The Worth Township Board of Trustees met last Wednesday evening for their regularly scheduled monthly meeting, with discussion and public comment seeing demands that the treasurer and clerk resign immediately due to financial mismanagement issues identified in a recent audit.
According to the township board, the audit findings revealed “gross negligence” by the township’s clerk, Jennifer Marshall, and the treasurer, Jennifer Woodruff, with the alleged negligence of duties and unauthorized compensation leading to significant financial losses for the township. The crowd gathered at the February 18th meeting were presented with a packet outlining how the township incurred over $90,000 in penalties and interest since March 31, 2015, due to payroll deductions being filed late.
According to the information packet, the IRS is owed $86,154.22 in penalties and interest, while the state of Michigan is owed $6,781.48.
The packet also noted there is no statute of limitations on recovery of public funds if the losses are incurred due to gross negligence or non-feasance, with the board approving a motion for the township attorney to file a claim against the clerk’s bond to recover the losses. Trustee Steve Kovac explained that by filing a claim against the clerk’s bond, not only can the township possibly recuperate the mismanaged funds, but they could essentially force the clerk out of the role, as Michigan law requires a township clerk to be bonded to properly discharge their financial duties.
While some members of the public recommended bringing charges against the clerk and treasurer, Trustee Kovac was more focused on the immediate resignation of the clerk and treasurer.
Though Kovac said that the township would be “better off” if both the clerk and treasurer resigned, the Michigan Townships Association notes that no one can write or issue checks if either a clerk or treasurer resigns. Further, the MTA states that “if a clerk or a treasurer resigns, the deputy’s appointment also ends [and] until a new clerk or treasurer is appointed, no checks, payments or disbursements can be issued. In other words, no checks can be written, and no paychecks or bill payments can be made.”
Should Woodruff and Marshall vacate their positions, the township board would have 45 days from their resignation dates to fill the positions by appointment. It is unclear if the demanded vacancies would affect the township board’s ability to meet in quorum, the minimal number of people needed to officially conduct business.
Though the township board was scheduled to meet again on Wednesday, March 18, a special meeting for Wednesday, February 24, at 10 a.m. was announced Tuesday morning, with the board slated to approve several measures aimed at increasing financial transparency within the township.
