Board delays accepting resignation of clerk
Plymouth Township Clerk Jerry Vorva continues to receive his salary despite his Feb. 18 letter of resignation and his absence from township hall for more than 6 weeks.
Vorva gave the board 30-day notice of his resignation.
According to reports, board members have delayed accepting Vorva’s letter of resignation primarily to avoid a state-mandated special election to fill the office. Michigan State law requires a special public election for any elected office vacated prior to April 14. By postponing the formal acceptance of Vorva’s resignation until after that date, the board members retain the legal authority to appoint a replacement themselves.
A regular meeting of the board members was postponed last week until April 21, a week after the state deadline.
The appointment of a clerk would allow the board members to select a candidate to finish Vorva’s term which expires in 2028. The Plymouth Township clerk's position is paid an annual salary of $120,000, plus a 15 percent contribution to a retirement plan.
Those supporting the delay in accepting Vorva’s resignation claim it would trigger the state-mandated departure of Deputy Clerk Paula Jeffferson who has been managing the clerk’s office for several weeks following Vorva’s departure. Only the clerk and deputy clerk have authority to sign checks in the township, according to officials. Delaying the acceptance process allows the office to remain operational during the transition, they claim. Jefferson is not eligible for appointment to the clerk’s position as she is not a resident of the township. Naming a temporary clerk would require that individual to campaign for the office during an election while actually overseeing the balloting.
During his tenure as clerk, Vorva oversaw two elections during which he was a candidate for office.
Following his letter of resignation citing both his health and a “hostile working environment,” Vorva, 74, has been paid about $12,600 during his 6-week absence, according to critics of the current board actions. He is currently under treatment for stage four prostate cancer and is also involved in a lawsuit against board Trustee John Stewart.
That lawsuit, filed in August 2025, alleges that during a closed session of trustees “Stewart stood up from his seat and, with fists clenched, lunged across two other trustees...toward (Vorva) in an aggressive and threatening manner.” Vorva is seeking damages in excess of $25,000.
Stewart denied the claims in his response to the court and asked a judge to dismiss the lawsuit and award him sanctions, costs and attorney fees, noting the claims are "frivolous."
Vorva, who is touring Europe told reporters he is fulfilling items on his “bucket list.”
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