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CLOUDY Temp: 40 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Saturday, December 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend November 19, 2002 MURA head resigns, then agrees to talk The Medford Urban Renewal board wants Don Burt to reconsider By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune A stunned Medford Urban Renewal Agency board rejected a letter of resignation from Director Don Burt during an emergency meeting Monday, saying it wanted more explanation. Burt turned in what he called a letter of retirement to Chairman Bill Dames on Friday, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. His retirement was to go into effect June 30. Board members unanimously rejected Burt’s letter because they want more information, Dames said. "We don’t feel the letter necessarily expresses his (Burt’s) true feelings, and we want to sit down and talk with him about his goals and our goals, especially as far as his employment," Dames said. Burt, who withdrew his letter, said he was not expecting the board’s move. "I think it was a nice surprise," he said. Following the meeting, Dames said he had known from previous conversations with Burt that the job was taking its toll on him. "I think just the stress of the job and general burnout is something that he’s dealing with," Dames said. "No one has served as an urban renewal agency director in Oregon longer than he has, ever. "Hopefully, we’ll be able to come to a meeting of the minds," he added. "I would hate to see him go." Burt, 55, was hired as MURA director after the board was appointed in 1988 to oversee the rehabilitation of downtown. Projects have totaled $25 million to date. He was a Medford planner from 1978 to 1988. He and his wife, Penny, have two children, Matthew, 19, and Ryan, 17. Burt said that after his older son went away to college, he realized that he wasn’t spending as much time with his family as he wanted. But Dames believes there’s more to Burt’s resignation. He said some city staff, council members and others are being critical of the urban renewal agency because they don’t understand how it works. He said he partly blames himself for the lack of awareness and wants to make changes. "I think it’s pretty evident that the way the board functions will change in the sense that the board is going to take greater efforts to bring people up to speed as far as what we’re doing," said Dames. "It’s inexcusable for us not to communicate." Mayor Lindsay Berryman, upon learning Monday that Burt had turned in his resignation, said she didn’t know he was considering retirement. "I’m floored," she said. "Of all the city staff, Don is one of the very few men who really cares about downtown Medford," said Berryman, who served on MURA’s board for 10 years. "He stepped through the process of putting the urban renewal program together in a way that’s financially strong," she said. "I hope he reconsiders. "I think he’s had to withstand the forces that are against change and it’s difficult to hold." City Councilman Jim Key has been a vocal critic of some of the agency’s decisions. He said that ideally, he’d like MURA to stick with its original 19 projects because they were developed after much public input. Key said he was surprised to hear that Burt wants to leave. "I really don’t have any bad thoughts about him," he said. As with any agency director, "They do what they think is right, and if you don’t agree with it, that’s just a difference of opinion," Key added. MURA board member Sue Densmore said Burt has done an outstanding job. "We couldn’t hope for a better director for the job that we have to do," Densmore said. "I think that there is unfair pressure on him by city staff and also by private developers." Burt agreed to write a more detailed letter to the board. "He’s going to try to clarify what it is he would like to do at this time," said Dames. Discussion of Burt’s employment is scheduled for the Dec. 11 board meeting. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S