2 resign from Plymouth Township Board of Trustees
Plymouth Township officials will be seeking candidates to fill two unexpired terms following the resignation of Treasurer Bob Doroshewitz and Trustee Jen Buckley, who officially announced their plans to leave the board during the June 23 meeting. Each of the official resignations leaves leave a partial term vacancy on the board. Both Doroshewitz, who has served on the board since 2003, and Buckley, first named to the board in 2022, said their decisions were not prompted by the recent fractious board meetings during the search to replace former Clerk Jerry Vorva, who retired earlier this year.
Vorva retired last February, citing an ongoing battle with cancer. The board hesitated for more than three months in accepting his resignation, apparently in an effort to avoid an election to fill his position. Public dissention among board members resulted in a lawsuit filed by Vorva against fellow board member John Stewart, alleging a hostile working environment among other claims of misconduct.
Eventually, following unsuccessful bids for the position from both Buckley and Trustee Sandy Groth, Kim Gaedekew was appointed to fill Vorva’s unexpired term as township clerk.
Doroshewitz told his fellow officials during the meeting that he plans to leave his position at the end of the year or early next year, about halfway through his four-year term. The treasurer’s position pays an annual salary of $120,000, plus benefits..
“I wanted to let the board know early, and now the public will know,” he said. “That will give us six months to search for the right replacement. I don't want to say I'm retiring for health reasons because that's the only part of the story,” he said, noting he and his wife plan to travel, spend time at the family home up north and focus on a healthy lifestyle. "It's just time,: he said.
Doroshewitz was first elected to the board as a trustee in 2004 and was appointed treasurer in 2022 to fill a vacancy. He was elected to the treasurer’s position in 2024. He said he hopes to oversee a software transition and preparation of winter tax bills before leaving.
Buckley sent a letter outlining her potential resignation to the board with a caveat that she could rescind her decision. She said her decision was based on a probable family move outside the township but noted she could withdraw her resignation if the purchase of the new home is not completed prior to formal acceptance of her departure by board members. Trustees are paid about $13,200 annually.
She was appointed to the board position in 2022, a decision also marked by public dissention and disagreement during board meetings. Buckley was eventually named to fill the unexpired term of Doroshewitz when he was appointed to fill the treasurer’s position following the resignation of Mark Clinton due to health issues. In her letter, Buckley thanked the board for the “great honor of working for the betterment” of the community.
Candidates named to the two positions will be required to seek election in 2028 if they wish to remain in the appointed positions.
