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Schuylkill Township supervisors name Cooney chair, approve appointments, resolutions and administrative policies
Summary
At its Jan. 6, 2025 reorganization meeting, the Schuylkill Township Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed Supervisor Bob Cooney as 2026 chair, approved administrative and professional appointments, set a $2,000,000 treasurers bond, awarded a $4,320 traffic-signal maintenance contract, and adopted several resolutions and spending policies.
The Schuylkill Township Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed Supervisor Bob Cooney as chair for 2026 and approved a slate of administrative appointments, professional-service contracts and resolutions at its organization meeting on Jan. 6, 2025.
Supervisor Bob Cooney was appointed chair on a motion by Supervisor John Kiernan, seconded by Supervisor Devin Hager; Supervisor Devin Hager was later appointed vice chair on a motion by Supervisor Danielle Jouenne, seconded by Supervisor Cooney. Township solicitor Michael G. Crotty presided as temporary chair to open the meeting at 7:09 p.m. before relinquishing the gavel to Cooney.
The board also appointed Laurie A. Getz as township treasurer and approved a treasurers bond of $2,000,000 for 2026, with the township paying the cost of the bond. The board named Getz township manager and Valentina Mitterer assistant township manager and township secretary in unanimous motions.
The supervisors approved a list of liaison assignments and appointments to standing boards and commissions. Appointments included Michael Pellegrino and Curt English to the Planning Commission (terms to Dec. 31, 2029), Kevin Hyde as an Environmental Advisory Council alternate, and representatives to the Valley Forge Sewer Authority Board, where Martha Majewski and Dave Demey received five-year terms.
The board adopted a number of administrative and professional-service designations for 2026, including Siana Law/Michael G. Crotty as township solicitor; T & M Associates / Paul Boettinger, P.E., as township engineer; Bowman as township traffic engineer; Natural Lands as township land planner; ARRO Consulting, Inc. as building inspector/code enforcement officer; and Wisler Pearlstine LLP as open space counsel.
On personnel and contract matters, the Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding for Chief of Police William Fitzsimmons covering Jan. 5, 2026 to Jan. 4, 2027. The Board awarded the traffic signal maintenance bid to Charles A. Higgins & Sons, Inc. in the amount of $4,320 and authorized advertising the schedule of 2026 meetings for the Board and standing commissions.
The supervisors set administrative financial controls including a requirement that all expenditures over $7,500 receive prior Board approval and adopted a township mileage reimbursement rate of $0.725 per mile, consistent with IRS guidelines. The board also authorized up to four individuals to attend the 2026 PSATS conference (April 19-22, 2026) with overnight accommodations if requested.
The board unanimously approved a package of resolutions, including Resolution No. 2026-01 (Depositories and Signatories), 2026-02 (Appointment of Certified Public Accountant), 2026-03 (2026 Fee Schedule), 2026-04 (Emergency Services Provision), 2026-05 (Affirmation Code of Conduct), 2026-06 (Procedures and Rules for Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law compliance), 2026-07 (Record Destruction), 2026-08 (Zoning Hearing Board Appointments), and 2026-09 (Act 140 of 2024 Fire Tax).
During the public-comment period, resident John Mraz of Meadowbrook Lane asked the board to increase township communications. The meeting was adjourned at 8:08 p.m.
Next procedural steps: the board approved the advertised 2026 meeting calendar and the appointments and resolutions take effect as recorded in meeting minutes and relevant resolutions.
