Nicole Migliorini is resigning as the Burns Harbor Town clerk-treasurer, citing a “toxic environment” that has made it “impossible” to perform the job.

Migliorini, 32, had served for less than a year as she was officially appointed by the Town Council as clerk-treasurer on June 12, 2024.

She filed her official resignation letter Wednesday with the Porter County Clerk’s office. The resignation takes effect on May 14.

It is the second time within a year that a Burns Harbor clerk-treasurer has resigned, citing problems working with other town officials.

Jane Jordan on May 8, 2024, suddenly resigned as the clerk-treasurer after serving 20 years on the job. Her husband Kurt Jordan, who had been elected to the Town Council in November 2023, also turned in his resignation.

The Jordans had issues with the Burns Harbor Volunteer Fire Department Corporation concerning public records access and alleged violations of Indiana Code in customer billing for emergency services. They resigned because of their belief that the state, county and the Town Council were unresponsive to the situation.

Migliorini in her letter stated that she hoped to have a more positive experience when she started the job, but it became apparent that wasn’t going to happen.

“This decision comes after long consideration and is the result of the toxic environment that has made it impossible to perform my duties with the integrity the role deserves,” Migliorini’s letter states.

“Despite my best efforts to uphold the responsibilities of my office, I can no longer justify remaining in a position where standards are ignored.”

Migliorini explained in an interview with The Post-Tribune that her issue is that the Town Council refused her request to hire another full-time clerk.

When Migliorini took the job, she replaced the veteran Jordan, considered an expert who has been an instructor at workshops for clerk-treasurers in Indiana. Corinne Peffers, who had been assistant clerk for seven years, had left because she was elected in 2023 by voters in Porter to be their clerk-treasurer.

Migliorini said her assistant, Madeline Parker, is an outstanding employee. But together they didn’t have the experience of the prior employees to handle the work that includes many federal and state requirements. She said the town did have the police clerk help part-time, but refused to hire another full-time employee.

“I received nothing but backlash and pushback. They were not willing to work with me to get the additional help that this office needed,” Migliorini said. “If I can’t have adequate staffing to run that office, that’s the end of the road.”

During her last week on the job, Migliorini said in her letter she would fulfill her duties, but “will not continue to tolerate an environment that actively obstructs the very principles I was hired to uphold.”

Migliorini had worked as an assistant clerk in the Burns Harbor clerk-treasurer’s office before she was promoted. She also served on the town’s plan commission.

Burns Harbor Council President Jennifer McHargue, in an email response, said the Town Council was aware that Migliorini was going to resign. She said they would follow Indiana law in finding an individual capable of handling the job. In the interim, they will work with the deputy clerks to ensure a smooth transition.

McHargue didn’t respond to a question about Migliorini’s observation that a “toxic environment” led to her resignation.

Councilwoman Roseann Bozak said that she and other council members received an email this week from Migliorini, informing them of her intent to file the resignation paperwork with the Porter County Clerk’s office.

Bozak declined to comment on the content of Migliorini’s resignation letter.

The Town Council will have to find someone soon to fill the job and, at the moment, there is no one in mind, Bozak said. The council appointed Migliorini to the clerk-treasurer’s job after Porter County Democratic Party Chairman Don Craft declined to make the appointment.

Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.