Leesburg Town Clerk Quits; Caucus Set For May 6
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jen [email protected]
The Leesburg Town Council held its first meeting with new board members Tom Moore and Doug Jones, and the first item of business was to elect a new president. Rick Stookey was nominated and approved as the council's highest officer.[[In-content Ad]]The second item of business was a letter from Clerk-Treasurer Melissa Robinson announcing her resignation, effective immediately. Robinson also served as wastewater clerk and resigned from that position as well.
Robinson was not present at the meeting, and none of the financial reports and the claim docket were available.
The board paused the meeting as Stookey and Jones went to Robinson's former office to look for the information.
After several minutes, the men returned with a pile of unopened bills and said they did not have the password for the computer so financial information was not available.
Town attorney Vern Landis told the board that they could schedule a meeting at a later date to pay the bills and look at the finances. Landis also said that there would have to be another caucus to name Robinson's replacement.
The caucus to fill the clerk-treasurer slot will be May 6 at 7 p.m. at the Leesburg Town Hall.
Candidates interested in the position must file a declaration of candidacy with Kosciusko County Republican Chairman Randall Girod at least 72 hours before the caucus begins.
Declaration of candidacy forms will be available from the Kosciusko County Clerk's office beginning today.
Robinson also is believed to be the only person on the town's signature card at Farmer's State Bank, making her the only person allowed to sign town checks.
Moore asked Landis if someone could be appointed to sign the town's checks, and Landis said he had to research that. Since the town clerk is an elected position, Landis was not sure if anyone but the clerk-treasurer could sign checks.
The council decided to meet Monday at 6:30 p.m. to pay the town's bills, and continued the regular meeting.
In other business, the council:
n Heard a report on the storm sewer project from Jessica Hartman, GRW Engineering. Plans have been sent out to contractors, who are working on bids for the project. Sealed bids will be opened April 23 at the Leesburg Town Hall, and the contract will be awarded at that time.
The town asked for the base bid of the project and bids for several alternates from the contractors.
The storm sewer project will improve the system that is already in the town, and portions of the existing storm sewer will be used where possible.
n Gave permission to Sue Charlton to plan a Memorial Day Parade and service in the town May 31. The parade begins at 10:30 a.m. and the service begins at the Leesburg Cemetery at 11 a.m.
n Town resident Jerry Kammerer asked the council why meetings were at 5:30 p.m. instead of later. Council members asked the people in attendance if they would like to see the meetings moved to a later time than 5:30 p.m. Most in attendance said a later time would be better, so the board members decided to move future meetings to 6:30 p.m.
The Leesburg Town Council held its first meeting with new board members Tom Moore and Doug Jones, and the first item of business was to elect a new president. Rick Stookey was nominated and approved as the council's highest officer.[[In-content Ad]]The second item of business was a letter from Clerk-Treasurer Melissa Robinson announcing her resignation, effective immediately. Robinson also served as wastewater clerk and resigned from that position as well.
Robinson was not present at the meeting, and none of the financial reports and the claim docket were available.
The board paused the meeting as Stookey and Jones went to Robinson's former office to look for the information.
After several minutes, the men returned with a pile of unopened bills and said they did not have the password for the computer so financial information was not available.
Town attorney Vern Landis told the board that they could schedule a meeting at a later date to pay the bills and look at the finances. Landis also said that there would have to be another caucus to name Robinson's replacement.
The caucus to fill the clerk-treasurer slot will be May 6 at 7 p.m. at the Leesburg Town Hall.
Candidates interested in the position must file a declaration of candidacy with Kosciusko County Republican Chairman Randall Girod at least 72 hours before the caucus begins.
Declaration of candidacy forms will be available from the Kosciusko County Clerk's office beginning today.
Robinson also is believed to be the only person on the town's signature card at Farmer's State Bank, making her the only person allowed to sign town checks.
Moore asked Landis if someone could be appointed to sign the town's checks, and Landis said he had to research that. Since the town clerk is an elected position, Landis was not sure if anyone but the clerk-treasurer could sign checks.
The council decided to meet Monday at 6:30 p.m. to pay the town's bills, and continued the regular meeting.
In other business, the council:
n Heard a report on the storm sewer project from Jessica Hartman, GRW Engineering. Plans have been sent out to contractors, who are working on bids for the project. Sealed bids will be opened April 23 at the Leesburg Town Hall, and the contract will be awarded at that time.
The town asked for the base bid of the project and bids for several alternates from the contractors.
The storm sewer project will improve the system that is already in the town, and portions of the existing storm sewer will be used where possible.
n Gave permission to Sue Charlton to plan a Memorial Day Parade and service in the town May 31. The parade begins at 10:30 a.m. and the service begins at the Leesburg Cemetery at 11 a.m.
n Town resident Jerry Kammerer asked the council why meetings were at 5:30 p.m. instead of later. Council members asked the people in attendance if they would like to see the meetings moved to a later time than 5:30 p.m. Most in attendance said a later time would be better, so the board members decided to move future meetings to 6:30 p.m.
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