Tension Mounts over Forks Recreation Board Appointment

The Forks Township Board of Recreation has a new member: Matt Baker.

But that appointment didn't go so smoothly at Forks Township's reorganization meeting last Monday.

When it came to fill the opening and Supervisors Chairman Erik Chuss said the Board of Supervisors should consider Baker, the only applicant, Supervisor David Billings immediately raised an objection.

"I request that he goes through the interview process," Billings said. "That's the standard process."

Billings was then told that Baker had applied before.

"I believe I interviewed Matt last year," Supervisor Dan Martyak said. "He is a dedicated individual. Matt would serve us well. He did interview in front of us."

When a motion was made to appoint Baker, Billings then took his objection up a notch.

"This is really a big mistake. An employee of a township shouldn't serve on boards. That's my opinion," he said. "We don't put township employees on boards. I think that's a bad practice. Other townships don't do it."

"It does happen all over the state," Chuss responded.

"I don't see it in Palmer," Billings returned.

"I called about it," Chuss stated. "It's very common in municipalities of all sizes."

"It's a bad practice," Billings retorted. "We're not a municipality of 2,000 people. We have 17,000."

Solicitor Karl Kline informed township officials that there is "nothing illegal" about appointing a township employee to a board.

He stated that the Board of Supervisors did adopt a resolution a few years back prohibiting supervisors from serving on other boards.

Chuss said he would ensure to avoid any conflicts of interest.

Billings was the only supervisor to vote against the appointment.