Jill Verros, Assistant to the Supervisor for Orion Township, has filed a lawsuit against the township claiming that she is owed benefits dating back some six years.
The township board confirmed that they had been served at Monday night’s meeting.
In addition, Clerk Jill Bastian, Treasurer Alice Young and resident Mary MacMaster, who regularly attends township meetings, said they have been sued individually.
Verros, an appointed employee of the township who doubles as Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk’s deputy, noted on a previous occasion that hers is the only full-time position within the township not to receive a benefit package.
At the advice of her attorneys, Verros chose not to comment on the matter, saying in an earlier interview with The Review that her contract is ‘illegal.?
She is currently on leave from her position to deal with a family matter, but the board did not extend her current contract on Monday night, meaning that it has expired.
‘We’ve been talking about the position for the past six years,? said Township Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk, who has stated before that he believes Verros is entitled to full benefits.
‘Back from 1996 to 2002, there was a full-time position established with benefits,? he said.
Members of the board said they were fed up with the stalling of this matter and wanted to know the position of the Supervisor’s office on the newly drafted contract the Personnel Committee brought to the board two meetings prior.
Dywasuk said the new contract was ‘absolutely rejected? by Verros.
The board put in place Monday as a deadline to come up with a finalized contract. Since no contract was agreed upon and the old contract expired, Verros? position is now in limbo.
In an unrelated matter, Verros has also retained counsel to investigate and file a libel claim, based on a Letter to the Editor by Mary MacMaster published in The Lake Orion Review on May 2.
A May 18 letter from the Murray Law Firm of Mount Clemens to MacMaster asked for a retraction of comments made by MacMaster in her letter within 14 days of receipt.
MacMaster said she is unsure of what comment Verros believes is libelous. A letter from MacMaster can be found in this web edition.