Board weighs who will replace Baroni

Eleven candidates have submitted applications to fill the vacant trustee position left on the White Lake Township Board of Trustees by the appointment of Greg Baroni to the supervisor position.

All applications were due into the Clerk’s Office by noon on Monday, Feb. 14.

Those hoping to join the board as a trustee include Thomas DeSantis, Bruce Johnson, Rik Kowall, John Kulhavi, David Lewsley, Allen Linson, Michael Long, Jack Smith, William Sweeney, Andrea Voorheis, and William Pierson.

Pierson also applied and interviewed for the supervisor position and gained the support of Treasurer Jay Brendel, Trustee Mike Powell, and Trustee Todd Birkle. However, after a deadlocked vote at a Jan. 24 township board meeting, Pierson withdrew his application for the supervisor post, stating he was still interested in any resultant vacant trustee position.

Board members were expected to receive all the applications for the trustee position at their meeting last night, Tuesday, Feb. 15, and then to discuss how they wish to handle selecting a new trustee.

Although not completely sure, Clerk Terry Lilley said he expected the board to employ a process similar to how the board handled candidate interviews for the supervisor position. Each board member would choose their top candidates, who would then be interviewed by the board.

The board has 45 days from when the position became vacant to fill it through an appointment. If the board is unable to or chooses not to make a decision, it then must notify the state of Michigan and hold a special election for voters to decide who the new trustee will be.

There has been a shuffling of seats on the board over the past five months. First, former Treasurer Beverly Spoor resigned in September and was replaced by Brendel. Baroni then filled Brendel’s trustee position.

With the election of former supervisor Mike Kowall to the state Senate in November, another vacancy needed to be filled.

All the board member terms expire on Dec. 31, 2012. Township trustees typically serve four-year terms. They currently earn $8,175 annually.