Rushing, who’s term began on April 1, can now hire an accounts payable specialist, payroll specialist and assistant to the fiscal officer. Trustees on Wednesday formally hired someone as financial manager who had been filling in at the role previously.
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“(I’m) just in appreciation for what you’re doing,” said Trustee Tom Kretz. “We encouraged the past fiscal officer to bring in additional resources to A, get caught up; and B, to spread the workload. We encouraged that a number of times as trustees and that was never acted upon.”
Rushing, who ran unopposed in the November election, said it could take a few months to complete the application and interview process for all positions.
“So I understand we have some situations right now where the township, you’re inheriting essentially a good handful of challenges you need to clean up,” Kretz said. “So at least, on behalf of myself and hopefully the board, I wholeheartedly support what you’re trying to do as far as bringing in these resources to get us caught up and then develop a plan with staff in your department that really serves the township’s internal and external customers.”
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Trustee Debborah Wallace said the the fiscal office needs to be on top of payroll issues because they continue to grow.
“As we just found out, this is the second year that our bills are being paid late 90 days or more,” Wallace said. “So hopefully with the new actions you will be taking to assist you, we hope that all the payroll and bills are paid on a timely manner from the fiscal office in the future.”
Anticipating some roadblocks during the hiring process due to the COVID-19 situation, Rushing got permission from the trustees to hire two full-time temporary assistants for 120 days.
“I think the overall sentiment was, ‘Beavercreek Twp. is growing,’” Rushing said. “The office staff that was in place previously under the previous officer was just too thin. They were not meeting deadlines, there were oversights being done because they just did not have the people power in order to get it done.”
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