Back to Square One

In regards to the FedEx Fiasco, Newtown Township solicitor Bruce Irvine admits in a shocking email that the township manager DOESN'T have the authority to discipline employees. The email, to township gadfly Regi Siberski, reads as follows:

Regi..at the last meeting I told you I would check the township ordinances
re.the power of the Manager to suspend an employee.I reviewed the ordinance
and you were correct and I was wrongThe Manager has the the power to
suspened a police officer but not other employees.About 11 years thye
ordinance was changed.Your memory was better than mine.Bruce

What is shocking about this email? Two things: That Irvine is big enough to admit his mistake. And 2, the grammar. (Give him a pass if he sent it from his phone.)

At the last meeting, Supervisor George "I've Looked Into It" Wood ham-handedly attempted to convince the other side that Jim Sheldrake had the authority to impose punishments on township employees. He doesn't, as I pointed out in Friday's column.

That leaves the township supervisors back with the responsibility to discipline township secretary Gwen Toyzer for her $900 misuse of the township's FedEx account. The board is split 2 to 2 on what to do. With supervisor Bob Slawter unable to attend meetings because of a very serious illness, a new board member may need to be appointed to break the tie.

Stay tuned.