Middletown Township reorganizes, appoints legal and engineering firms and approves employment agreements

MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown Township Board of Supervisors convened Jan. 2, 2024, to swear in newly elected officials, conduct its annual reorganization and approve a slate of professional appointments and employment agreements.

Susan Corcoran and Matthew Diaz were each sworn in as auditors, and Michael Kizak was sworn in as township supervisor during the meeting. Judge Brian T. McGuffin administered the oaths of office, which included pledges to support the U.S. Constitution and the constitution of the commonwealth.

The board elected Mike Kiesak as chair, Bernadette Hanna as vice chair and Don Corporal as secretary in voice votes taken during the reorganization portion of the meeting. Each of those motions carried by unanimous recorded tallies where shown.

In a series of professional appointments, the board appointed Curtin & Heafner as township solicitor and Paul Lang of Parlow & Lang as conflict attorney; both motions carried without recorded opposition. Dave Truelove of Hill Wallach was appointed township labor attorney. The board also appointed Phil Wursta of Traffic Planning & Design as township traffic engineer.

A contested appointment came when the board moved to appoint Remington & Vernick Engineers as township engineer. Board members discussed a roughly 5% rate increase for the firm compared with the prior year; staff said the firm had not raised rates for several years and that the increase aligns with area averages and supports retention of staff. That motion passed on a 4–1 vote, with one member recorded as voting nay.

The board approved administrative assignments that include designating the township manager as treasurer, assistant secretary and chief administrative officer for pensions, and naming the finance director as assistant treasurer. It also authorized the township’s 2024 public meeting schedule and established bond limits of $1,500,000 for the treasurer, assistant treasurer and township manager to guarantee faithful performance of duties.

The supervisors approved several reappointments and new appointments to boards and commissions, including a human relations commission nomination and a zoning hearing board nomination for Richard Genetti; the package of reappointments and the individual nominations were approved by voice votes as recorded.

On personnel matters, the board voted to approve the township manager’s employment agreement after members said the board performs due diligence on compensation arrangements; the motion carried unanimously. The board also approved the chief of police employment agreement by unanimous vote. The minutes of the Dec. 11, 2023, meeting were approved as presented.

Township solicitor Esposito announced the board had met in executive session before the public meeting to discuss personnel and litigation matters; no official action was taken in executive session. The meeting ended after the chair thanked township staff and the various appointed officials and moved to adjourn.

Actions taken at the meeting included officer elections, appointments of legal counsel and engineers (including one 4–1 vote), authorization of the 2024 meetings schedule, establishment of $1.5 million bond limits, approvals of employment agreements for two senior staff roles and multiple board and commission reappointments. The board adjourned at the close of the meeting.