Board accepts disciplinary recommendation for township police officer, defers imposition pending appeals

The Bern Township Board of Supervisors on Sept. 7 voted to accept a disciplinary action for Township Police Officer Larry Kutz that had been recommended by Chief of Police Wesley Waugh but agreed the discipline should not be imposed until the officer has exhausted his avenues of appeal.

Chief Wesley Waugh provided his departmental report before the board took up the personnel motion. Supervisor Jeff Thompson made the motion to accept the disciplinary recommendation and Dr. Boyd Wagner III seconded it. Supervisors Wagner, Daniel Tobias, Jeff Thompson and Chair Irene Reed voted yes; Supervisor Brian Eveland recorded an abstention. No further details of the discipline or the underlying personnel matter were disclosed in open session.

Chair Irene Reed had noted at the start of the meeting that the board had held an executive session earlier to discuss a personnel issue. The supervisors’ action accepted the chief’s recommended discipline while explicitly delaying any imposition pending the conclusion of the officer’s appeal rights under applicable processes.

The board did not announce any time line for resolution or further public action; the item remained subject to any follow‑up required by personnel rules or by the appeals process.