Kidder Township manager resigns to take new position
Kidder Township resident Tom Davis shows one of the 60 fireworks cartridges left in the trash of a rental property in January to Chairman Thomas Bradley. Davis owns rental property and has a “No fireworks” clause in his leasing agreement. He suggested that the township require it of all rental properties. JUDY DOLGOS-KRAMER/TIMES NEWS
Lisa Klem has resigned her position as Kidder Township manager. Klem was with the township for 10 years and will be taking on the same role in Upper Nazareth Township.
“It is with a heavy heart that we accept Lisa’s resignation,” said township Chairman Thomas Bradley. “She is doing what is best for her and for her family. They have made her a very good offer.”
Supervisor Ray Gluck made a motion to name township secretary Suzanne Brooks the interim manager at the rate of $55,000 per year. The motion was agreed to by all board members with the exception of Supervisor Bruce Berger, who voted no.
Klem thanked the board and told those present that she believed that they had a strong board that had the best interests of the residents in mind. She also wished Brooks good luck in her new role.
The board approved a motion to hire a new part-time secretary to assist Brooks.
The supervisors also voted to approve an ordinance disbanding the Emergency Services Commission. Bradley had said at last month’s meeting that the township was considering an alternative plan for replacing the commission in the future.
Ordinance 183 was also amended to change the method used by the township’s emergency services to request funds from the township.
Fireworks complaint
Resident Tom Davis attended the meeting and brought with him an empty fireworks cartridge that he took from a neighbor’s property back in January. Davis explained that the use of “professional” fireworks in the township has gotten out-of-hand.
According to Davis there were at least 60 of such cartridges left in the garbage of this property when the weekend renter vacated it.
There were a number of other residents who expressed their frustrations over the frequent use of fireworks in the township.
Police Chief Matthew Kuzma repeatedly asked if the residents had called 911 for the incidents. Fire Chief Ralph Lennon said on one occasion he did approach renters on Tobyhanna Street and explain that they had the option of stopping or dealing with the police, after which he said they stopped.
“You need to call 911 even if you do not know for sure where it is coming from,” Kuzma said. “Don’t call the nonemergency number, call 911. The officer on duty will patrol the area and try to narrow down where it is coming from. But you have to call.”
Library request
Mary Farnschlader of the Penn-Kidder Library made a request for a donation to keep the library in operation. Farnschlader explained that the library is reopened and that a new catalog system is in place.
Supervisor Thomas LaFond challenged Farnschlader, wanting to know if the library had become a branch of the Dimmick Library. Bradley rejected the request, stating that the “temperature” of the board was not favorable.
Bradley requested that the library board meet with the supervisors to discuss the matter further.
Comments