next monthly meeting. The board then votes whether or not to recommend city council remove the member in question.

If they vote to recommend removal, council must also vote. If the DDA board votes against removal, no more action is required.

DDA members previously stated that it was their opinion that Greff and Daniels made up for their absenteeism with other work they do.

“I think we’re exactly where we should be for addressing the issue now and I don’t think moving forward will be a problem,” Colbeck said.