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Editor’s note: The following letter was submitted to The Reporter on Monday afternoon, Feb. 2, concerning House Bill 1381. The digest of the bill as published on the Indiana General Assembly’s website is as follows: “Allows the legislative body of a city or town (municipality) to petition a court for removal of the municipality’s fiscal officer for any of the following: (1) Charging illegal fees for services. (2) Failing to perform official duties. (3) With certain exceptions, failing to be present in the officer’s office. (4) Failing to participate in four consecutive meetings of the legislative body of the municipality.”
Signatories of the letter below include clerks and deputy clerks from cities and towns across the state. As of press time, they number over 200, and they appear at the end of this letter.
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Dear Members of the Indiana General Assembly,
We write to you as a group of municipal Clerk-Treasurers who believe strongly in accountability, transparency, and doing this job well. We understand the intent behind HB 1381. There are rare situations where a fiscal officer truly stops performing the duties of the office, and there should be a clear path to address that. No one in this role disagrees with that principle.
Our concern is that this bill goes far beyond that situation and blurs the line between the legislative body and a separately elected fiscal officer in a way that disrupts the balance that has long existed in municipal government.
By allowing a council to create a policy that defines how much time a Clerk-Treasurer must be physically present, including hybrid or remote work, the bill gives the legislative body the ability to set expectations for how the job is performed and then use that same policy as grounds for removal. That is not simply addressing abandonment of duty. That is giving one branch of local government practical supervisory authority over another.
This creates a real risk that removal actions could be driven by disagreements, misunderstandings about how the job works, or political conflict rather than clear failure to perform statutory responsibilities. The same body that defines what “reasonable” looks like would be the body that claims it was violated.
If the goal is to address true non-performance, the focus should be on whether statutory duties are being completed and whether public funds are being properly managed. Those are objective outcomes that a court can evaluate. They are very different from whether someone is physically sitting in an office a certain number of hours each day.
Modern municipal work does not happen only at a desk in city hall. Clerk-Treasurers rely on deputies, technology, and constant availability to keep financial operations running. Physical presence is not the same thing as performance.
We respectfully ask that the language of HB 1381 be reconsidered and refined so that it addresses the extreme cases it is meant to solve without weakening the structural independence that is essential to municipal fiscal integrity.
Respectfully,
Indiana Municipal Clerk-Treasurers
Samantha S. Stratton, Clerk Treasurer, Beech Grove
Alyssa Knepple, Clerk Treasurer, South Whitley
Karyn D Douglas, Clerk-Treasurer, Crawfordsville
John Haynes, Clerk-Treasurer, Whiting
Beth Russell, Clerk Treasurer, North Salem
Karen S. Wood, Clerk-Treasurer, Gas City
Sarah L. Milton, Clerk-Treasurer, Roanoke
Matt Baker, Clerk-Treasurer, Worthington
Lori Vandvier, Clerk-Treasurer, Brooklyn
Dana Whatley, Clerk-Treasurer, Hartford City
Ben Merida, Clerk-Treasurer, Martinsville
Rachel Tague, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Monroe
Belinda Munson, Clerk Treasurer, Muncie
Meghan Atkins, Clerk-Treasurer, Bremen
Elizabeth A Walden, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Sheridan
Brandi Scudder, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Vevay
Marcy Yuknavage, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Farmland
Joanne Broadwater, Clerk-Treasurer, City of Attica
Myra Mast, Clerk-Treasurer, Pierceton
Melanie Givens Penn, Clerk-Treasurer, City of Wabash
Anita Altic, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Campbellsburg
Tonya Conley, Clerk-Treasurer, Silver Lake
Lori Hieston, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Jamestown
Cindy Barger, Director, TrustINdiana
Mark Todisco, Clerk, Plainfield
Kristie Bone, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Lagro
Barb Hawn, Clerk-Treasurer, City of Ligonier
Carrie Mugford, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of North Manchester
Leigh Anne Jessop, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of North Webster
Patricia Gall, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Milford
Terri Bucmaster, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Walkerton
Joan Lewis, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Michiana Shores
Mindy Pendley, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of French Lick
Bridgett DeWees, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Eaton
Brittany Williams, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Merom
Mallory Lowe, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Darmstadt
Robert F. Henderson, Jr., Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Orleans
Christopher T. Fugate, Clerk Treasurer, City of Austin
