East Penn reorganizes with new supervisors

Jacob Nothstein and Dean Kercsmar joined the five-member board of supervisors at the Jan. 4 reorganization meeting in East Penn Township.

In public comment resident Joe Ehritz said he hoped supervisors would appoint qualified people.

New office hours were announced: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with the office closed on Wednesdays.

A pay schedule was accepted and all salaries or hourly wages were made based on that schedule with no figures given.

Herb Truhe was named chairman of the supervisors with Kercsmar as the vice chair. Meetings will be held the first Monday at 5 p.m. in the social hall.

Deanna Cunfer retains the position of secretary for the township and for the planning commission. She is also the open records officer. Susan Porcina was named treasurer on a part-time basis. Centax will be the tax collector.

Supervisor Cory Smith was named roadmaster.

The vacancy board position was filled by Mike Hudson.

Jim Nanovic of Nanovic Law Offices will be solicitor for the supervisors and planning commission, and Bruce Steigerwalt is the engineer for the township.

Richard Dietrich was named zoning permit officer. The universal construction code inspector is by personal choice of the person needing inspections. Spotts, Stevens and McCoy was named building code official.

Former supervisor William Schwab will continue as the representative to the Central Carbon Comprehensive Plan. He is also heading the parks committee and remains a member of the local tax collection committee.

Smith was named to the solid waste management advisory committee. A second position is open.

Supervisor Randy Pfeiffer wanted the recreation commission, which he heads, to be returned to a seven member board because it is difficult to get a quorum with the nine-member board. He made a motion to change it but there was no second. Julie Ziegenfus was appointed to the board.

For sewage enforcement officer, Carl Wolfe was named with the stipulation that records will be provided to the township within 30 days. Sean Corey of SSM is the alternate. Pfeiffer objected based on the fact that Wolfe was discharged for improper billing last year.

Mileage for use of a personal car on township business was set at the IRS rate.

Any supervisors who want to attend the convention April 18 at Hershey will be approved as a delegate.

Pfeiffer suggested Joe Ehritz and Alan Beck be retained on the planning commission because of their years of experience, but Kercsmar and Jonathan Emery were named.

Robert Kleintop was named as the emergency management coordinator with Brian Eickhoff as deputy. Smith was named fire chief with Eickhoff as assistant.

Ron Elsaser was named as the representative to the Lehighton library board.

James Danner was named as police chief. Truhe presented his badge at the end of the meeting. He had been officer in charge.

Nothstein resigned from the zoning hearing board. Named to the board were John Reedy and Todd Scherer.

Sherri Kleintop was chosen as stenographer on an as-needed basis.

Nothstein was hired as a part-time mechanic to work on township equipment. Pfeiffer said the position had not been advertised as required. Truhe's comment was "What else is new?" When Pfeiffer asked the same question about other positions he was ignored.

Liaisons are: Smith, roads and maintenance; Truhe, police; Smith, social hall; Smith, fire company; Pfeiffer, recreation; Nothstein, administrative; Kercsmar, planning; and Smith, parks.