Brandon Twp.- Dana DePalma was appointed as a township trustee Monday night by a vote of 5-1.
DePalma, a township resident since 2003 and certified public accountant, will complete the term of former trustee Bob DeWitt, who moved from the township last month. The term ends November 20, 2012.
‘I am excited and looking forward to helping the board, and representing the township residents,? said DePalma. ‘My first plans are to get a handle on the financials, with the budgeting and where we stand in comparison to last year. I also think the board could work better together and I am looking forward to helping make that happen.?
Clerk Jeannie McCreery made the motion to appoint DePalma after the board interviewed her, as well as Michael Hamlett and Jim Tottingham, the other two candidates who applied.
‘All three candidates brought something to the board, but we had to choose the most qualified and I feel her knowledge of government accounting would be a real asset in doing our budget,? McCreery said. ‘We also received a lot of e-mails and a letter in support of her appointment.?
She added that DePalma also received 47 percent of the votes in last August’s primary election for an open trustee seat. She lost to Trustee Cheryl Gault, but her high number of votes showed further community support, McCreery said, and just the fact that DePalma campaigned shows her true interest in being on the board.
Treasurer Terry Beltramo said his no vote for the appointment of DePalma was more of a vote against the appointment process.
‘I have no problem with Dana’s appointment,? he said. ‘I think we’ll work fine together. I just wanted it to be an equal opportunity for all of them.?