Comstock Township’s board appointed a new clerk and voted to seek quotes for a forensic audit after four board members resigned within days.
The Comstock Charter Township Board held a special meeting on August 19 to address the fallout of four recent resignations that had left the board without a quorum, appointing a new clerk, formally accepting three trustees’ resignations, and approving a request to seek quotes for a forensic audit.
Clerk Nicole Beauchamp and Trustees Kristie Cherry, Terry McIver and Bob Pratt had each resigned in recent days, leaving the board short of the members needed to conduct business. The Kalamazoo County Election Commission appointed Bill Korb as a temporary fourth board member ahead of Wednesday’s meeting to restore quorum.
New clerk appointed under bond deadline pressure
Attorney Robert Thall told the board the clerk appointment carried unusual urgency: the township has an outstanding bond issue tied to a new fire station. The bonds have been sold but not yet delivered, and delivery requires a township clerk’s signature to close. Thall said that without a clerk in place, the township risked a default notice to the bond’s underwriters and potential breach-of-contract liability — a situation he said could prevent the township from borrowing money for years.
The board voted 4-0 — Supervisor Ben Martin, Trustee Jerry Amos, Treasurer Sandra Bloomfield and temporary member Bill Korb — to appoint Amber Lawrence, a current Planning Commission member, as township clerk. Lawrence was sworn in immediately. Her appointment restored the board’s full standing membership, ending Korb’s temporary role; Korb said he intends to apply for one of the township’s open trustee seats.
Resignations formally accepted
With Lawrence now seated, the board voted 4-0 to formally accept the resignations of Trustees Kristie Cherry, Bob Pratt and Terry McIver.
Forensic audit approved
Treasurer Bloomfield asked the board for permission to seek price quotes for a forensic audit, citing the timing of the recent resignations, the township’s outstanding bond obligations, and a previous severance payout to the township’s former superintendent as reasons for the review. The board approved the request 4-0.
Trustee vacancies open for applications
Supervisor Martin announced the township is accepting resumes and letters of interest for its three open trustee seats over the next two weeks, submitted either in person or by email to the township supervisor’s office. Attorney Thall confirmed that under Michigan’s Open Meetings Act, any candidate interviews must be conducted in open session; board members indicated they expect to hold interviews in a public forum.
