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August 21, 2005East Bay Township clerk is back to work7 felony charges can't keep her from her salaryByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - Janice Gee is back at work as East Bay Township clerk, attending occasional township board meetings and collecting her annual $41,995 salary, despite awaiting trial on multiple counts of felony embezzlement of public funds. Township supervisor Glen Lile doesn't like it one bit. "I would like to know how many employers there are in this town who have employees who are arrested for embezzlement, hauled off to jail, bond out and then let them come back to work for them," Lile said. A district judge last week ordered Gee to stand trial on seven felony embezzlement charges. Authorities and auditors continue to probe East Bay finances, including Gee's expense reports, but she recently turned in such a report that sought $627 in mileage expenses. "I can't vote (to pay) that," said township trustee Beth Friend. "If she wants to sue us for the money, go right ahead." The township board is powerless to remove Gee, elected to township office in 1992. Some East Bay residents submitted a recall petition, but the county's election board denied its language. New language will be reviewed at a Sept. 1 hearing. Gee shows up for work sporadically, appearing on different days and for a few hours at a time. She's repeatedly refused Record-Eagle requests for comment on her employment status and the criminal case. Gee attended three of the last four township board meetings. Lile tried to remove Gee from the township planning commission, an effort supported by Friend and trustee Susan LaRose, who, like Lile, were elected last year and pushed for audits of township finances. Long-serving trustees Leroy "Butch" Strait and Dale McAllister joined Gee and treasurer Debora Watson in voting to retain Gee on the planning commission. Watson said Gee's removal should have been a decision for Gee and the planning commission, and Lile hadn't notified either of his intentions before the meeting. "The planning commission chairman (Mike Nickels) said he wanted her to remain," Watson said. McAllister declined to comment. An in-depth audit and criminal probe of East Bay finances continues. Auditors expect to finish before month's end. "This is a difficult investigation because there is a lot of information in a lot of different areas that has to be gathered," said Nathan Alger, Grand Traverse County undersheriff. County prosecutor Alan Schneider said authorities await the final audit report. "After that's completed we'll be looking at their results and if we think we need to do some further investigation, we'll do that," Schneider said. See Related Stories: Former East Bay supervisor likely purchased personal items - August 21, 2005 More money may be missing in East Bay - August 16, 2005 Lile suggests shutting down East Bay government to fix mess - July 22, 2005 East Bay Township supervisor expects 'real ugly' meeting - July 22, 2005 East Bay assessor to be paid as fate is determined - July 12, 2005 Errors pile up in review of East Bay records - July 10, 2005 Public backs East Bay probe leading to arrest of clerk - June 28, 2005 East Bay Township clerk charged with embezzlement felonies - June 23, 2005 Township officials pushed for audit leading to Gee's arrest - June 23, 2005
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