Clerk's Responsibilities

The township clerk is clerk of the town board of trustees, is keeper of all records of the town, except those for active general assistance cases. The clerk is required to keep accurate records of all meetings of the town board. The clerk is also responsible for taking the roll call on all votes. Similarly, appointments or filling of vacancies, setting of salaries, etc. require roll call votes. Some other votes may be voice votes, e.g. “all ayes”. Secret ballots are never permitted at meetings of the board.

The clerk is the local election authority and is responsible for accepting petitions concerning local elections and/or referendums. The town clerk is responsible for publishing or posting certain specific notices including notices for the highway commissioner.

The town clerk is ex-officio clerk of the road district and maintains the records of highway commissioner. The clerk must be present for bid opening for both the township and road district.

The clerk must countersign all road district orders for payments prior to audit/approval by the town board. The clerk is also responsible for delivering all approved claims to the supervisor for payment.

The office of town clerk is an extremely important one and has proven so in numerous court decisions. It is the clerk's records that are the official records of the town (ship) and their sanctity must be preserved.