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Residents press Board over manager’s leave and alleged conflict in solicitor selection
Summary
Residents demanded transparency after Dickinson Township placed long-time manager Larry Barrick on leave and raised allegations that Chairman Rob Kole failed to disclose a close relationship with the newly retained solicitor firm, Salzmann Hughes. Kole and other supervisors defended the procurement and said the firm was the lowest, most qualified bidder.
Chairman Rob Kole told residents the Board could not comment on the status of Township Manager Larry Barrick because “the matter is an ongoing personnel matter,” and asked for civility during public comment. Multiple residents used the public-comment period to press the Board for more transparency and answers about Barrick’s leave.
Resident Nate Merkel, who said he has served on several Township boards, called Barrick “fair” and “honorable” and said placing him on leave after 20 years of service was “a dis-service to the Township and residents.” Several others, including Marty Williams and Judy Brough, echoed calls for clarity about the manager’s status and urged protections for staff and institutional memory.
The meeting also included an extended dispute over the Board’s recent decision to retain the law firm Salzmann Hughes as Township Solicitor. Resident Cathy Little alleged Chairman Kole did not disclose a long-term personal and professional relationship with members of the firm and criticized Kole for advocating and voting to retain Salzmann Hughes. Little said the relationships include shared property ownership and social outings and asked whether that had been disclosed.
Kole responded that his financial interest and longstanding relationship with the attorneys were disclosed in the Township’s Financial Interest filing and during public discussion; he said the firm won the contract after a public RFP in which four firms responded and that their hourly rate was below the prior solicitor. “Their bid was the lowest hourly rate,” Kole said, adding he had discussed the RFP in open meetings. He framed his vote as a fiduciary decision to secure “the most qualified” and least-cost option for the Township.
Supervisor Jen DeGaetano and resident Jim DeGaetano defended the Board’s move, saying the new solicitor and auditor have provided substantial professional value and that the finance context (including a $1.5 million general fund balance and budget pressures) informed procurement decisions. Resident Judy Brough asked the Board to provide a historical comparison of solicitor fees, pointing to prior years where legal costs rose significantly.
The Board did not take any formal personnel or solicitor-removal action at the meeting. No legal findings were presented; the exchange remained a contested public debate between residents alleging nondisclosure and the Chairman asserting disclosure and procurement rationale. The Board agreed to receive additional public input and to keep communication channels open.
