Polk Township reorganizes for 2019
Much of Polk Township’s administration will remain the same for 2019 as in the past. Township supervisor Brian Ahner will repeat as chairman and roadmaster. Michael Hurley is once again vice chairman and voting delegate to the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors convention.
Employees who are not part of the bargaining unit will receive a 2.8 percent increase, with the exception of part-time administrative assistant Rebecca Tippett, who was given an increase to $13 per hour in addition to the increase.
Ahner is the only supervisor who is a full-time employee of the township. His salary is set by the township-elected auditors.
Bargaining unit employees receive a 2 percent increase in April per the current contract.
Attorney James Fareri will continue as township solicitor and will also take over as solicitor for the Planning Commission.
Ruthanne Toner retains her position as township secretary and Right To Know officer. Beverly Christman is treasurer, and Justin Burker is zoning/codes official and assistant Right To Know officer.
Teamsters 773 employees will receive $400 in clothing allowance and $15 per township meeting attended. Only full-time employees receive benefits and 12 paid holidays, which include the employee’s birthday. There is no employee contribution for health benefits or retirement plan.
Ellen Gnandt, MBA, CPA, LLC was appointed accountant for the township. Russell R. Kresge Jr. was appointed township engineer. John Blick is UCC Construction Code Officer with Lehigh Valley Inspectors as an alternate. Jonathan Shupp is sewage enforcement officer with Scott Policelli as an alternate.
Beverly Christman was appointed delegate to the Monroe County Tax Collection Committee. Shirley Haydt is the alternate delegate. Ahner will continue to represent the township at the Pocono Mountains Council of Governments. Hurley is the township’s delegate to CJERP Joint Planning Commission. Gary Bruch was appointed to the vacancy board.
The Uniform Commercial Code Board of Appeals will be made up of Greg Mackes, Robert Serfass and Dennis Smale.
The zoning hearing board consists of Thomas Milewski, Michael Lalli and Carl Scorsone. Dwight Christmas will be the alternate.
The planning commission will be made up of William J. Tippett, Gary Bruch and Mark Giunta. Supervisors Carl Heckman and Hurley also sit on the commission.
The Ag Security Board is made up of Heckman, Smale, Christman and Serfass as well as Bryan Baumgartner and Dominick Strohlein.
The supervisors appointed Vincent Morello to serve on the parks and recreation board with members Robert Butler, Greg Meckes and Brett Moyer. There are open positions on this board.
Polk Township Volunteer Fire Company is the designated township fire company. Billy Tippett was reaffirmed as fire chief. Aaron Keller was reaffirmed as president and Jim Schaeffer was reaffirmed as vice president of the Polk Volunteer Fire Company. West End Community Ambulance was designated as the primary emergency responder.
William J. Tippett is the township delegate to the Regional Emergency Center. Barry Borger is Emergency Management Coordinator and William J. Tippett is assistant coordinator.
Berkheimer was reaffirmed as earned income tax collector.
Elected auditors are Susan Shupp, Lucille Piggott Prawl and Shirley Haydt.
