Former DDA Board Member Confronts New Baltimore Officials at Council Meeting

A former New Baltimore Downtown Development Authority board member criticized community officials Monday night during a city council meeting, saying her eight-month stint on the authority board left her emotionally shaken.

owner Liz Aprea, who stepped down from the DDA board in recent months, said her suggestions to improve the historic downtown, such as the creation of a downtown website, were harshly rebuffed or completely ignored.

"This type of bullying was never allowed in high school and should not be allowed now," Aprea told the council.

She called for better communication between the DDA board and council while also making specific criticisms against councilmembers and Susan Burkhardt and Planning and Economic Development Director Judy Sproat.

Hayman, Burkhardt and Sproat countered that Aprea's statements were misleading or downright untrue.

One contentious point Aprea made during her public comments was that Burkhardt, DDA liaison to city council, never attended DDA meetings during that time because she was working on her master's degree. Burkhardt said she'd have to pull attendance records but she is not required to be at all the meetings.

"I personally find that a slanderous attack and I will be filing paperwork with the city attorney," Burkhardt fired back.

After a brief exchange between Aprea and Burkhardt, Mayor Larry Smith struck his gavel, telling the councilwoman not to engage in an argument during public comment. 

Attorney Jack Dolan listened to an emotional Burkhardt after the meeting, but said he would need more information before determining whether a lawsuit would be suitable for this incident.

Aprea, who said she lost business from Washington Street closing 17 days in 2011 for events, also directed frustration at Hayman who serves as chairwoman for Make a Difference Day. This year, a petting farm was placed in front of Moon River Soap Co. during the community health fair.

"She has no respect for my business and she seems to think she owns the street," Aprea said.

Hayman said after the meeting only council can make the decision to close the street and that other business owners in the downtown benefited from the increased foot traffic from and other local events.

"She can become involved and help market with us," she said.

During one particular DDA meeting, Aprea said fellow board members personally attacked her; she said she learned the audio recorder somehow failed to work during that meeting.

Sproat said of the statements, "We're being misrepresented and we don't know why."

Aprea says she champions New Baltimore in full-page newspaper ads for her business and that she would like to see flower pots in the downtown as well as better marketing.

"I am waiting for New Baltimore to work with the DDA board," she said.