Meet the New Boss
While reviewing the Board of Supervisors minutes from 2004, I found minutes that showed how the process of replacing a supervisor works. Clyde Kulp was an East Cocalico Township supervisor at the time of his death on June 8, 2004. He had been reelected in 2003, and started this term in January 2004.
Clyde Kulp's death was noted in the minutes of the meeting of June 16, 2004:
The next mention of a replacement supervisor came in the minutes of July 7, 2004 when Planning Commission member Noelle Fortna was appointed to replace Mr. Kulp. There was no public discussion noted in the supervisor's minutes prior to her being appointed:
Noelle Fortna was seated as a supervisor at the workshop meeting the following week:
It is interesting to note the phrase at the end of the last sentence "noting the team philosophy of the Board." My interpretation of the meaning of "team philosophy" is that dissent will not be tolerated. Since 2006 when I started closely following the board, votes that are not unanimous have been very rare.
Since there was apparently no public discussion on the selection of a new supervisor, how are they chosen? The answer is found in the "Second Class Township Code," section 407:
"...if a vacancy occurs in the office by death, resignation, removal from the township or otherwise, the board of supervisors may appoint a successor,"
Failing that,
"...upon their failure to make the appointment within thirty days after the vacancy occurs, the vacancy shall be filled within fifteen additional days by the vacancy board. The vacancy board shall consist of the board of supervisors and one elector of the township..."
The following minutes from the reorganizational meeting of the board held on January 3, 2005 shows the reappointment of the "Vacancy Board" - consisting of Barry Weaver, who is the chairman of the Cocalico Area Republican Committee, an official position he has continued in up to the present time.
© Ken McCrea 2009