Interviews For Township Solicitor, Engineer To Begin Next Week

South Whitehall officials will begin interviewing candidates next week for the coveted jobs of township solicitor and engineer.

Interest has been high.

The township received more than two dozen proposals for both positions, but are narrowing down the list of candidates, township Manager Jon Hammer told the board of commissioners Wednesday.

He and the board's subcommittee -- commissioners Thomas Johns and Howard Ellsworth -- will conduct the face-to-face interviews with those on the short-list, he said. He did not specify how many candidates would be chosen to make presentations.

From those interviews, Hammer said, an even shorter list of candidates will be presented to the full board of commissioners for final face-to-face interviews.

He said the township's current solicitor -- Stevens & Lee and attorney Blake Marles -- as well as the township's current engineer -- the Pidcock Co. -- will go straight to the final interview round.

South Whitehall officials have said that they are seeking the proposals for legal and engineering services as they set out to evaluate whether taxpayers are currently getting the best value for their money.  

The issue arose during the budget process last year, as the commissioners faced financial challenges that resulted in the use of capital reserves to hold off a tax increase.

The process could result in the township changing its long-time solicitor and engineer.