Former Harmar Secretary Tom Affinito won't reveal what forced him from his job, but he said Thursday it wasn't about township money.
"This incident had nothing to do with finances," Affinito said. "There have been audits of the township's books, and everything has been found to be in order down to the penny."
Affinito said Supervisor Chairman Jim DiPalma notified him by telephone May 20 that he was suspended. Although he refused to give details about what prompted the suspension, Affinito said he tried in vain to explain himself to DiPalma and two other supervisors.
"I tried to give my side of the story, but no one wants to hear my side," Affinito said.
DiPalma asked his fellow supervisors Monday to authorize an audit of township finances after Affinito's departure. He declined comment on whether the supervisors also should ask for a criminal investigation.
Under fire from fellow supervisors and some residents for acting unilaterally, DiPalma defended his actions.
"I didn't do anything the attorney didn't tell me I couldn't do," DiPalma said.
He also refused to say what prompted the decision to suspend Affinito. The supervisors, led by a majority faction that includes DiPalma, hired Affinito nearly three years ago after forcing out political rival and former secretary Michael Liberati.
Liberati won a Democratic nomination for a supervisor's seat in the May 17 primary.
Though supervisors in the minority faction complained this week they knew nothing about Affinito's suspension, DiPalma said he consulted with fellow majority faction supervisors before suspending Affinito.
Affinito apparently isn't challenging the suspension. He submitted his resignation to supervisors and said he wants to move on with his life.
Supervisor Kim Toney, who is in the minority faction, said she hopes the supervisors don't move to replace Affinito quickly. The majority faction is made up of DiPalma; Leo Chini, who didn't seek re-election this year; and Bob Seibert, who was defeated in the primary.
Toney said the hiring should be delayed until the supervisors elected in November take office. DiPalma declined comment on whether supervisors should hire a new secretary before the end of the year.
