Comments on: Expanded LDFA Board Reflects on Purpose

By: Dusty Lake

Dusty Lake — Sun, 10 May 2009 14:33:33 +0000

Thanks Steve. I guess sometimes a board would know if people tell you they applied.) I checked on the LDFA with my council member, (at Kroger) and like the Environmental Commission where you serve (Thank you!)the LDFA is appointed by council instead of the Mayor. The Greenbelt is that way too. I didn’t ask if there were more but I don’t think there are.

By: Steve Bean

Steve Bean — Sun, 10 May 2009 04:34:29 +0000

“A board would never know you applied.”

Actually, for informational purposes (as opposed to proving Dusty wrong), we sometimes do know who applies. People tell us that they’ve done so or they contact us directly to inquire about it. We don’t have any say in the selection, however.

By: Matt Hampel

Matt Hampel — Sat, 09 May 2009 22:54:31 +0000

That's interesting -- the Legistar page for the LDFA does not list who Beedon was appointed by, but everyone else except Rapundalo was appointed by Hieftje. I wonder if that information is accurate. Legistar link

By: Dave Askins

Dave Askins — Sat, 09 May 2009 22:09:09 +0000

“I think the LDFA is like the environmental commission, the council makes the appointments instead of the mayor.”

It took longer than I’d like to track it down, but at the November 17, 2008 meeting, the appointment of Beedon to the LDFA to replace Reid, who resigned, was achieved by a resolution submitted by councilmember Rapundalo. [Confirming that Lake's thought is correct.]

By: Dusty Lake

Dusty Lake — Sat, 09 May 2009 21:31:56 +0000

Stu, A board would never know you applied. You should call your council member. I think the LDFA is like the environmental commission, the council makes the appointments instead of the mayor.

By: Stewart Nelson

Stewart Nelson — Sat, 09 May 2009 19:35:03 +0000

I volunteered to serve on the Board but my application was never even acknowledged by the City or the Board. Thanks for great reporting.

Stew

By: Kurt Riegger

Kurt Riegger — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:23:07 +0000

I appreciate your coverage of the LDFA board meeting and capturing the level of detail.

Two quick points, Richard King recognized me to speak by say ‘Why don’t you tell us more- nodding to me?’ and responded to Mr Rapandalo’s request with ‘Yes, that is what I meant’.

Second, to clarify the affiliations, I am an active mentor with Great Lakes Entrepreneurs Quest, I am not on the board. I am an advisor to Ann Arbor Angels and on the board of Great Lakes Angels.

Thanks again for bringing more visibility to the supporting resources for building the next generation of companies in the community: the LDFA and SPARK.

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:41:07 +0000

Thanks again for really sterling coverage of an under-reported board. It is reassuring to read that Mark Maynard is a member.