MONTAGUE — White River Township swore in William Schmiege as the township’s new zoning administrator at Tuesday night’s board meeting.
Schmiege was announced as the new administrator at November’s meeting, replacing township trustee George Dufresne, who has been out the past few months while dealing with a health issue. Trustee Laura Anderson was also absent Tuesday due to illness.
The meeting was the first for new supervisor Ron Bailey, who was elected to the position via recall and sworn in last month before officially taking office Nov. 20.
Tuesday’s meeting was otherwise less eventful than most this year, though the board did discuss a new zoning enforcement officer position. The final wording of the position’s responsibilities is not yet finalized pending consultation with township attorney Clifford Bloom, but the board unanimously approved posting the position once that is completed.
The board also discussed posting an hourly maintenance position that would take some of the constable duties - mostly upkeep of township properties. Township clerk Patti Sargent noted that the current highest hourly wage for a township employee is $18 per hour, so the maintenance position would be paid in that range. The board encourages anyone interested to get in touch with the township, with the goal of having the position filled prior to February’s board meeting.
In financial business, the board unanimously approved a budget change, with $2,110 being moved from the roads budget to cemetery and tennis courts upkeep. The change was made because the township had budgeted for road brining expenses that did not end up being spent this fiscal year.
