Treasurer’s salary debated at East Union
By Kaylee Lindenmuth
SHEPPTON – Multiple items were debated among a capacity public crowd of roughly 30 and East Union Township supervisors at the monthly meeting Thursday afternoon, among them were the duties and salary of the township’s treasurer.
List of Bills
A motion to accept the treasurer’s report from Mary Stitzer, the township’s appointed treasurer, was held as supervisors were not provided an itemized list of bills to be paid in June.
Stitzer’s report outlined the total account balances, expenditures, and revenue from the prior month.
“Jon (Dettery, township supervisors chairman), I’m not going to make a motion, because she was supposed to give us a list of the bills that were paid,” said Dennis Antonelli, township supervisor. “All I heard was the total expenses, I didn’t hear any itemized bills that were paid.”
“Itemized bills that were paid? There weren’t any, they were here,” said Stitzer.
“Well, we had $50,000 worth of expense,” said Antonelli.
“They all don’t have to be approved all in one—” said Stitzer, interrupted by a multitude of crowd members stating otherwise.
Township solicitor Joseph Baranko noted that municipalities generally run through a list of all bills to be paid, then motion to pay the bills.
A township resident then noted the requirements of the second class township code regarding a township treasurer’s duties.
“Procedurally, there should be a list of the bills to be paid,” said Baranko, also citing the code.
Stitzer then stated she hadn’t been made aware of the requirement in four and a half years as treasurer. She then listed entities in which bills were paid to, though amounts were not listed.
Antonelli then suggested that, for next meeting, a summary be printed showing vendors paid by the township.
A motion was made and passed to accept the treasurer’s report, followed by a motion to pay all bills, contingent upon receipt and review of the list of bills.
Treasurer’s Salary
“I had the secretary listen to the tapes from the meetings, and there was nothing on them for any motion of any pay increase for the treasurer,” said Antonelli. “I’ll ask again, Mary, can you tell us how that came about?”
“In 2014, when I started, my salary was $500 a month ($6,000 a year), and I was told it would be ten hours at the most a week,” said Stitzer. “Lisa and I had come here, it was 25 hours plus a week, so, in a month’s time, I was making $5 an hour. I said, after two months, ‘I’m not doing this for $5 an hour, find someone.’ So, Lisa researched and saw what a fair price amount would be for a pay raise, and came up with $8.80, and ran that by the supervisors, and it was OK’d, so it went up to $880 a month ($10,560 a year).”
Members of the public then questioned the claim that it was approved by supervisors, though it allegedly did not appear in the minutes.
Antonelli then motioned to turn the matter over to the township auditors, noting they have the power to backcharge for the overpayment, which was approved, followed by a motion to reduce the treasurer’s salary back to $6000 a year, which was approved.
General Public Comment
Among general public comments, one township resident requested a link to the East Union Township page on City-Data.com be removed from the township’s website, as it lists a statistic for “likely homosexual households.”
Several residents brought up concerns regarding the proposed Dollar General, specifically regarding environmental concerns, well water levels, impact on other businesses, and more.
Others made township supervisors aware of code issues at properties neighboring their own. One inquired about the legality of burning in the township, specifically burning garbage, to which supervisors recommended contacting the Department of Environmental Protection.
Other Business
In other business, township supervisors:
- Approved the repository sale of 76 West Market Street, Sheppton
- Approved the completion of a land use letter regarding the Dollar General Rezoning for DEP
- Approved advertising for bids for the Oneida Storm Installation Project.
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