Plymouth Township is on track to have four of its seven board seats filled by appointees by year's end, a prospect that has alarmed residents after Trustee Mark Clinton became the third official to resign in 2026.
Clinton submitted his resignation Saturday, Aug. 1, citing what he called the "deceitful nature" of township leadership. Supervisor Charles Curmi confirmed the board will formally accept the resignation Wednesday, Aug. 5.
Clinton's departure follows Clerk Jerry Vorva, whose resignation was accepted May 12, and Trustee Jen Buckley, who resigned in early July after moving out of the township. A fourth board member plans to leave later this year for health reasons, according to WXYZ, which first reported Clinton's resignation.
Each vacancy is filled by board appointment under Michigan law, not by voters.
"I think a lot of us are concerned because by the end of this year, four of the seven board members will be appointees, never having received a single vote in an election and they will serve for over two years," resident Mary Tavarozzi told WXYZ on Friday, July 31.
What triggered Clinton's exit
Clinton's letter pointed to the Tuesday, July 21 board meeting, where trustees voted 5-1 to immediately appoint Bill Ickes to fill Buckley's seat through November 2028. Clinton cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing the position should be opened to public applications. According to board minutes, he told colleagues he had spoken with two potential candidates and believed more residents would be interested.
Tavarozzi, who attends most township meetings, spoke during public comment that same night, raising concerns about the lack of transparency in the appointment process. Residents at the May 12 meeting had described the board environment as "toxic," according to meeting minutes.
Residents divided
Reactions outside Township Hall on Friday, July 31 reflected a split among neighbors who were there for early voting.
Tab Morin called Clinton a great advocate for the township and said he was disappointed to see him leave. Morin said leadership needs to understand what's happening and try to fix it.
Others welcomed the departures. Resident Estelle Oliansky said holdovers from a previous administration had made the board hostile. Patty Pozios said board members who can't move forward and do what's best for the township should leave.
What happens next
Curmi said the board will follow the standard legal process: nominate a replacement, deliberate, and vote. He did not say whether the board would accept public applications this time.
Tavarozzi said residents want more transparency and public input in the next appointment.
Upcoming
- Wednesday, Aug. 5: Plymouth Township Board of Trustees meets to accept Clinton's resignation. Plymouth Township Hall, 9955 N. Haggerty Road. Open to the public.
