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By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
HAMLIN TOWNSHIP — The Hamlin Township Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting today to consider appointing an interim zoning administrator following the resignation of Zak Iverson, whose departure temporarily halted zoning permit processing in the township.
The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Hamlin Township Hall, 3775 N. Jebavy Drive. In addition to considering and voting on an interim zoning administrator, trustees are expected to review and potentially revise the zoning administrator job description and approve a posting for the permanent position.
Iverson resigned effective immediately in an Aug. 7 letter in which he cited what he described as an increasingly hostile work environment and repeated conflicts with township officials.
“I am now choosing to leave to preserve my mental health and family life because of the actions of a few,” Iverson wrote.
Iverson alleged that since new members joined the township board, there had been an effort to portray township operations before November 2024 as improperly conducted and not in residents’ best interests.
He specifically named Township Supervisor Marta Greenslait and Trustee Chris Cook, saying they had repeatedly questioned and challenged his work as zoning administrator.
Iverson wrote that he had continued to administer zoning according to the township ordinance and the procedures under which he had been trained. He alleged Cook once criticized him over a zoning violation letter and told him he needed to do his job “more like Stan” and “let sleeping dogs lye.”
Iverson also alleged that Greenslait told him on her first day as supervisor that she disliked how he performed his job and said he should not be “so aggressive” or drive around “stalking residents.”
In response to Iverson’s resignation, Greenslait acknowledged his service to the township while addressing the allegations contained in his letter.
“On behalf of the Township Board, I want to formally acknowledge Mr. Iverson’s resignation and thank him for the time and effort he has devoted to Hamlin Township,” Greenslait told MCP.
Greenslait said Iverson’s letter contained “a number of statements and allegations” concerning board members and how township business has been conducted.
“There will undoubtedly be different perspectives regarding what has occurred over the past year and a half,” Greenslait said. “Before forming an opinion, we ask residents to consider all of the facts and information available rather than relying solely on third-party hearsay, social media posts or incomplete information.”
Iverson said he initially viewed the comments and criticism he received as political tactics rather than substantive concerns, but eventually concluded that his refusal to change how he administered zoning had made him a target.
“What became very evident was I wasn’t going to compromise how my job was done so I was preventing an agenda, I was a problem,” he wrote.
Iverson also said his relationships with township residents and co-workers had become a source of conflict. He wrote that residents regularly visited the township office not only for permits or zoning assistance but also for conversation, and alleged Greenslait repeatedly questioned him about those interactions.
“I think the job I have done speaks for itself and should warrant more respect than I have been shown,” Iverson wrote.
He concluded the letter by apologizing to Hamlin Township residents and warning that accusations could be made about his performance following his departure.
“I trust the intelligence of the people will allow you to see right through that,” he wrote.
Following Iverson’s resignation, Hamlin Township announced a temporary pause in zoning services and permit processing because it did not have a zoning administrator available to process permits.
Township officials initially said they anticipated resuming zoning operations and permit processing Wednesday, Aug. 12, pending a board appointment. The township said pending applications would be prioritized once services resumed.
The special meeting notice was posted Aug. 14. The board may discuss and take action on the listed agenda items and related business properly brought before it.
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