WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - Resident Arnie Dull told the township supervisors Wednesday that appointments made at the board's January reorganization meeting are invalid because the supervisors did not vote on them.
A number of actions were not valid because the supervisors made motions that were seconded but not subject to votes, Dull said, citing a law governing public meeting procedures.
Dull said among the actions in question was the reappointment of Supervisor John Yetsconish to the paid position of roadmaster.
Dull said Yetsconish should not be entitled to the pay because he was not appointed to the post.
Supervisor Joanne Latkanich said she was under the impression that if no one spoke out against a motion, it was considered passed.
After the discussion, Yetsconish made a motion to retroactively approve all of the appointments.
Latkanich and Yetsconish voted in favor. Supervisor Chuck Yusko cast a dissenting vote.
Solicitor Simon John said he would research whether the board actions were valid.
Dull also accused the supervisors of accepting twice their meeting pay for what he said should have been one meeting in January.
Latkanich said she and Yusko receive $100 per paycheck for board meetings and that Yetsconish receives $75.
Latkanich said the supervisors were each paid twice because the January reorganization meeting and the business meeting were scheduled on the same night.
Yetsconish said it has been past practice for the board to receive pay for both the January business meeting and the reorganization meeting.
Dull said that under the law, the two sessions could have been conducted as one meeting.
Yusko made a motion to have township employees punch time cards.
Latkanich, who works full time as the township's secretary and treasurer, directly responded to Yusko's motion.
Latkanich said she keeps a written time card.
Neither Latkanich nor Yetsconish seconded the motion.
In an unrelated matter, the supervisors said some zoning permits will now be issued by the township's engineering company.
Zoning Officer Joe Malaspina said the engineer has to be consulted for more complex issues.
In other action, the supervisors:
- Hired Aaron Thompson and Nicholas Vielich as part-time police officers.
- Appointed Jeff Sager to a six-year term on the Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority.
