Robinson supervisors change leadership
McDONALD – After quarreling over township purchases and road improvements, the Robinson Township board of supervisors unexpectedly reorganized during their Monday meeting.
“I sit up here usually as the minority, but the last couple of months, I’ve seen things I really don’t like with the way the public is treated,” said Supervisor Mark Brositz. “I would like to see a change in leadership.”
Brositz then made a motion to change Rodger Kendall from chairman to vice chairman, and appoint Vice Chairman Stephen Duran as chairman.
After a brief recess requested by solicitor Alan Shuckrow to ensure the move did not violate township code, Brositz and Duran approved the motion.
The chairman of the board has the same voting power as the other two members but conducts township meetings.
“Unprofessional behavior and personal slanders are unacceptable,” Duran said. “Disagreements should be done in a professional manner.”
The move comes in the wake of several heated disagreements between board members.
In May, three people were ordered to leave a meeting after discussion about a natural gas compressor station. Kendall asked a police officer to escort the speakers from the meeting, saying a three-minute maximum is given to participants who want to speak. Since that time, Brositz has said Kendall only imposes the rule on those with whom he disagrees.
Kendall said that he imposes the three-minute rule on every participant, regardless of their topic of discussion.
In addition, Brositz has been the lone member to vote against natural gas drilling activities in the township, while Kendall and Duran have voted in favor.
One MarkWest compressor station has already been approved while a second has yet to be voted upon.
“I’m curious what Mr. Duran has promised Mr. Brositz,” Kendall said after the meeting. “Up to this point, they were enemies. Now they’re best buddies?”
“We have had our differences. We still have them,” Brositz said. “I still feel it’s a better choice for leadership.”
Duran said that, although he and Kendall have voted the same way on nearly every issue, their working relationship changed a few months ago when he questioned Kendall about township purchases that were not voted upon. He said that Kendall purchased a power washer without the board’s approval, but when Duran, who works part-time as the township’s roadmaster, said that there was a need to purchase new vehicles, Kendall disagreed and began making verbal attacks against him during meetings.
Earlier during Monday’s meeting, Duran and Brositz approved the lease-to-own agreement for a front loader and truck at a cost of $258,000. Duran said the township has over $1 million and that the equipment is needed for road maintenance, while Kendall said the current equipment could be fixed.
“Just because we have money doesn’t mean we have to spend it,” Kendall said. “Mr. Duran will not be satisfied until we spend every dollar we have. I think you’re going to see a lot of money spent between now and the end of the year.”
Duran said that since he works on the roads, he is more aware of the condition of the equipment.
“When I look at expenses for the township, I research for hours, trying to make sure it’s the best option,” Duran said. “We’re all going to have to put our differences aside because the community is counting on us.”