With the Nov. 4 election only weeks away, Oxford Township Treasurer Joe Ferrari ? who’s seeking re-election as a Republican against five independent candidates ? won’t be taking a job as the clerk/treasurer for the Village of Holly.
The treasurer said Holly officials offered him the job after he applied for it, but after some ‘soul searching,? he decided to turn it down.
‘I decided that I want to stay here,? he said. ‘I love Oxford Township too much. I appreciate the experience.?
Ferrari, who easily won the GOP primary in August because he faced no challengers, has served as treasurer for almost 16 years.
Holly Village Manager Marsha Powers said of all who applied for the position, Ferrari was thought to be the best candidate and was offered a contract.
However, Powers said ultimately the village council rescinded the offer after an agreement over a starting date could not be reached.
‘When we couldn’t reach an agreement on a date for employment, we withdrew the offer,? she said. ‘We’d hoped to have someone on board by mid-October. [Ferrari] just asked that it be extended.?
According to Powers, Ferrari told her the mid-October start date the village had in mind would not work for him. ‘When we met that day, he said, ‘I can’t do this. I can’t come by that time,? Powers said.
Ferrari won’t learn the outcome of his re-election bid until Nov. 4.
Powers said she contacted the Holly council members to see what they could do about granting an extension. Their answer ? ‘no further extensions? would be given.
Powers added: ‘They thought they had gone beyond (their limit) because we interviewed in mid-August and they had gone long enough. They felt they wanted the position filled.
When the Oxford Leader called about this matter Tuesday morning, Powers indicated she could not confirm or deny whether Ferrari has applied because some of the candidates had asked that their applications be kept confidential.
At the Aug. 12, Holly Village Council meeting, candidates for the clerk/treasurer position were referred to by numbers instead of by names, a violation of the Open Meetings Act. However, a confidentiality request cannot be honored by a government entity regarding a public job. Whether or not someone applies for a public position cannot be deemed private under the law.
Following the Leader’s filing of a Freedom of Information Act request, Powers released Ferrari’s application and cover letter.
According to the documents obtained, Ferrari requested his application be kept under wraps. ‘Due to the sensitive nature of my current employment, please keep my resume and credentials confidential,? Ferrari wrote.
On his application, Ferrari listed two references ? one an Ortonville-based safety engineer and the other a treasurer of a city in St. Clair County. Later in his application, Ferrari requested his employment references not be contacted.
According to Powers, Ferrari applied for the Holly clerk/treasurer position on July 28 and was interviewed Aug. 19.
On or before July 17, five independent candidates filed to run for the Oxford Township treasurer position ? Lawrence Banachowski, Ed Hunwick, Gerald Mouch, William Bishop and C.J. Carnacchio.
Ferrari said the multiple independent opponents he’s facing, along with the uncertainty of the election process, led him to keep his options open.
‘I have a wife and family to support,? he said. ‘And these positions, as you know, aren’t guaranteed and they shouldn’t be.?
He added: ‘The way Sherman Publications always keeps unfairly attacking me, I was looking at all my options. But then, at that time, I decided I wanted to run again as Oxford Township Treasurer. I wanted to do another four-year term.?
Ferrari said this was the only time recently that he’s applied for a job elsewhere. Back in 1999, he briefly served as Oxford Village manager before returning to the township. He said the only reason he applied for this job was because he was at the end of the term.
‘That’s the only reason why I did it, because you don’t know if you’re going to be elected,? he said. ‘If the people choose me again for another four years, I’m committed for four years.?
Despite this recent job hunt and the attempts made to keep it under wraps, Ferrari remains confident that voters will still have faith in him come Nov. 4 and beyond. ‘I feel like I’ve done a great job for 16 years,? he said.
Meanwhile, for Holly, the search for a clerk treasurer continues. Powers said of the five candidates interviewed, none have panned out. The Holly council will meet tomorrow to decide what to do next. She’s not sure if they’ll advertise again out of a concern that they may get the same types of applicants they had before.