Barry Woodard

Michael Grannis, owner of The Morning Glory Inn, will replace outgoing DDA Chairman Barry Woodard, who resigned effective Jan. 1.
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Those reappointed to DDA are Woodard, Joyce Blackley, Charles Lawrence, Sally Schlindwein, Elton Pittman, Valerie Dupree, McCormac and ex-officio members Mayor Jody McLeod, Planning Director Skip Browder and Town Manager Steve Biggs.

Barry Woodard, a local real estate broker and developer, and president of the Downtown Development Association, said downtown is a focal point in Clayton.

He asked town leaders to take a serious look at what Selma leaders did for their downtown (the establishment of an antiques center).

"I'd like to see more emphasis on downtown by the town," Woodard said.

Matthews was introduced by Barry Woodard, director of the Downtown Development Association.
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It didn't take long for Matthews to realize who Woodard was talking about.
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"Barry first talked about this person from Wayne County, and then he went into my involvement with Clayton Area Ministries and other groups in Clayton.He asked the crowd who he was talking about, and they didn't know.My wife (Dale) keeps a good secret - Barry called her a week before to dig up some information on me."

DDA President Barry Woodard said that the Downtown Development Plan has a section on facades and awnings for property owners to use as a guideline. Read said he would work with the town and property owners to see that rules are met.Members voted to resume the grant program on a first-come, first-served basis and set a limit of up to 25 percent of the total cost, up to $750.Application forms for facade grants are available at the Clayton Area Chamber of Commerce, Town Hall or at Woodard's office in Home Towne Realty, 328 E. Main St.Applications will be considered by a committee consisting of Woodard, members Thad Avent, Phillip Edwards and Charles Lee, Mayor Doug McCormac and town Planning Director Susan Harrison-Brown.
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Woodard said, "I would like to expedite requests for facade grants."He said the committee would meet as soon as applications come in.Read estimated that an average awning here would cost a maximum of $2,000.Larger, fancier ones would be more expensive, of course.In other business, Woodard said the town needs to readdress some issues regarding the town's sign ordinance."There are some issues we see as detrimental to businesses in downtown," he said, citing as an example the use of easels on the sidewalk.While he praised the efforts of the new enforcement officer in the Planning Department in "doing her job," he cited concerns about needing clarifications about just what is in compliance.
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Woodard said that easels and some window signs should be allowed."There should be some way to compromise," he said."We also need to distinguish between banners and flags.There is some confusion there."Mayor McCormac said the Town Council plans to discuss some of those issues at its retreat, to be held sometime in early March.The DDA also briefly discussed a proposed downtown Historic Tax District to raise some funds for downtown improvements.Woodard, whose family owns a number of downtown businesses, said the council has indicated it wants to see some money put into downtown by the property and business owners.He said, "I'm willing to put some back (into downtown).I think most owners will be."Study will be made to determine what kind of revenue could be expected from such a tax district.Funds from the tax would be used to encourage improvements to downtown buildings and other projects.He also wants to set up a promotions committee to promote DDA-sponsored events such as special sidewalk sales and the tree-lighting program. "We'll have the new town square for the tree next year, and we need to plan some other special programs and promote them," he said.
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Woodard said that he likes that idea, with some guidelines.It will be discussed further.