Former Township Clerk Robin Buxar appointed as new supervisor

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — Former Oakland Township Clerk Robin Buxar has been appointed by the Oakland Township Board of Trustees to serve as the township’s new supervisor.

Former Township Supervisor Dominic Abbate submitted his resignation letter — citing “personal reasons” as his cause for leaving his role — during the Nov. 15 Board of Trustees meeting, with an effective date of Nov. 30. This was Abbate’s 18th year serving on the Oakland Township Board of Trustees.

“I’m really sorry to see Dominic go,” Buxar said. “He’s been tremendous and he’s done a tremendous job with our township through serving on many boards and commissions throughout the years.”

Five candidates originally applied for the vacant supervisor position — Buxar, township Treasurer John Giannangeli, Trustee Andy Zale, and township residents James Carter and John Markel. Buxar was appointed as the new supervisor Jan. 10 by a majority vote of the board, effective as of midnight that evening. The deadline, by law, for the board to appoint a replacement was 45 days after the resignation — or Jan. 14.

Buxar, along with Giannangeli and trustees Jack Elder and Dave Mabry, voted in favor of the motion, while Trustee Lana Mangiapane and Zale voted against it.

Mangiapane said she preferred Buxar to stay in her clerk role.

“I don’t think right now is a good time to hire another clerk. I think that she is the best and that someday she will be known in Michigan,” Mangiapane said.

Elder disagreed.

“She’s a dynamo. She’s passionate about the township, and respected, and I do think she would do well as supervisor and she would mentor whoever came next. She’s a mother hen. I think she wants things to go well on the clerk’s side,” he said. “She does a great job as a clerk, but you want to give people an opportunity to move up and fill out their abilities better.”

Buxar became actively involved in Oakland Township politics after being elected as a precinct delegate. In 2013, she was appointed to the Board of Trustees, and she was later elected as a board trustee in 2014 and 2016. Buxar secured the clerk position in 2020. She has lived in the township for over 48 years and served on various boards, commissions and community groups.

“I wasn’t planning on moving from my (clerk) role to this, but when he did submit (his resignation), I thought, with my experience and whatnot, I would put my name in the hat and see how it turned out, because I have been serving for almost 10 years on the board,” Buxar said.

Buxar said she is well qualified to serve as supervisor, thanks to her overall township knowledge, experience and education. She says she pledges to lead with “transparency and consistent, ongoing opportunities for constructive engagement for all residents, consultants and staff.” Buxar said she also remains “committed to fiscal responsibility, balanced and sustainable budgets, and careful, thoughtful, managed growth to preserve the qualities we as residents of Oakland Township have always valued so highly.”

Buxar’s appointment now leaves a vacancy for the position of township clerk.

“The procedure to fill the vacancy will be made by board appointment, again, for the remainder of this term and 45 days that will start as of midnight (Jan. 10),” Buxar said.

All board members and township residents who wish to be considered for the position of clerk had to submit their application to the clerk’s office by email or in person by 4 p.m. Jan. 18, which was after press time.

“To be considered you must be a township resident for at least 30 days, 18 years or older and a U.S. citizen,” Buxar explained.