Court to select interim supervisor after Towamencin vacancy; township posts application deadline

Bob, addressing the board at the April 9 Towamencin Township Board of Supervisors meeting, said the township petitioned the court under the Second Class Township Code after the board and the vacancy board were unable to fill the seat left vacant by Laura Smith’s resignation. He said the petition was filed March 5 and heard April 7.

Bob said Judge Jeffrey Sultz told township representatives that the appointment would be made not by the hearing judge alone but by a panel of county judges. That panel will review applications and appoint an interim supervisor to serve until Dec. 31, 2025. A press release with application instructions was posted on the township website, the township Facebook page and on the building bulletin board. Bob said applicants should submit materials to Michael R. Keyes, Esquire, court administrator; the township set the application deadline as April 18, 2025.

The announcement followed board discussion earlier in the meeting and prompted debate at adjournment. An unidentified speaker said sending the matter to the courts was unnecessary and said the board could instead appoint a compromise candidate before the court date. The transcript does not record a formal motion or vote on changing the process; the court appointment procedure and the April 18 application deadline are the next formal steps recorded.

Why it matters: The interim appointment will determine who serves on the board through the end of the year and could affect decisions on zoning, budgeting and capital projects already on the township’s agenda. The court’s appointment will replace whatever selection the board or vacancy board might have made at a future meeting.

What’s next: Applications are due April 18, 2025; the transcript indicates candidates may be interviewed by a panel after the deadline, but specific interview dates were not set.