Shaffer resigns

[davidk]

On Tuesday March 15 Supervisor Shaffer resigned from the board. He cited personal reasons.
The board now has 30 days to appoint a new member to serve till the first Monday in January when the new board takes over.

[Sal]

Here are my thoughts on the matter.

Three people are running for office and one of those three should get the position if they want it.  Anything short of that would be a disservice to the Township.

Everyone in Newton had an opportunity to run for supervisor.  Some of us stuck our neck out and did everything that was required to get on the ballot.

It would be disgraceful if the supervisors slip someone in there that did not have the courage to run for office.  

It would also be disgraceful for a person that did not have the courage to run for office to try to sneak in.

[davidk]

I agree, the appointee should be someone who is actively pursueing one of the now open positions via the election.
However, knowing the current boards history I highly doubt they will even  consider anyone who is running. The majority may give the idea lip service, but that is about all.
Therein lies a serious problem with not only the township but also the manner in which replacements are chosen.
I am almost certain that the new member will be one of those whom were chosen to take positions on boards or commissions in January.
To do otherwise would give the new member a running start at not only the primary but also November.
The appointee will be a placeholder only.

[davidk]

The new supervisor has been named.
It's Doug Eckel.
The vote was taken at last nights work session. The board was going to wait until the regular monthly meeting but thought it better to give Doug the chnace to be sworn in and then take his seat at the next regular meeting.
The board was looking for someone who was not on the ballot so as not to give them an advantage or show favortism.
They also wanted someone with experience.
Doug also volunteered.

[Sal]

I doubt that Doug Eckel volunteered to be a supervisor without backroom dealings.  He was an appointed Supervisor before and he could not wait to get out.  

Mr. Eckel is part of the Helen Spenser / Lee Jamison click.  That click wasted hundreds of thousands of tax dollars fighting Interstate Safety by swaying township officials to use tax dollars to fight their cause.  In the end, the Township lost and it was broke.

Then Spencer and Jamison became supervisors.  When Helen Spencer resigned under public pressure for allegedly using tax dollars for her own use, Mr. Eckel was appointed Supervisor.

As a Supervisor, Mr. Eckel did nothing but he has a lot of experience at keeping the seat warm and going along with whatever good ol’ Lee wanted.

The reason that they did not appoint Mr. Eckel at the monthly meeting is because there would be too much scrutiny.

This is another example of their backroom dealings, another Supervisor is appointed, and the people have no say.

My advice to the people of Newton is, do not vote for anyone that is currently a supervisor.  It is the only way to put a stop to all that nonsense.