07/29/2006

Township clerk steps down

Petroskey cites differences with supervisor

By Christine Finger

cfinger@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — Bingham Township's clerk will leave office halfway through her term after resigning amid an ongoing conflict with Township Supervisor Robert Foster.

Dorothy Petroskey was elected in 2004 as Bingham Township clerk.

Her resignation, the subject of much public comment during Monday's township board meeting, is effective Aug. 19.

Petroskey said Friday she and Foster "do not share the same political philosophy," and Foster made it very difficult to function as clerk after she brought his alleged violation of environmental regulations and other incidents to the board's attention.

She said it was in the best interests of her health and family to resign.

Foster earlier this month accused Petroskey of "mail tampering" after she opened a letter mailed to the township offices by the Army Corps of Engineers.

The letter stated Foster violated environmental regulations through his involvement in unauthorized grooming at the township's beach in Hendryx Park.

Foster did not return a telephone call seeking comment.

The township is advertising for interested candidates to fill the vacancy. State law allows the township board to appoint someone to fill a vacancy in an elected office within 30 days before the effective date of an official's resignation.

An appointee would serve the remainder of Petroskey's term, which is set to expire in November 2008.

Petroskey said she will continue to perform the clerk's duties until after the Aug. 8 primary election.