Once again, the Polly Ann Trailway Management Council (PATMC) is searching for a new manager.
At Tuesday’s Oxford Village Council meeting, Councilman Tony Albseni, who serves on the trail council, announced that Manager Amy Murray had resigned.
Murray, of Brandon, resigned after accepting a full-time position as a regional forester with Utility Lines Construction ULC, a division of Asplundh Tree Expert Co.
‘I was really enjoying doing the trail work this year, but it’s 15 hours a week and I’m at the stage in life where I have 40 hours a week to give and that’s what I wanted to give,? Murray. ‘This job came up and it sits well with all of my different educational and experience skills, so I had to take it.?
ULC is under contract with the Novi-based ITCTranmission to ‘manage all the vegetation? on the properties located beneath its power lines, according to Murray.
ITCTransmission is responsible for the transmitting high-voltage electricity in bulk from power generating facilities in Michigan, the Midwest and Canada to the distribution facilities that serve customers in 13 southeast Michigan counties. Oxford and Addison townships, and their respective villages, are among the many communities ITC serves.
‘This a great opportunity for me,? she wrote to council members in an Oct. 30 e-mail. ‘In this position, I will be able to directly apply the (Master of Science) in forestry I earned over 10 years ago, as well as all the multi-agency coordination and public service skills that I have learned working as trail manager for PATMC.?
Murray is very grateful for her time as trail manager. ‘It has been a true pleasure,? she said. ‘My time there was not only enjoyable to me, (it was a) great experience that set me up for a really good career opportunity.?
Murray submitted a formal letter of resignation Nov. 1, but indicated she would continue to handle the ‘most needed? trail management tasks until the end of the month.
According to Albensi, Linda Gierak, administrative assistant to Leonard’s village clerk, is temporarily filling the manager’s role until a replacement is hired. ‘We approved her for up to 15 hours a week,? he said. A committee consisting of Albensi and two other trail council members will be working on finding a new manager. ‘We’re going to set up an interview process,? Albensi.
Murray served as trail manager from January 2002 until resigning for the first time in June 2004. She returned to manage trail in June 2006 after former manager Lois Golden resigned to take over as Lake Orion’s DDA director.