Jan 9, 2019 4 min read

Cecil Township supervisors’ attempt to hire someone Monday for a position they’d just created minutes earlier drew a series of rebukes from residents.

The supervisors voted 3-2 to create a position for “assistant manager/planning director.” They next appeared poised to hire Jacque King to fill the new, unadvertised job at a salary of $65,000, but instead tabled that proposal by a 4-1 vote following a debate and brief discussion behind closed doors.

Several people had questioned the way supervisors were trying to make those moves.

Among them was Darla Bowman-Monaco, who said she’s dealt with labor issues during her tenure as a longtime member of the Canon-McMillan school board.

“I’m asking you, how could you do that by labor laws?” she said. “I’m the school district (board) president, and I’m telling you, we’re not allowed to do that. We have to post any public job. So I don’t know how you can do this, and my recommendation to you would be to table this and figure that out.”

Solicitor Gretchen Moore later said it is “typical” to advertise, and she recommended that officials decide on what the duties of the new hire would be as a first step in the process.

King sat in a back corner of the room during the discussion.

“I know who you are,” he said when approached by a reporter. He refused to answer questions, including whether or not he’s working now.

His LinkedIn profile lists him as having a doctorate in organizational leadership from Regent University School of Leadership Studies. The school’s website lists that degree as an online program.

The most recent work history on the profile includes positions with Regent from 2001 to 2006, plus a stint as an assistant professor of business at Westminster College from 2006 to 2013.

Supervisor Tom Casciola was ultimately the only board member to vote against tabling the motion to hire King. Following the meeting, he acknowledged King didn’t seem to have any experience in government.

“His experience is administration, which is what we need,” he said.

Board Chairman Eric Sivavec insisted the board was modifying an existing position, not creating a new one.

The township hasn’t had a planning director for years. But most recently, Bruce Bosle, who was director of zoning until he died in August, doubled as director of planning. Supervisors hired Troy Lucas to replace him at a salary of $60,000 in November. Officials had interviewed King for Bosle’s old job, but not the one they created this week.

The township has never employed an assistant manager.

“We continue to grow as a township,” Sivavec said. “I did participate with the comprehensive plan, and we hear that communication is needed.”

Cindy Fisher said it was “comical” that he was citing communication when she didn’t even see the description of the new job until 4:30 p.m. Friday.

She and Ron Fleeher agreed with audience members’ criticisms of the process their colleagues tried to use. They voted against creating the new job. Casciola, Sivavec and Frank Egizio voted to do so.

“The point isn’t whether or not Mr. King is qualified,” said Fisher. “We’ve never interviewed him for an assistant manager position. The point is that’s not how this should be done.”

Fleeher was more direct.

“This is like the good old boys,” he said. “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.”

The supervisors went into an executive session that Fisher had requested in between the votes.

The three-page description for the new job contains entries like: “Provides direction in the development of short-range and long-range plans; gathers, interprets and prepares data for studies, reports and recommendations; coordinates department activities with other departments and agencies as needed.”

“It seems like (King) could fill all of these duties,” Casciola said.

During the meeting, residents also said the limited information they were getting about the hiring process fit into a larger pattern.

“You’re elected officials. Technically, you work for us,” said Michelle Stonemark. “As your bosses, we should be able to ask you at every single meeting why you’re voting the way you are.”