Two Highland residents are taking new seats as chair and vice-chair of the township's Downtown Development Authority.

The DDA board appointed Susan Bennett as chair and Roscoe Smith as vice-chair last week. "I think exciting things are happening in Highland, and I'm excited to be a part of it," said Smith, who serves on the township planning board.

Bennett is replacing Keith Rhodes, who retired from the board Jan. 1 after five years as DDA chair. She began serving on the DDA board in January 2006.

"I think Susan is going to bring a whole fresh perspective into the leadership of the DDA," said DDA director Jill Bahm. "She has definitely got a passion for what we're doing here. ... She is very professional, and I think she'll relate well to everyone that she comes in contact with."

Bahm said she believes Bennett and Smith will be "a really good team."

"Ross (Smith) just has a wealth of experience and history with township, but he also really, really cares about what we're doing here and he's very dedicated," Bahm said. "I think he'll do a great job."

The new appointments come at a busy time for the DDA, which is still working with Main Street Oakland County to create a long-term downtown development plan. The authority is also organizing several community events this summer and fall, including a six-concert series in Veterans Park.

The DDA's focus remains on creating a downtown Highland, Bennett said.

"Our vision for the future is to maintain a hamlet, a gathering place," she said.

She encourages residents to volunteer and learn more about the DDA and its vision for the township.

"It's all about community and giving back, and it's an opportunity not only for me to do that and for Ross to do that ... but it's a chance for everybody to get involved," she said. "It's fun to look back and see the results."

Volunteers can help out in many ways, Bennett said, from putting in an hour's work at a community event to going all-out and serving on a committee. No experience is necessary to volunteer, she said, and past members and volunteers are welcome to return.

Bennett and Smith can each be reappointed to additional one-year terms after their current terms end Dec. 31.

To learn more about the DDA, visit its web site at http://www.highlanddda.com/ or e-mail mail@highlanddda.com.

Alyson Iott is a reporter for the Milford Times. She can be reached at (248) 685-1507, ext. 21, or by e-mail at aiott@gannett.com.