While some of the issues differ, Independence Township Clerk Shelagh VanderVeen’s office also responded to County Clerk Ruth Johnson’s plan for the administration of school elections by issuing an ‘opt out? memo.
VanderVeen said last week that memo ‘may have been premature.?
The memo echoed some of the concerns voiced by Springfield Township Clerk Nancy Strole in that parents are used to voting in school elections separate from municipal elections. Independence Township includes small portions of the Lake Orion and Waterford school districts, and Johnson’s plan would require Independence Township to accomodate those districts, as well.
Since Independence Township has cooperated well with Clarkston Community Schools in the past, VanderVeen’s office proposed handling the entire district, including portions outside Independence Township. To date that proposal has been rejected.
VanderVeen admits the objections may be academic, since all elections are now technically ‘municipal? elections.
‘There may be a bug in this,? she said last week. ‘I don’t know if we will have anything on this ballot.?
While none have been formally proposed to the Independence Township Board, a local ballot issue would support Johnson’s contention that all voters be required to visit only one polling location.
Even with the local contention, VanderVeen said the situation could be worse. Some municipalities have portions of as many as seven school districts within their boundaries, and she knows of one school district which overlaps three county lines.
‘There are a few issues we have to resolve,? VanderVeen said, and she is waiting to learn how Johnson’s office will rule.
While VanderVeen is new to the job, she is grateful that Sandy Miller is a veteran elections coordinator within the clerk’s office.
‘I knew I was going to get my feet wet this year, but I didn’t anticipate these problems,? VanderVeen said.
Art Pappas, meanwhile, appears to be the only local official escaping the bulk of the confusion.
Pappas, who serves as both city manager and clerk for the City of the Village of Clarkston, told the city council last week he anticipates few problems, since Clarkston has to deal with only one voting precinct and one school district.
The biggest change, he said, will be the requirement for the city to issue a separate public notice for the May election, with expected reimbursement from the school district.
‘It doesn’t make much difference to the city,? Pappas said.