Munro to submit resignation letter at next meeting

Commerce Township Clerk Dan Munro said he will tender his resignation next week to the township Board of Trustees.

“Plans haven’t changed for me,” Munro said yesterday, Tuesday, Dec. 4. “At next Tuesday’s meeting (Dec. 11), I will submit my letter of resignation.”

Munro, who has stated since July that he plans to leave his position at the township and focus his attention on his work in the private sector, said he wanted to wait until after the township’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget was adopted before his position was discussed.

He said he will end his tenure with the township effective Jan. 1, 2013.

Munro — a Republican and former township trustee who didn’t withdraw his name from the November general election ballot in time — urged voters to elect Janet Bushey to the clerk’s position. She currently serves as the township’s human resources and finance director.

Once Munro makes his resignation official, board members will have 45 days to either appoint someone to the clerk position, or the governor can call for a special election.

“The board hasn’t indicated what their intentions are,” Munro said. “I can’t participate in the process, but I would anticipate a motion to possibly appoint a new clerk at that (Dec. 11) meeting.”

Trustee David Law said anticipates the issue will be discussed at the board’s next meeting.

“It’s unfortunate the township is in this position,” Law said. “I think the board needs to decide whether we want to hire someone from the inside or have interviews. I can see advantages both ways. Obviously, if interviews were held, people that currently work for the township would be able to interview, as well.”

Munro said previously that appointing Bushey could save the township money because she could fill the clerk’s position while continuing to perform her current duties with the township.

“She has expressed interest and I assume she would be looked at very strongly, whether she was appointed or it was an interview process,” Law said.