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Embattled Nielsen quits city panel JESSICA SMITH Dennis Nielsen, a former Medford planning commissioner accused of fraud, has quit his service to the city. Nielsen, 51, resigned from the Site Plan and Architectural Commission in an April 6 letter addressed to Planning Director Rob Scott. Nielsen was a member of the planning commission until February, when the Medford City Council chose not to reappoint him. "I just don't have the heart to volunteer my services to the city of Medford any longer," Nielsen wrote in his resignation from the site plan commission. Nielsen, who ran unsuccessfully twice for the council, was unavailable Monday for further comment. The resignation follows a turbulent winter for Nielsen, who, along with his business partner, was charged in late December with felony fraud and theft. Nielsen and Lee Mitchell Greenstone, 50, of Shady Cove, are accused of cheating a client by charging more for services than was agreed to. The client, McDonald Candy Co., seeks $50,000 in damages in a civil suit against the men. McDonald, which does business in Medford as Western Beverage Co., alleges that Nielsen and Greenstone faked or altered invoices to increase the amount billed for work at an office on Mason Way. Nielsen and Greenstone jointly ran First Choice Construction. Following arrests on Dec. 29, a Jackson County grand jury indicted both men on five counts of aggravated theft and four counts of first-degree forgery. The pair, arraigned on the charges Feb. 7, pleaded not guilty. County court records show that a criminal trial has been set for October. Nielsen leaves the Site Plan and Architectural Commission with nine months to go on his four-year term; the city seeks candidates to fill the vacancy. Licensed builders who live in Medford are encouraged to apply. Forms are available in the city manager's office, Room 312, City Hall, 411 W. Eighth St. Applications are due by 5 p.m. May 11. The appointment will begin immediately after interviews are completed and a candidate is selected. For more information, call 774-2000. Reach reporter Jessica Smith at 776-4481, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.