3 to 2 wins again.......

On the surface it would appear to be a good idea for the Forks Township Board of Supervisors (BoS) to start the search for a new Township Manager as announced at last night’s BoS meeting. On the other hand-

1. We have gone through two managers in the last five years and in both cases, we residents footed the bill for severance packages. The point being that perhaps we need a different, or adjunct group of people to conduct the interview process so we don’t get sacked again.
2. Over 50% of the current job description for the town manager position is finance related. Not long ago the township hired a finance manager (James Farley) so clearly the current job description for township manager is no longer valid and should be re-written prior to anyone being hired.
3. Based on the township’s skyrocketing (some would say out of control) growth, perhaps now is an opportune time to consider a form of government change such as a full-time publicly elected mayor who is directly accountable to the residents of Forks Township.
4. Do we really need a township manager? Though we usually take conservative positions when it comes to spending, possibly an outside management consultant and noted expert should be engaged to study all levels of our current staffing and form of government to see what we need from a management perspective. Then again, being a bedroom community, we probably have a plethora of such talent who reside in the township and work for large firms elsewhere who would be willing to assist with this on a pro-bono basis.

Whatever the 3-D’s (Supervisors Don Miller, David Hoff and David Howell) decide, and make no mistake, its all up to them since they vote in a block, let’s hope that if they ignore these and other suggestions that they at least find a truly experienced, well qualified and non political patronage due individual to award this position to.