City of Oxford Leaders Disband Historic Properties Commission Leaving Members in the Dark

by Drew Stevens

‘Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright”

On the afternoon of Tuesday, September 9, 2025, Associate Professor of Classics Jackie DiBiasie-Sammons was grading papers in her office across from The Circle on Campus. DiBiasie-Sammons, an internationally celebrated scholar with a professional background in history and museums, has also spent the past six years voluntarily serving on the City’s Historic Properties Commission. Not to be confused with the Historic Preservation Commission, the HPC is an advisory board of skilled professionals, volunteering their expertise in support of the long-range preservation of Oxford’s Historic Properties, including the LQC Lamar House, Burns Belfry, Cedar Oaks, and Skipwith Cottage.

That was until DiBiasie-Sammons opened an email that afternoon from Hollis Green, the City of Oxford’s Chief Operating Officer, notifying her that the entire Commission had been unceremoniously dismissed.

September 9, 2025 email from Hollis Green, the City of Oxford’s Chief Operating Officer to Jackie DiBiasie-Sammons, of the City of Oxford’s Historic Properties Commission.

As news of the decision spread throughout the community the prevailing sense was one of simple disbelief.

“Stunned. I was stunned,” DiBiasie-Sammons described. “I thought of each of our commissioners…how deeply they cared for these properties over so many years…and how much they achieved on behalf of the Oxford community.”

Lacking a formal explanation, concerns over the long-term care of the properties, and questions surrounding the decision process and lack of consultation with the long-serving Commissioners soon followed.

In fact, Mayor Robyn Tannehill had presided over the Board of Alderman’s unanimous vote to officially disband the Commission a full 35 days before Green’s email to Commissioner Sammons.

“Thought and Discussions”

The substance and timeline surrounding City Staff and Leadership’s internal deliberations to disband the Historic Properties Commission is unclear. On June 1, 2025, DiBiasie-Sammons emailed City Planner, Preservationist, and HPC Chair/Liaison, Kate Kenwright, to clarify the Board’s monthly meeting schedule. Kenwright replied the following morning, first apologizing for organizational confusion, then informing DiBiasie-Sammons “we decided to go to an ‘as needed’ basis for Commission meetings,” citing membership and that “there haven’t been any significant issues/changes related to the buildings…”

DiBiasie-Sammons response was characteristically matter-of-fact, acknowledging “that makes sense,” while expressing concern that the lack of meetings could be an “indication of a lack of investment by the community in these buildings.”

She requested if the Commission could “meet at least quarterly?” And followed up on the status of the historic properties map (that DiBiasie-Sammons and the HPC had professionally produced) making its way to the Visit Oxford website; adding “happy to help facilitate in any way I can.”

DiBiasie-Sammons never received a reply.

When news of the City’s upcoming vote to open bids for the private sale of Cedar Oaks was made public this past Labor Day weekend, she again emailed Kenwright on Sunday, August 31st, asking, “would now rise to the occasion of an ‘as needed’ meeting?” DiBiasie-Sammons never received a reply.

What DiBiasie-Sammons and the other members did not know on August 31st, was by that point, the Historic Properties Commission had been officially disbanded for 26 days.

Burns Methodist Episcopal Church was organized by freed African Americans who settled in the are known as “Freedman Town” after the Civil War. The current church building was erected in 1910 and played a major role in the lives of many African Americans until 1974, when the Burns congregation moved to it’s new location. The Burns Belfry is owned by the City of Oxford, Mississippi, and held in public trust. Photograph by Newt Rayburn.

“Last Call”

The official process of disbanding the Commission transpired over two public meetings this summer: A Recess Meeting of the Mayor and BOA on Friday, July 18, 2025 and the following Regular Meeting of the Mayor and BOA on Tuesday, August 5th.

Included on the agenda for both meetings was the following item: A first, then a second “reading of a proposed ordinance to amend Chapter 2, Administration of the code of ordinances of the City of Oxford, Mississippi. (Ben Requet).” Ben Requet is the current City Planning Director. Neither of the agenda item headings at both meetings cited the specific Article of Chapter 2 affected by the proposed change, nor included the words ‘Historic’ or ‘Properties’ or ‘Commission.’

Folks, stick with me here as we venture through some technical procedures—my best efforts to keep out of the weeds.

The general process for amending an existing City Ordinance follows these requirements:

At least two readings at Public Meetings stating the specific changes proposed.
An opportunity for public comment at the 2nd reading; and the possibility for an immediate vote after the 2nd reading; or the opportunity for a future third reading, public comment, and vote.
Additionally, the specific proposed changes are typically accompanied by a department memo, (updated for each meeting,) further stating the specific proposed changes along with supplying relevant background information and a formal statement explaining the need for change. In the past, the changes have been highlighted in yellow and/or specified in red font or strike-through.

