Ross Township supervisors held a special meeting Monday to fill the vacant tax collector position.

Their tax collector, Sharon Steen, died Nov. 22. She ran unopposed in the November election and would have begun her new term on Jan. 1.

Chairman James Zahoroiko and supervisor Randy Detrick voted in favor of forming a joint tax collection district with Eldred Township. Its tax collector, Laura Hoffman, will serve both townships for the next four years.

“Hoffman has shown professionalism, expertise and people here know her,” said Zahoroiko.

Hoffman had been helping Steen with various tax tasks since March 2021, such as making bank deposits and taking mail to the post office. Hoffman had taken detailed notes but had never accessed any of the files on Steen’s computer.

Vice chairman David Shay voted against it. He was in favor of hiring Ross Township resident Kelly Francis, whom the supervisors interviewed by phone last week.

“I was impressed by her. She has exemplary credentials,” said Shay.

At last week’s regular monthly meeting, he said she had an accounting degree and has been a financial advisor for 15 years.

Shay made a motion to hire her to fill the tax collector vacancy, and to also serve in the vacant part-time secretary role. No one seconded his motion.

“It is already Jan. 10. Laura could step in tomorrow, and we would not have to wait for her to finish her course and exam,” said Zahoroiko.

The part-time secretary job remains vacant and will be discussed at an upcoming monthly supervisors meeting.

If Francis had been appointed, she would have 60 days to take a tax collector class and pass the exam. Once she did that, her appointment would be good for two years and then she would have to run in an election.

Instead, the joint tax collection district is for four years. During the third year, if Ross does not want to extend the partnership for four more years, they must request an election to occur within that fourth year.

Solicitor Tim McManus came to Monday’s meeting with two resolutions. One was if they supervisors appointed Francis. And the other was if they opted for the joint tax collection district.

Zahoroiko and Detrick provided the two necessary signatures on the latter resolution.

“Eldred now has to have their supervisors and Hoffman sign the resolution,” McManus said.

Township secretary Danielle Romano said she would contact Eldred’s secretary on Tuesday to move forward.

Because this decision occurred after Jan. 8, the bills that are mailed out on Jan. 15 will most likely be generic and have only the township office address.

Had they named the person earlier, the new tax collector’s name and the township address would be on the bill.

The next monthly supervisors meeting is Feb. 7 at 6 p.m.