Jan. 17 deadline to submit application to replace Munro

Commerce Township is accepting applications for residents looking to become the next township clerk following the pending resignation of Dan Munro, who, as expected, tendered his letter of resignation earlier this month.

Munro’s resignation becomes official on Tuesday, Jan. 1.

Township Supervisor Tom Zoner said the township will be advertising the open position as the township’s chief elections official and record-keeper, and that the township Board of Trustees will be interviewing candidates next month.

There are two sessions for interviews: Jan. 29 and Jan. 30, although whether both of those dates will be needed is contingent upon how many candidates apply, Zoner said.

“If we have 20, there’s no way we can interview we can interview 20 people in one evening,” Zoner said.

The deadline to apply is Jan. 17.

A Republican who was previously a township trustee before being appointed to head the township Clerk’s Office, Munro has stated that he planned to step down from the clerk’s post if reelected to focus on his private sector job at an area credit union.

He held true to that promise at the Tuesday, Dec. 11 township board meeting when he tendered his resignation.

During the general election campaign, after easily securing a victory in the August Republican primary election, Munro urged township voters to cast their ballots for Janet Bushey, the township’s human resources and finance director who ran as an independent candidate, instead.

Zoner is among those who wants to avoid a special election to fill the vacancy left by Munro’s resignation since such an election would cost the township between $20,000 and $30,000, Zoner estimated.

Such a special election would be mandated if the board can’t fill the vacancy by the middle of February, which is the end of the 45-day window set forth in state law to appoint a replacement, Zoner said.

To submit an application, mail your resume and a letter of interest to the following address:

Supervisor’s Office
Charter Township of Commerce
2009 Township Drive
Commerce Twp., MI 48390

The township clerk typically serves four-year terms and is currently paid $74,855.