Brandon Twp.-The township board is seeking to appoint a new trustee after Ron Lapp resigned.
The board unanimously accepted a letter of resignation from Lapp during their Oct. 5 meeting. Lapp was absent.
The letter, sent in an e-mail to all board members and Stuart Cooney, township attorney, stated, ‘Please accept this email as my official resignation notification to the Brandon Charter Township Board. I want to thank Candee, Terri, Jayson, Dana and Bill for your hard work and professional approach to serving our community. I wish you the best in your future endeavors.?
Conspicuously absent from mention was Sup-pervisor Kathy Thurman, whom Lapp has frequently clashed with, most recently over Thurman’s posting in a legal notice millage rates not yet approved by the board. The 2015 millage rates were approved a few weeks later, with a police millage a quarter mill higher than what Thurman had posted in the legal notice.
Lapp, who was elected as a trustee in the November 2012 election, four years after he lost reelection to a third term as township supervisor to Thurman, did not return a call for comment on his resignation.
On Wednesday, Thurman praised Lapp’s work on behalf of residents during Enbridge Energy’s replacement of the Line 6B petroleum pipeline in the township.
‘Ron was insistent in getting a liaison paid for by Enbridge to help the residents with contract issues, which proved to be very beneficial for the residents,? she said. ‘I appreciated his efforts.?
During the Oct. 5 board meeting, Clerk Candee Allen expressed her gratitude to Lapp.
‘I’d like to thank Ron for his years of service as trustee and his experience as former supervisor added to our board,? she said. ‘I wish him luck.?
The township board is now accepting applications from township residents over the age of 18 who are interested in being appointed to fill the vacant trustee seat. The term, like all current seats on the board, ends Nov. 20, 2016.
The board must appoint a new trustee in 45 days. Applications, which include a questionnaire, will be available at the clerk’s office, 395 Mill St., as well as at the township website, www.brandontownship.us, beginning Oct. 12. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m., Oct. 22. Thurman said the board hopes to interview candidates Oct. 29 and appoint a new trustee during the next regular board meeting, Nov. 2.