By Richard Zowie
Leader Staff Writer
Oxford Township will be getting a new assistant treasurer’sort of.
It took three rounds of votes, but the township board of trustees at their August 13 meeting finally approved Michelle Zells to serve full-time for Oxford Township but as a part-time assistant to treasurer Joe Ferrari.
Specifically, Zells will spend about 16 hours per week working for Ferrari and 24 hours weekly working with township supervisor Bill Dunn on an ‘at will? basis. The supervisor had said that his department didn’t have the budget for a full-time person and that he needed part-time help.
At the meeting, Ferrari had proposed a measure for Zells to be accepted as an assistant treasurer on a full-time basis. That failed 4-3.
The next vote, a compromise that would allow Zells to work full-time on a 50/50 basis (20 hours weekly for Ferrari and 20 for Dunn). Dunn said that he needed someone at 24 hours a week with no benefits. This measure failed, 5-2.
Finally, on the third vote the 40/60 proposal came up and was approved 4-3. The treasurer department will be responsible for Zells? benefits. While Zells? combined hours make her a full-time employee, the at-will position will be evaluated at a future meeting to see if it’s working out.
Trustee Susan Bellairs was one of those who voted no on the full-time deputy treasurer position.
‘I do know [Ferrari] needs somebody, but I’m not convinced he needs someone full-time,? she said.
Bellairs added that she saw no paperwork on this matter and did not know what it was based on. She did add, though, that she thought Zells was a good employee.
Zells? position would replace Margaret Wiltfang, who retired on July 31. It was, as Ferrari described it, a full-time position that already had been created by the township board.
Tracy Devereaux currently serves as deputy treasurer, which is a different position than this one.
Ferrari is confident he and Dunn can work out an arrangement that will benefit both the township treasury and building departments.
‘We will look at adjusting Ms. Zells? schedule depending upon each department’s weekly workload,? he said. ‘Though I would like to have filled the position, I am grateful for what the township board allocated for my department.?
Zells will begin her new job on August 25.