Fairfield Township creates office manager post, promotes Diane French

At the Fairfield Township trustees meeting that resumed after executive session at about 10:02 p.m., trustees adopted Resolution 25-35 to create an office manager position and to promote Diane French into that role.

The resolution “creates the position of office manager and job description and promoting Diane French to that position,” Miss Lipenzi said during the meeting. The resolution does not specify a salary; trustees said salary information will be included in a subsequent resolution.

Trustees and staff described the action as formalizing duties French has been carrying out. Meeting remarks said French has been performing those responsibilities for “the last 6 or 7 months,” and that the current job she holds will be converted rather than replaced.

Some trustees raised procedural concerns about the hiring process. One trustee asked whether the position had been posted and whether other applicants had an opportunity to apply; trustees acknowledged the position was not opened for external applicants and discussed handling pay and posting in a separate resolution. Trustees also expressed favorable views of French’s work while stressing the need for transparent process in future hires.

The roll call for the resolution recorded three affirmative votes and the chair announced the resolution adopted. The minutes identify the voting trustees as Trustee Berding (yes), Trustee Harkenmeier (yes) and Trustee McAfee (yes). The motion and second were made on the floor before the roll call; the transcript does not name the mover or seconder.

The trustees moved immediately to the next agenda item after adopting the resolution.