Vicky Schlegel, Clerk-Treasurer, City of Mitchell
Ginny McKamey, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Clayton
Judy McCoy, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Clayton
Danieta Foster, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Crothersville
Donna Moore, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Trafalgar
Stephanie Berry, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Patoka
Kara Lowe, Clerk Treasuer, City of Dunkirk
Jeff Sieber, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Camden
Angela M Eck, Clerk-Treasurer, City of Butler
Linda McCune, Clerk Treasurer, Monterey
Lynne Christiansen, Clerk-Treasurer, City of Warsaw
Tara Walker, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Kirklin
Ellen Hundt, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Beverly Shores
Mary Richardson, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Glenwood
Lori Hunt , Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Westville
Joshleen Denham, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Westville
Kristin R. Allen, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Veedersburg
Amber Hudson, Utility Clerk, Town of Veedersburg
Suzanne Harrison, Deputy Clerk, Town of Veedersburg
Brandy Asher, Clerk Treasurer, Town or Rockville
Sarah Gibson, Deputy Clerk, City of Austin
Rebecca A Hartzler, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Akron
Lori Phillips, Clerk Treasurer, City of Portland
Gina Smith, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Griffith
Miranda Hathaway , Utility Clerk, Town of Remington
Jeff Knight, Clerk-Treasurer, City of Nappanee
Corinne Peffers, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Porter
Sarah Adams , Clerk-Treasurer , Town of Tennyson
Marla Ailor, Clerk-Treasurer, City of Wesfield
Natalie Montgomry, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Rosedale
Traci Pittenger, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Gaston
Connie Berger, Clerk-Treasurer, Tell City
Morgan Massey, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer, City of Hartford City
Debra Tolley, Deputy Clerk, City of Westfield
Tammy Bucko, Clerk Treasurer, Town of New Chicago
Naomi Carlton, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Wilkinson
Rae Baker Gipson, CLerk Treasurer, City of Rising Sun
Kim Strang, Deputy Clerk, City of Westfield
Michelle Cash, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Darlington
Mary Eley , Deputy Clerk, City of Dunkirk
Leslee Robinson, Clerk Treasurer, City of Columbia City
Sally Wherry, Deputy Clerk Treasurer, City of Columbia City
Kerri Gagnon, Deputy Clerk Treasurer, City of Westfield
Deborah Dunham, Clerk Treasurer, Town Of Chesterfield
Marilyn Morrison, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Warren
Stacey Kruse, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Elberfeld
Kimberly Bell, Deputy Clerk, Town of Chesterfield
Pam Taylor, Deputy Clerk, Town of Chesterfield
Angie Hofmann, Deputy Clerk, City of Beech Grove
Amanda Taylor, Sewage Clerk, City of Beech Grove
Karen Barrett, Sewage Clerk, City of Beech Grove
Ruth Moore, Sewage Clerk, City of Beech Grove
Melissa Shepler, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Liberty
Ronald Slover, Clerk/Treasurer, Town of Coatesville
Virginia Cazier, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Syracuse
Jennifer Roberts, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Whiteland
Suzanne Minger Webster, Clerk Treasurer, City of Lawrenceberg
Rene’e Collier, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Chalmers
Julie J. Neal, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Hagerstown
Kathy Juillerat, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Converse
Tina Franklin, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Shoals
Sherry Clem, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of New Pekin
Elena Hammond, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Prince’s Lakes
Ruth Strickland, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Somerville
Angela McCullough , Clerk Treasurer , Town of Farmersburg
Michael A. Troxell, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Schererville
Stephanie Crider, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of McCordsville
Darrin Boas, Clerk -Treasurer, CIty of Seymour
Jenna Drook, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer, City of Wabash
Heidi Lang, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Rome City
Wayne Langman, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Seelyville
Amy Richards, Clerk-Treasurer, City of Union City
Renda Loetz, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Milford
Heather James, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Winona Lake
Tracy Wortley, Clerk- Treasurer, Town of Boswell
Shari Johnson, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Advance
Sarah Bauman, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Versailles
Kendra Craft, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Winamac
Darcy A. VanErman, Clerk Treasurer, City of Alexandria
Cheryl A Taylor, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Sunman
Jill Murr, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Lowell
Brenda Kay Young, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Nashville
Amanda Yaprak, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Mentone
