Fort Gratiot board taps recent retiree as treasurer appointee

A recent retiree is slated to become Fort Gratiot’s next treasurer.

During a special meeting Wednesday, the township’s board of trustees voted to appoint longtime resident George Wells to replace departing Treasurer Jaime Oprita. Normally an elected office, the appointment becomes effective Aug. 11 with Oprita’s current term ending in November 2024.

Wells, who spent decades in business, said he retired from a higher-up position at Mortimer Lumber in late June.

“Well, the first week, it was fantastic. Got to sleep in, eat meals when I wanted to — all that great stuff. The second week? Bored!” he told the board with a laugh on Wednesday. “There’s only so much you can do to keep your mind occupied after (helping to) run the company for 15 years.”

Township Clerk Bob Buechler said three individuals in total had applied for Oprita’s treasurer opening, which was first announced late last month.

One candidate didn’t live in the township, he said, and was disqualified. The two others — Wells and Rob Montgomery, a former township trustee — were brought in for interviews Wednesday.

In business, Wells said he had plenty of exposure to budgets and financing, accounts payable and issuing checks, and other day-to-day company mechanics that he thought would be helpful in the role of treasurer.

Both candidates admitted they’d still face a learning curve in the job, though Wells added, “I know how successful the township has been, as evident by this building we’re in, and I know there’s set policies and procedures in place.”

“I like budgeting. It’s kind of like a board game. … The way I go about it is I look at history,” Wells said. He would look at “every account and work your way up.”

One motion in support of Montgomery initially fell short of granting the former elected official the appointment Wednesday.

During public comment, Montgomery’s wife Liz spoke in support of his candidacy, citing his involvement with the township in the past.

“For the past eight years, Rob has served on various committees and served on the board because he is a natural helper — always has been,” she said. “… As a family, it’s not uncommon for us when we go out to eat, just in the car, for Rob to answer a message, do some research for either employees of the township or community members seeking information.”

Montgomery also referenced his background, his four-year term as trustee on the board, his previous stint as a firefighter, as well as his time on the parks commission and appointed chairman of the zoning board of appeals — much of which, he said, exposed him to budgets, auditing, finances, and more related to the treasurer’s duties.

“As a realtor, (it’s) not just selling people a house, there’s a lot of dynamics that go into it,” he said, referencing helping people with interest rates and loan programs. “I’m pretty versed on the township. There’s many things I don’t know, which I realize, but serving as a trustee was a gateway.”

Montgomery unsuccessfully ran for township treasurer in 2020. At the time, with a host of previous township openings, while he was a trustee, he told the Times Herald he wanted to earn his position in an election rather than apply for a vacancy.

On Wednesday, he reiterated a similar intent to seek election, “regardless of tonight’s outcome,” referencing the regular primary and general township elections in 2024 and his familiarity with the deadline to file next April.

Any official, including Wells as treasurer, would have to file for re-election.

“Things are going to come up quick,” Montgomery said.

Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Fort Gratiot board taps recent retiree as treasurer appointee