Atlas Twp.-The township board voted 3-2 on Monday night to eliminate the full time position of office manager. Township Trustees Scott Statson and Barry June, along with Township Treasurer Anne Marie Slagle, voted for the elimination of the position. Township Supervisor Shirley Kautman Jones and Clerk Tere Onica voted no.
The township will also close on Fridays and remain open Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
The elimination of the position, which was not listed on the township agenda, terminated Beth Forys, who had been at the position since about 2003. The position cut will save the township about $35,000 per year.
‘The decision was made with no analysis of the position or what possible impact there will be on the township office,? said Jones. ‘Our purpose is to assist the community members when they come in the office, let’s hope we can still do that.?
June said the decision was not personal, rather strictly business.
‘We just don’t have the volume of business at the township office as we did a few years back,? said June.
‘We just took us over the library building, costing an additional $25,000, the State of Michigan is cutting our revenue sharing, we just renewed a police contract for more money’we had to go someplace.?
‘There’s no other position to cut, both the deputy clerk and treasurer are mandated by law’the people elected me to make hard decisions. I know it’s easy for me to make this decision? I don’t work in the office. I understand it’s more work for the others.?
The elimination became effective immediatly following Monday’s Township Board meeting.