What is Chapter 2?

Chapter 2, Administration of the City’s Ordinances is very broad—spanning 54 pages outlining eight separate Articles of City Government: from the Mayor and BOA, to the School Board, the Downtown Parking Advisory Commission, to the final article detailing the 2013 formation of the Historic Properties Commission, (Article VIII).

Neither of the agenda item headings at both meetings included “Article VIII.”

First Reading—July 18, 2025, 8 am, Mayor and BOA Recess Meeting, City Hall

As with many of the City’s Recess Meetings, video content was not live-streamed or preserved on the City of Oxford’s Youtube Account Page.

The agenda for the meeting was emailed to the the City’s subscriber list the previous evening at 5:39 pm. The agenda was not listed on the City’s website. The bulk of the Meeting agenda focussed on budget presentations by 23 separate City Departments; as well as advertising bids for an upcoming PickleBall Project; grant applications; and appointments on two City Boards.

The body of the Memo from Requet to the Mayor and Board introducing the proposed changes consisted of 20 words: “This is a first reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 2 Administration to change Article VIII Historic Properties to be Reserved.”

This memo is not included in the official minutes of this meeting; and the link to the meeting’s agenda attachments redirects to the monthly BOA meeting agenda calendar.

*Note: Requet did supply a copy of this memo upon my request—emailing to me on 9/15/25.

**Update: the agenda for the July 18th Recess meeting was uploaded to the City’s website on 9/15/25 and the memo is now included in the agenda packet attachment & minutes

Second Reading—August 5, 2025, 5 pm, Mayor & BOA Regular Meeting, City Hall

Item 6.a on this meeting’s agenda did include an attachment to Requet’s memo with the same wording as the first, except noting the second reading.

As the meeting progressed to item 6.a, Mayor Tannehill read the agenda item aloud without referencing Article VIII or the “Historic Properties Commission.“ Director Requet came before the Board podium and stated, “Yes Ma’am. It’s just that. We haven’t made any new changes since we previously discussed it. We have not received any comment on the changes.”

He did not speak any further on this item, nor read from the memo either. The statement lasted 7 seconds.

After noting her office had not received any public feedback; then calling for public comment from the audience and receiving none, the Mayor put the question before the Board. Alderman Jason Bailey made a motion to approve the Ordinance change, Alderman Erin Smith seconded, and the Board of Alderman unanimously approved the change. Without any mention of the words ‘Historic’ or ‘Properties’ or ‘Commission,’ during the discussion and vote on the agenda item, which lasted, in total,1 minute and 5 seconds.

And that was just that. The Historic Properties Commission was officially History on August 5, 2025—the members notified on September 9th, via email—53 days from the First Reading’s Recess meeting.

Cedar Oaks was built ca. 1857 by architect and builder William Turner. After surviving the Union occupation and burning of Oxford, Mississippi during the Civil War, the house was moved to this site in 1963 by local clubwomen after the house was threatened by development. Cedar Oaks is known locally as “the house that would not die.” The City of Oxford owns Cedar Oaks and it is held in public trust. However, the Oxford Board of Aldermen voted to sell the house and property on September 2, 2025, twenty-eight days after mysteriously disbanding the Historic Properties Commission. Photograph by Newt Rayburn.

Slip Slidin’ Away

After reading the September 9th email, former Commissioner Jackie Dibiasie-Sammons immediately called City COO Hollis Green, describing the phone call as “productive.” DiBiasie-Sammons then composed a three page email to the Mayor and Board outlining her significant concerns and specific questions. She sent the email at 6pm on September 9th and has yet to receive a single reply.

Included in key concerns, she fears that, following the City’s decision to open Cedar Oaks to bids by private individuals, that “the city risks losing irreplaceable pieces of its public heritage without plans to preserve or activate remaining properties.” And proceeds to ask “Why was this one (Commission) dissolved without consultation? What are the long-term plans for the Burns Belfry and the Lamar House? Will the City establish another citizen body to advise on these buildings?”

DiBiasie-Sammons goes on to lament “There are very few amenities for children in Oxford…Cedar Oaks could have been reimagined as a museum of Oxford and Lafayette County history, a cultural venue, or a community gathering space…it will almost certainly not return to public use.”

