programmatic agreement

Downtown Mansfield's exclusion from the Programmatic Agreement, as reported in the News Journal yesterday, was an unfortunate development. I supported their involvement, and the mayor's reasons for not including them are troubling. Mark Epstein at OHPO in Columbus signed the agreement without Downtown included in order to expedite the resolution of the issues causing suspension of NSP funds. He did not sign it based on any effort to cut "red tape" and limit the number of groups involved in the process. To characterize public involvement in any government undertaking as an impediment as the mayor did, especially in an area so thoroughly codified in federal law, is, repeat, troubling. Epstein had every right to hold up the agreement and require that Downtown was included, which they had already directed the city to do.
Downtown will be working through our organization and their interests will be served. I have had an excellent working relationship with Downtown Mansfield through the Preservation Commission and Historical Society. Downtown partnered with the Preservation Commission in creation of the Central Park Historic District in 2003.
The meeting being called next Thursday to discuss NSP funding, Programatic Agreement, Preservation, etc. includes some interesting invitees. The "Woodland Group" on the list consists of the vocal opposition group which fought down the Preservation Commission's attempt to create a Woodland Historic District. This will be their opportunity to be supporters of preservation, as they professed to be.
Also interesting was the exclusion of the Historical Society from the list of invitees in the initial round of letters that went out. That has been corrected, and I have received my personal invitation.