Sili takes Council seat
By C. Ruth Ebrahim, Staff Writer

Before the end of the year, Bowling Green Town Council knew they had a united face, with which to take on the New Year.

A month after the untimely resignation of member Patrick DeCrane, Council unanimously voted in their newest memberSusan Sili.

The new Town Council member follows on the heels of the towns other recent acquisition, permanent Town Manager Glen Wood.

Sili, 47, stepped right into DeCranes shoesfilling the positions of Economic Development Committee Chair and Personnel Committee member.

Shes confident that a combination of her volunteer spirit, family history of serving the town of Bowling Green and knowledge of marketing and public relations will lead to success.

Only one other applicant was interviewed on Dec. 22. A third was not able to make the set interview date.

Sili came prepared, with a list of her past involvements with Bowling Green and an idea for what shed like to see in the future.

To be on Town Council, I think you need a vision for the town, Sili says. I want Bowling Green to retain its character.

Im going to keep the lines of communication open with the business owners, whether they like it or not, theyre going to see me a lot, she says.

As of her first Economic Development Committee meeting on Tuesday Jan. 18, Sili already had a six-page outline of goals and objectives for the committee.

However, she also said she hopes to generate feedback from the merchants on what they want from the town over the next year.

She knows many of them have heard the same plans before regarding economic development in Bowling Green. But, she says, if you dont do something, then you dont do anything. So, she plans to keep trying.

Instead of calling meetings, Im going to keep going to them, she emphasizes.

Mayor Benser already knows that Sili has plans for how to encourage business in town.

She stood out not only because of her prior service to the town, but also because Council liked that she can come up with new and creative ideas, he explains.

He supports Councils decision also, and anticipates more funds in the next fiscal year budget to go toward Economic Development.

As for the Personnel Committee, Sili knows she has farther to stride, because she does not have the level of experience that she does with economic development.

Though she hasnt yet met with Personnel Committee Chair Bobby Ketterman, she has some ideas of her own for how to work with town employees.

Im really big on pats on the back, she begins. I want to see the employees get raises. I think I can do some good on that Committee as well.

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