Letter to the editor
Management board chairman responds
to council's remarks
To the Editor:
I feel compelled to respond to the issue that Hillsboro City Council members expressed in last week's council meeting regarding the opinion that the Hillsboro Management Board needed to be restructured and that HMB was operating in violation of city ordinance.
The HMB board is made up of five entities: Hillsboro Development Corp., Marion County Fair Association, Chamber of Commerce, Arts & Crafts Association, and Convention & Visitors' Bureau. Three of the five entities are not supported by city tax dollars. HDC and CVB are the only two entities supported with city funds.
As to HMB operating in violation of city ordinance, possibly that is one's interpretation of the ordinance. HDC operates no different today than when it came under the umbrella of HMB in 1991. I am concerned that these comments were made in an open public council meeting without representation from HMB being able to respond.
I have served on the executive board of HMB for six years; I strongly support the makeup of this board. This coordinated effort of brining the five entities under one administrative structure is very cost efficient. It allows for sharing of space and personnel.
The other strong asset that we have is our staff. Our office is staffed with one full-time and two part-time employees. These three ladies are very energetic and given their responsibility levels, do an exemplary job.
The article had indicated that three council members had received complaints. Is it possible that the same person or group of people is complaining to all three council members? Our committee would welcome dialogue as to who is complaining, and we will work at resolving those complaints.
I don't have the answers as to what might need changed in the structure, but I do know that we cannot continue to fight this budget battle each and every year. Our HMB budget is dependent on all five entities contributing. If even one entity falls short, we will be forced to make drastic changes.
Darrell Driggers
HMB chairman