Karen Dinger, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Burlington
Holly Taylor, Clerk-Treasurer, City of Valparaiso
Barb Jones, Chief Deputy Clerk-Treasurer, City of Valparaiso
Nicole Robinson, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer, City of Valparaiso
Alyssa Peterson, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer, City of Valparaiso
Tamra Needham, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer, City of Valparaiso
Deb Cook, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer, City of Valparaiso
Karen Heim, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Culver
Brittany Schepers, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Birdseye
Ann Copley, Clerk Treasurer, City of Rushville
Jane Lindsey, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Santa Claus
Tara Baham, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Winslow
Patricia Warner, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Claypool
Debbie Astor, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Dyer
Mark Herak, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Highland
Breanna Plantenga, Deputy Clerk, Town of Wolcott
Karie Holder, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Wolcott
Jane Landry, Clerk-Treasurer, City of Jasonville
Sharon McIntosh, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Morgantown
Connie Cobb, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Matthews
Scott Asher, Clerk Treasurer, City of Shelbyville
Stacie Martin, Deputy Clerk, City of Shelbyville
Shawn Stader, Deputy/AP, City of Shelbyville
Ashley Jhala, Deputy/ AR, City of Shelbyville
Rodger Bowers, Deputy Payroll, City of Shelbyville
Noelle Conyer, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Ellettsville
Pamela Whitener, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of LaFontaine
Renee Duszynski, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Waterloo
Lea Parks, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Topeka
Carrie McIntire, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Royal Center
Andrea Newnum, Clerk-Treasurer, City of Peru
Suzanne Minger Webster, Deputy CT , City of Lawrenceberg
Carrie Lofton, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Danville
Brenda Short, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Danville
Breanna Farmer, Accounts Payable Deputy, Town of Danville
Kelsey Alsphaugh, Utility Deputy, Town of Danville
Tami Fisher, Accounts Payable Deputy, Town of Danville
Angela McDaniel, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Leo-Cedarville
MacKenzie Taylor, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Millersburg
Kelly Maners, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Cloverdale
Jodie Rankin, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Poseyville
Gloria Alumbaugh, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Westport
April Sanders, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Orland
Addison Miller, Deputy Clerk, Town of Millersburg
Kevin Turnbull, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Stilesville
Mailaika Beaty, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Kingsford Heights
Julie Loker, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Avon
Kathy Taylor, Deputy Clerk Treasurer, Town of Avon
Jennifer Gilmer, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of LaPaz
Erica Lyden-Giger, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Prince’s Lakes
Melissa Glazier, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Fortville
Aly Hickman, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Thorntown
Tammy Woodall, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Switz City
Angela DeVoss, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of New Whiteland
Teresa Hester, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Shirley
Cynthia Williams, Clerk Treasurer, Town of West Lebanon
Jennifer Farley, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Atlanta
Gina Smith, Clerk Treasurer, Town of Griffith
Ryan Schwab, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Huntertown
Taylor Norton , Clerk- Treasurer, Town of New Ross
Stacy L. Elpers, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Fort Branch
Pamela J Beck , Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Flora
Kathy Juillerat , Clerk-Treasurer , Town of Converse
Melanie Noble, Deputy Clerk, Town of Plainfield
Tamara Miller, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Ferdinand
Linda Knecht, Clerk-Treasurer, City of Covington
Lori Carrico, Clerk-Treasurer, City of Loogootee
Timothy Detrick, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Frankton
Cheryl Moke, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Spencer
Wendy Mis, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Munster
Miriah Tobias , Deputy Clerk Treasurer, North Manchester
Evelyn Lees, City Clerk, City of Noblesville
Melissa Copeland, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Shelburn
Catherine MM Lane, Clerk- Treasurer, City of Vincennes
Michael D Searfoss, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Leesburg
Eric O January, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Merrillville
Nora Hundley, Clerk-Treasurer, Town of Laurel
Donna Hewitt, Deputy Clerk, Town of Laurel
Tammy Boruff, Clerk-Treasurer, City of Boonville
Christina Dickinson, Deputy Clerk, City of Boonville
Jackie Armes, Clerk, City of Boonville