BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR
It wasn’t musical chairs but close Aug. 10 as the Saugatuck Township Board:
• Accepted supervisor Cindy Osman’s resignation and appointed her full-time building official/assistant zoning administrator;
• Named clerk Abby Bigford supervisor to replace Osman; and
• Appointed planning commission chair Rebecca Israels clerk replacing Bigford.
Osman, who with Kathy Tisdale Sturm led a November 2018 recall that replaced four then-township board members, was appointed supervisor June 10, 2019 to replace the resigned Chris Roerig.
The board July 13 this year expanded its former part-time building official’s responsibilities to include enforcement and zoning administration support for a proposed $55,000 to $65,000 salary, including benefits such as retirement contribution, healthcare and life insurance.
Osman, a 30-year Holland employee who retired as the city’s assistant director of community and neighborhood services in 2016 and soon thereafter became Saugatuck city’s planning and zoning administrator, retired from that post effective Aug. 5 and five days later stepped down as township supervisor to take on the new position. She will assist contract ZA Lynee Wells in that portion of her role.
The building official/assistant ZA position, manager Daniel DeFranco said, was posted on the township website, Michigan Townships Association and Michigan Municipal League and Indeed websites and drew seven applications.
Osman, he said, “stood out above all the others, having all certifications needed, glowing recommendations and decades of experience. that will be invaluable for the township.”
Bigford, elected township trustee as part of the 2018 recall, was soon voted clerk on the resignation for family health reasons of Bill Wester. Like Osman, she won peers’ praises for her performance. Bigford took over conducting the Aug. 10 board meeting upon taking the supervisor’s oath.
Israels, a registered nurse with close to 30 years of healthcare administration experience, was a Holland City Council member from 2000 to 2005 who for the last three years has headed the township planning commission.
Trustee Jon Helmrich questioned appointing her clerk without posting the opening for transparency’s sake, but joined the majority making her appointment unanimous.
