Indecision by city officials is hindering economic development efforts, said outgoing Downtown Milford, Inc. president Mitch Crane during DMI’s annual meeting and board elections held Nov. 6.

Crane said the recent decision by a city council committee to keep the city’s billing staff at the public works facility off of Airport Road rather than moving them back into the newly renovated City Hall is illogical and based on staff wishes, not the needs of the public.

Relocating the billing department to the town’s center would make it more convenient for citizens to conduct business with the city while creating a steady stream of potential customers for surrounding businesses, Crane said.

City Hall renovations cost about $1.75 million, Crane said.

“They wasted all that money if they are not going to make the building work the way the taxpayers want,” Crane said. “We need a downtown that is vibrant and we need vibrant anchors.”

Several incoming DMI officers agreed that elected city officials could do more to attract foot traffic and potential customers to downtown businesses.

“It is important that we have a cooperative effort to make downtown what we want it to be – vibrant and welcoming to everyone,” said Scott Angelucci, who replaced Crane as DMI president.

“Citizens need to pressure the city to make sure its decisions reflect the needs and wants of the citizens rather that the city workers,” said board member Dan Bond.

Following Crane’s comments, the board voted unanimously to install a new slate of officers.

“They are all very strong,” said Milford Mayor Dan Marabello of the new officers.

In addition to Angelucci taking the president’s seat, Nancy Chirdon is vice president, Karen Emory Brittingham is secretary and Jay Walls replaced Chris Oplinger as treasurer.

Walls, a Milford native and two-year DMI member, said he would follow Oplinger’s example of stewardship over the group’s finances. Walls is operations manager for Jor-Lin Tour and Charter.

“I’m just going to try to keep up with her, maintain the status quo and keep things as fiscally responsible as she did,” Walls said.

Five DMI members took seats as Board members at large: Nancy Benson, Bond, Archie Campbell, Crane, who is completing a second two-year team, and Mitch Edmondson.

In other DMI news, Bond reported that in the coming months, the DMI design committee will evaluate the effectiveness of the city’s historic district ordinance by comparing it with similar ordinances within the state and across the country, map all properties affected by the city’s historic district, create a contact list of affected property owners and examine what effect the historic district could have on property values.

The next meeting of DMI’s Board of Directors is scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Milford Public Library.