Kalamazoo Township Treasurer Shake-Up: Clara Robinson Named After Controversy Surrounding Former Official Sherine Miller

Former Kalamazoo Township Treasurer Locked Out of Her Office After Being Called Incompetent

*A new person is at the helm of Kalamazoo Township's finances following a controversial fallout between the township and previous treasurer Sherine Miller.*

Clara Robinson, a former Kalamazoo Township trustee, has been selected to serve as the township's new treasurer. Robinson will hold the office until November, at which point township residents will elect a new treasurer.

The position was previously held by Sherine Miller, who resigned earlier this month following charges of "official misconduct and willful neglect of duty."

"I think the biggest thing is that people understand that I too am a stakeholder," Robinson said. "I'm not only a board member, resident, but the treasurer."

Investigation Found Miller Unable to Handle Public Funds

An outside investigation into Miller's work found her "patently incompetent," claiming Miller was unable to balance financial statements or manage property tax assessments. Since then, residents expressed concern over how their money was handled over multiple years.

One of the main criticisms of Miller in the investigation was her alleged inability to follow financial best practices, or accounting rules to keep track of millions in public funds.

She'd been censured twice, stripped of most of her duties and faced a formal report calling her "incompetent." She was literally locked out of her office, only allowed at Township Hall on meeting nights.

Robinson Wants Transparency to Be Key

Robinson, who was first elected in Kalamazoo Township as a board trustee in 2020, was named treasurer Monday morning. She will handle finances through the end of the year.

Her resume includes 12 years as Comstock Township's deputy treasurer, along with professional financial operations. She later switched to executive coordinator, helping with multiple township departments before being re-appointed to the board. She's now resigned as trustee to be full-time treasurer and rebuild trust with the public.

"I expect to be held accountable," Robinson said. "Just like I expect the board members to be held accountable as we have been doing to this point."

"We have an audit that will return under her leadership and encourages residents to follow the money for themselves," Robinson said.

Residents Now Have a New Person to Watch

Kalamazoo Township chose Robinson as its new treasurer in a special board meeting Monday morning. The appointment comes after Miller left the position this month after an outside investigation into her work.

Robinson wants transparency to be key from this point forward. She expects to be held accountable, just like she expects the board members to be held accountable as they have been doing to this point.