Trustee Peggy Morgan criticizes actions of Clerk Clarence Hoffman

During the Oct. 27 meeting of the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees meeting, Trustee Peggy Morgan read a statement she wrote complaining about Clerk Clarence Hoffman.
She said Clerk Hoffman kept the township hall open during Bill Hamm’s funeral on Oct. 19. Supervisor Morgan had ordered the hall closed so all the employees could attend the funeral.
She also complained about Clerk Hoffman putting the American flag at full staff the day after the funeral although she said it should have been at half-staff for Fire Fighter Hamm for 30 days.
Trustee Morgan said last summer the flag was at half staff for a fire fighter for 30 days without a problem.
She said Johnny Vawters resigned as supervisor in 2014 and Hoffman felt he should have been supervisor and has been disrespectful of Supervisor Morgan.
“He disappointed he’s not supervisor,” Trustee Morgan said.
She said Hoffman should “start following orders given by the supervisor.” She said this makes the township look unorganized.
Trustee Morgan asked attorney Rob Young if there was any liability to be open after being ordered closed?
Young said township hours are set by the township board and can be changed by the supervisor for situations like this.
“If the township offices are closed then the township offices are closed,” Young said, adding Hoffman didn’t have to go to the funeral and could be in his office.
“As far as official business is concerned it is closed to the public,” Young said.
In terms of safety, Young said the funeral was well-attended by officials, employees, fire department and police department.
“The focus was on the funeral and wasn’t on security,” Young said, adding other communities cover police and fire at times like this.
He said it’s the supervisor’s decision when the township is open for business, when it is open to the public. He said there is concern for unsecured locations, particularly the treasurer’s office.
Supervisor John Morgan said this was an isolated incident and “for the most part we work out our differences. I don’t think we should let this divide us … We should work together like we have been working together.”
Hoffman said one of the departments said it had appointments that day and couldn’t call them to tell them that the hall was closed.
“I said I would stay there,” Hoffman said. “For some reason we want to be slapped in the face. I didn’t know if they were going to shut it down completely, or not.” He said he thought the flag should be raised the next day and now he hears it’s supposed to be down for 30 days.
Hoffman said Trustee Peggy Morgan should have come to his office to discuss it if she had a problem with him instead of writing a letter and “grandstanding at a board meeting.”
He said there is always nit-picking and if she had a problem she should have come to him.
“I don’t think this is lady-like,” Hoffman said to Trustee Morgan.