Newtown Township Supervisors - New Year, Business as Usual

Last night's Newtown Board of Supervisors meeting was the Chairman Joe Catania Show again. Joe was back in attendance after missing the reorganization meeting.  The other Supervisors asked few if any questions even though last night's agenda included approval of across the board increases in salary of 3.5% for all non-uniform employees effective the first pay cycle of 2014, approving Manager Trio's recommendation to terminate an employee, hearing from the Township Engineer about the Gradyville Bridge's interminable delay as well as her report of unpaid bills related to the construction of the Apartment/Townhouse development on Route 252 and appointing a new member to the Municipal Authority. This was just some of the business of the meeting.

Supervisor Partridge did seem to seek clarification that the salary increases were in the budget.  However, neither he nor any of the other Supervisors had any questions about total compensation or salary policies.   Additionally, when voting to approve the Manager's recommendation to terminate an employee who was identified as the fiscal administrator, Mr. Partridge wanted to include an employee number in the motion. Since Mr. Partridge missed the Executive Session where a personnel matter was discussed, was he confused as to what employee Mr. Trio was recommending to be approved for termination? It didn't matter.  He voted to approve Mr. Trio's recommendation to terminate the fiscal administrator. Mr. Partridge also asked that Ms. Roberts-Lightcap and Ms. Gabell provide a written explanation for the employee's personnel folder as to why they abstained from voting on this motion. 

Maybe the Supervisors after leaving the meeting actually thought about the actions they took.  Maybe it will occur to them to have the following questions:

1.  Related to the Engineer's report where it was reported that the Gradyville Road Bridge project is still not out for bid because of the need for an approval from the Army Corps of Engineers related to an endangered species habitat.

What has been the Engineer's experience as to how long these permits take to be issued?  Last night, other than to offer a reason for the latest delay, not a single person offered and no Supervisor asked for any predictions for when the Bridge will reopen.  Closed in May, 2012, I'm willing to predict that the Bridge will likely not be opening by the previously indicated August 2014. Clearly, no one on the Board of Supervisors worries or cares how long the bridge will remain closed. If there is anything that can be done to mitigate the inconvenience for residents, it doesn't seem to be a concern of the Supervisors.

As reported by the Engineer, there are outstanding bills owed to the Township for the construction of the Apartments and Townhouses on Route 252.  Yet, inspections and construction continued while these bills went unpaid.  Why did Township Manager Trio allow this to continue?

2.  Related to the 3.5% increase for non-uniform employees to be paid in the first pay cycle of the New Year.  Does this mean that the employee who Mr. Trio sought and received approval for his recommendation for termination of employment last night will get a raise for the work done earlier this year? Seems to me, Newtown Township now owes this employee back pay.  

3.  Related to the Municipal Authority appointment.  Who is Mr. Schoenstadt replacing?  Mr. Caldwell was not reappointed to the Municipal Authority last night although it appears his term ended.  I guess it could be his position? Is this an additional member? How long is his appointment? The Supervisors had no questions.  

With the exception of an unexplained abstention by Mr. Nawn on the vote for advertising for "irregular Part Time Public Works Drivers"(maybe he wants to apply to be an irregular Part Time Public Works Driver?) and the abstention of Ms. Roberts-Lightcap and Ms. Gabell on voting on the Manager's recommendation for approval of an employee's termination which was explained for them by Mr. Catania not by themselves, last night was affirmative without question on everything on the agenda.  

Another year, more of the same.