Sumpter Township Board ‘frozen’ in any action on treasurer’s office

The Sumpter Township Board of Trustees, minus Treasurer Peggy Morgan, held a 23-minute emergency meeting on Tuesday to accept the resignation of Deputy Treasurer Vern Morse and to put somebody in charge of the treasurer’s office during the announced three-week absence of Treasurer Morgan.
First, Deputy Treasurer Morse’s resignation was approved. [See copy of letter on Page 5.] Township attorney Rob Young said Treasurer Morgan had sent word through Clerk Esther Hurst that Financial Director Scott Holtz, who had experience helping in her office, could take over as deputy treasurer during the three-week absence she was taking for personal health reasons.
Attorney Young said that would mean Holtz would have to resign from his financial director position, because he couldn’t hold two jobs. When asked if he wanted to resign as financial director, Holtz said, “No,” in a loud voice.
Young said the township board is “frozen.” He said the board doesn’t have a treasurer or deputy treasurer and doesn’t have the legal power to appoint a treasurer or a deputy treasurer. He said Treasurer Morgan would have to be on disability or have resigned for them to act. There is no such thing as “leave” for her office.
“We’re not in a position to take action,” he said, noting he has studied the law at length and received advice from other lawyers and the Michigan Township Association.
Trustee Matt Oddy said Holtz is on vacation next week, anyway.
“This puts us in a bad position, unless she comes back,” Trustee Oddy said.
Young said the report at the last meeting was that everything was fine in the treasurer’s office and then something happened.
Trustee Don LaPorte said the treasurer’s office has to pay employees and vendors and tax bills have to be to the printer to be in mailboxes by Dec. 3.
“We cannot do anything,” Young emphasized. Of the treasurer’s office, he said, “If it’s open, it’s open. If it’s closed, it’s closed.”
“We can’t open it and we can’t close it,” Young said. Treasurer Morgan is in charge and, “We just have to go from here.”
The agenda item to temporarily assign Holtz to discharge the duties of the treasurer’s office due to Treasurer Morgan’s “leave” was withdrawn. Young said he had put that on the agenda when he thought that was possible.
Treasurer Morgan sent word she will return to her job on Nov. 20 and then would find a deputy treasurer.
When asked if the state could help, Young said the Governor could remove her from office, but not in three weeks. “Not worth the effort to try,” he said.