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LaFayette Township will make clerk/treasurer an appointed position

LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP — A referendum passed Tuesday to convert the town's city/treasurer from an elected office to one that is appointed by the town board.

The measure was approved with 55% of the electors casting "yes" votes.

The referendum is binding, meaning that the office will be converted to a job in April, said Barb Fischer, the current clerk/treasurer.

The referendum gives the town board the ability to hire and fire its clerk/treasurer.

Fischer said she would apply for the job that pays between $25,000 and $38,000 annually, depending on qualifications.

Town Board Chairman Dan Cooper has said he would welcome Fisher's application, saying she has done a great job.

The referendum was prompting by concerns from town officials that an unqualified person could be elected clerk/treasurer, hurting the town's ability to conduct normal business, such as hold elections and issue permits.

An annual performance review would be conducted by the town board, which is not done now because the position is elected.

Fischer has served as clerk/treasurer for the town for six years and as the town's treasurer 10 years prior to that. She earns $30,000 a year. The new job would offer health care and other benefits as outlined by state law, Cooper said.

Holding the referendum was approved by the town board and had been on its agendas four times during the past year, Cooper said.

The town's only other full-time employee is its road supervisor.

Walworth County results

Unofficial results from the Walworth County Clerk's office are HERE.

Results are only from the parts of districts within Walworth County. Many state senate and assembly districts also include areas outside of Walworth County, so results aren't complete until all counties have reported their vote totals.

Follow coverage of the election in Walworth and Rock counties in our special online section HERE.

Twitter users are posting using the hashtags #wivote and #wipolitics HERE.

Read the full story in the Walworth County Gazette, online in the Gazette e-edition HERE, or check WalworthCountyToday.com after 4 p.m. for the latest details.