The County Press

Elba Twp. board looks to fill vacancies




ELBA TWP. — There are holes to fill in Elba Township when it comes to local government, but township officials took a step toward that goal.

The Elba Township Board of Trustees met Monday morning for a regular meeting again with a vacancy due to the passing of trustee Michael Stockman. According to Clerk Rena Fountain, four community resident applicants expressed their interest in the vacant position, and board members will spend two weeks until their next meeting on June 24 to deliberate before naming Stockman’s replacement. As per state law, the Board of Trustees has until June 30 to do so.

Township trustees found themselves looking at another vacancy on a different board, this time due to a resignation. Mike Boskee, Elba Township supervisor, resigned from the Lake Lapeer Improvement Board, which alongside an Elba Township representative features members from Hadley Township, the Lapeer County Drain Commission, County Commission and others. Boskee said the reason for the resignation is to allow a resident to fill the space — preferably one with a “vested interest” in the goings-on of Lake Lapeer. “Obviously I’ll help in any way I can, but someone with interest would be better suited, especially with dredging issues coming up soon,” said Boskee. “It’s a lake that straddles both (Elba and Hadley) communities, and they’re a great group of people.” Township officials will solicit interest from the community and indicated Boskee’s replacement on that board would be named during the next meeting on June 24.

Interested township residents may contact the clerk’s office.

One vacancy, that of the planning commission, was filled on Monday. Mark Maloney, a township resident for three years and a firefighter with Elba Township, was tapped by Boskee and approved by the Elba Township Board to fill the vacant seat on the township’s planning commission. Boskee, who nominated Maloney, said they “can’t make a better candidate” than Maloney. “He’s got experience as a builder and the firefighting, I think we’re getting an outstanding candidate,” he said.