Jeanine M. Xaver is the incumbent candidate for the office of Clerk-Treasurer of the City of Plymouth. The City of Plymouth Clerk-Treasurer serves as the fiscal officer of the city. She also serves as the secretary and record-keeper for the Common Council and also performs those functions for the Board of Public Works and Safety. The Clerk-Treasurer has the responsibility to keep records of council proceedings including the recording of all notes, and preserving all papers relating to its business; present ordinances, orders or resolutions to the mayor for approval; prepare and keep an ordinance book; have charge of all documents and books entrusted to her by statute or ordinance; administer oaths when necessary in the discharge of the clerk’s duties; and keep the city seal.
The Clerk-Treasurer’s Office is responsible for the billing and collection of the water, wastewater, garbage and stormwater bills, cemetery bills, public and private fire hydrant bills and ambulance bills for the City of Plymouth. The office is also charged with the duty of paying bills for all of the city departments, which include the Storm Water Department, Engineering Department, Building Commission Department, Law Department, Mayor’s Office, Clerk-Treasurer’s Office, Sanitation Department, Police Department, Fire Department, City Properties Department, City Lights and Power Department, City Warehouse, Park Department, Cemetery Department, Street Department, Aviation Department, Wastewater Department and Water Department; and oversees the various other funds of the city. The City Office also manages payroll and benefits for all city employees.
Xaver has worked in the City of Plymouth Clerk-Treasurer’s office since 1987. She was first appointed Deputy Clerk-Treasurer by Beverly J. Curtis in 1992; and in 1996, Xaver was named Deputy Clerk-Treasurer by Clerk-Treasurer Toni L. Hutchings. Xaver served as the Recording Secretary for the Plymouth Plan Commission; the Recording Secretary for the Plymouth Board of Zoning Appeals; the Recording Secretary for the Plymouth Board of Aviation Commissioners and currently serves as Secretary to the Common Council, the Board of Public Works and Safety and the Redevelopment Commission. She is also a member of the Police Pension Board for the City. During her 31+ years of service to the City of Plymouth, Xaver has worked as Payroll Clerk and has learned the various duties of the Human Resource Director, Accounts Payable Clerk and the Utility Clerk.
Xaver became Clerk-Treasurer on October 1, 2014 after a caucus was called following the retirement of former Clerk-Treasurer Toni Hutchings. She was subsequently elected to office during the 2015 election. During the time she’s worked for the city, she has seen the implementation of property tax caps and the reduction of business personal property taxes, both changes that lessen incoming tax funding for the city. She has also seen laws passed that have required additional spending by the city, such as unfunded mandates requiring separated storm sewer systems.
There is a great amount of expertise, education and training necessary to properly carry out the duties of the office of clerk-treasurer. To that end, Xaver earned her Indiana Accredited Municipal Clerk designation by completing the classes and training required by the continuing education program conducted by Ball State University, Muncie.
This program provides student / instructor contact hours of in-depth courses in managerial and leadership skills, social and interpersonal concerns, public administration, governmental matters and technical training needed to deal with changes taking place in government today.
The unique certification program of the Indiana League of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers (ILMCT) was launched in 1979 after years of planning. The program aids municipal clerks and clerk-treasurers in improving job performance and recognizes the professionalism of the municipal clerk-treasurer’s office. Completion of a recognized career development institute or bachelor’s degree in public administration or related field, responsible experience in local government and participation in conferences, meetings and educational seminars are required to earn this prestigious IAMC designation. Qualifications of applicants are reviewed and approved by the ILMCT Education and Certification Committee.
Xaver earned her Certified Municipal Clerk’s designation from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. The Certified Municipal Clerk program is designed to enhance the job performance of the Clerk in small and large municipalities. To earn the CMC designation, a Municipal Clerk must attend extensive education programs. The CMC designation also requires pertinent experience in a municipality. The CMC program prepares the applicants to meet the challenges of the complex role of the Municipal Clerk by providing them with quality education in partnership with institutions of higher learning, as well as State / Provincial / National Associations. The CMC program has been assisting clerks to excel since 1970.
Xaver is looking forward to the continuing to meet the challenges facing the Office of the Clerk-Treasurer and continuing her service to the citizens and employees of the City of Plymouth as Clerk-Treasurer.
Active in her professional affiliations, she is a member of the Indiana League of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers, the International Institute of Municipal Clerks and a Pastoral Council member and parishioner at St. Michael Church Roman Catholic Church. She is the daughter of the late Francis and Irene Xaver. Her son, Zack, is a student and Belmont University and a cadet in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Xaver and her husband, Larry Hatcher, Jr., are life-long residents of Plymouth. Xaver is looking forward to the continuing to meet the challenges facing the Office of the Clerk-Treasurer and continuing her service to the citizens and employees of the City of Plymouth as Clerk-Treasurer.