DiBiasie-Sammons acknowledges any perceived shortcomings of the Guild and the former Commission, noting “expanding membership (of the latter) could have reinvigorated it.” When asked why the Commission was disbanded, DiBiasie-Sammons recalls Mr. Green stating that the Commission was seen as an advisory body. In her view, its advisory nature was its strength ” While also criticizing the City’s lack of support and leadership. “I agree that Cedar Oaks should serve the public benefit, I therefore ask: why has the city not promoted Cedar Oaks for tourism or rental in the past years (of my tenure)? A search of “Cedar Oaks” on Visit Oxford and OxfordMS.net (or Lamar house and Burns Belfry, for that matter) yields zero results. To my knowledge, Cedar Oaks has never appeared on any city social media…How can the public be expected to rent or visit…when that information never appears?”

Robert Saarnio, former University Museum Director and former Historic Properties Commissioner, is grateful to have had the opportunity to serve. With 35 years experience in historic preservation across 5 cities, Saarnio leaves the HPC “deeply honored for the privilege to serve.” Adding he believes historic properties require “specialized, skilled attention.” Any disappointment stems from “no longer having the ability to serve…the guidance I tried to provide.”

DiBiasie-Sammons sums up the importance of the work—confidently sharing “as someone who has dedicated my life to studying the past, I believe we as a society must treasure our monuments and use them to tell stories about who has come before us, who we are today, and who we aspire to be. I believe deeply in the transformative power of museums and historic sites to shape worldviews and spark new understanding…the properties held by the City of Oxford are the last public, city-owned monuments we have. They carry enormous potential, far greater than their current use, to serve as spaces of memory, education, and community.”

A tiny gablefront wooden building, this outbuilding belonged to the 1876 Skipwith House, which stood on the current site of the University Museum on University Avenue. When the University acquired the Skipwith Estate in 1974, the cottage was moved to The Square for use as a tourist information center. On November 14, 2015, Skipwith Cottage was moved again to the Oxford Skate Park at the corner of Jackson Avenue and Bramlett Boulevard. Photograph by Newt Rayburn.

From my perspective there are some key considerations as residents we must address going forward:

First and foremost, a heartfelt thank you to all the members of the Historic Properties Commission. It’s rare to see such concentrated talent come together and offer one concentrated voice of guidance to our City Leaders. It’s even more rare to find such long-serving volunteers as these who have all given at least 6 years (and more) for our benefit. Hats off.

To Jackie DiBiasie-Sammons, who in addition to instructing, also holds a PhD in Classics, is the current Senior Faculty Fellow of the Luckyday Residential College, and the 2024-25 recipient of the Humanities Teacher of the Year Award given by the University of Mississippi School of Liberal Arts and the Mississippi Humanities Council.

Thank you to Robert Saarnio, who is not only an ace in his field—he is a diplomat—improving Oxford’s character as well over the past 13 years.

Barbara Purdon, the HPC’s Cedar Oaks representative for so many years, thank you and good luck in your continued efforts.

Cynthia Parham, who I’ve known since my old Gin days and plate lunches. Her passion and skill are admirable and I’m just very fond of her too. Thank you for all you do and for representing the Burns Belfry so faithfully.

And to Jim Pryor, the “Grandfather of the HPC.” Pryor was the first Commission Chair and his prints remain all over our town. Thank you sir. Your work will live on regardless of any temporary setback.

In the spirit of acknowledging past resident-servants of our community, we cannot forget all those who came before us; giving their time, talents, and energy to ensure Oxford’s history is preserved in these buildings. We must not dishonor their memory and the hard work that got us to the town and landscape we all share today.

And we must not be short-sighted today by viewing these properties through one major lens in a snapshot in time. What we do with these properties in our time will be our legacy. Did we respect what’s been cared for and handed down for us to shepherd and pass along to the next generation? Or will we be known for orchestrating their public closing?

Finally, the process in which we make these decisions must be improved. If failing to inform the commission before, during, and (waiting until one month) after the process is the result of error or omission, then we must evaluate what needs to change and do better. Our local volunteers deserved better treatment and our residents do as well. We do not want our best to see this and decline serving in the future.

If there was any intentional motive behind the scenes by our Public Officials or City Staff to obscure actions, then we must confront that. And that must change—that pendulum must swing back.

The Historic Properties Commission may not be the most important to one of us, but tomorrow it could be. And it’s fundamental to know we exist in a culture of mutual trust and transparency. With intention.

If you wish to support the Cedar Oaks Guild as they navigate the future, checks may be mailed to P.O. Box 351, Oxford, MS 38655; or you may donate online here: https://givebutter.com/supportcedaroaks