Tinicum Township Board appoints officers, committee members and adopts routine administrative resolutions

The Tinicum Township Board of Supervisors on Jan. 5, 2026 held its organizational meeting and unanimously approved a slate of routine appointments and administrative resolutions to establish governance and operational roles for the year.

Chairperson Eleanor Breslin opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Tinicum Township meeting room; about 11 people attended in person and six viewed the livestream. The board acknowledged Todd Quinby as the winner of the November 2025 election and administered his oath; the board recorded his six-year term ending Dec. 31, 2031.

The board appointed Eleanor Breslin as chairperson and John Cole as vice chairperson. By unanimous motion, the board named Judith Danko township manager, treasurer and secretary and authorized her to pay employee benefit invoices electronically and otherwise exercise the duties of those offices.

Several resolutions were adopted. Resolution 2026-01 authorizes the township manager and board members to attend professional development meetings and conferences on behalf of the township. Resolution 2026-02 designates the township manager as the authorized township representative for filing DCNR and PennDOT reports. Resolution 2026-03 appoints Judith Danko as delegate and Chairperson Breslin as alternate to the Bucks County Earned Income Tax Collection Committee pursuant to Act 32 of 2008. Resolution 2026-04 authorizes newly elected tax collector Trina Quinby to establish a separate government funds bank account using the township EIN for collection and deposit of real estate and other township taxes.

The board also named Judith Danko as the township's PSATS voting delegate (Breslin alternate) and authorized Ms. Danko to collect the township's admissions tax for boating and waterway use. Officers for records access were set with Judith Danko designated Township RTK/Open Records Officer and Police Chief Nicole Madden designated for the Police Department.

Legal and technical service appointments included Flager & Associates with Scott Holbert as township solicitor; Wynn & Associates with Curt Genner as township engineer and flood plain administrator; and Keystone Municipal Services, LLC as building inspector and zoning officer, with Wynn & Associates assisting. Thomas Kelso (Castle Valley Consultants) and Matthew Mulhall (M2 Associates) were appointed as on-call consulting planners.

Administrative safeguards and fiscal settings were set by motion: the contracted public works rate (e.g., snow removal) was set at $25.65 per hour; the Treasurer's bond was set at $1,000,000 with Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America (brokered by H.A. Thompson Company); MVA Tax Advisors, LLC were appointed auditors/CPA for the 2025 fiscal year; and depositories were designated (Penn Community Bank, Univest Bank & Trust, and PA Local Government Investment Trust, with TD Bank and PA LGIT specified for Open Space funds). Mileage reimbursement was set at $0.725 per mile or the IRS-adjusted rate.

The board reappointed or filled a number of volunteer and advisory positions by unanimous motions: members of the local volunteer fire companies as township fire police; Carl Ruthhart to the Zoning Hearing Board; Mike Kauffman to the Planning Commission; Travis Hutchinson, Mike Kauffman and Jason Flax to the Uniform Construction Code Appeals Board; a slate of members to the Environmental Advisory Committee with staggered terms; Jason Flax and Mike Kauffman to the Historical Commission; representatives to the Bridgeton-Nockamixon-Tinicum Ground Water Management Committee; and members of the Land Preservation Committee. The Park and Recreation Committee had no vacancies and required no action.

During discussion of an attendance-and-removal policy for appointed committees and boards, resident Barb Quinby asked that the motion specify it apply to 'committee or board meetings that they are appointed to.' Solicitor Scott Holbert clarified that valid reasons, such as health issues, can justify absences and that removal is discretionary. The board adopted language that members who fail to attend or participate in person or via teleconference in 50% of meetings during the year may be removed.

The board confirmed continued ad hoc committees (including the Municipal Building Renovation Committee), designated the township manager as liaison for Woodtiger Fund disbursements related to the Headquarters Road Bridge project, and assigned board liaisons to township commissions: John Cole to the Planning Commission and Land Preservation Commission, Todd Quinby to Park & Recreation and Historical Commission, and Eleanor Breslin to the Environmental Advisory Committee. The meeting record includes authorization of engagement agreements for emergency services (St. Luke's EMS) and special counsel for labor/personnel and zoning hearing matters.

The board adopted a convention that votes recorded in the minutes are considered unanimous unless a dissenting vote is cast and recorded. The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.; the board scheduled its first business meeting to follow immediately.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded as unanimous unless a dissent is recorded): appointed chair (Breslin); vice chair (Cole); manager/treasurer/secretary (Danko); adopted Resolutions 2026-01 through 2026-04 (conference, DCNR/PennDOT rep, EIT delegate, tax-collector bank account); appointed solicitor, engineer, inspectors, planners and emergency liaisons; set Treasurer's bond ($1,000,000) and mileage rate ($0.725/mile); filled multiple advisory and committee positions; adopted committee attendance policy; adjourned at 7:40 p.m.

This organizational meeting was procedural in nature and focused on establishing 2026 governance roles and administrative authorities rather than adopting new policy initiatives.