Union Twp. supervisors replace secretary/treasurer

By MARY GRZEBIENIAK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Union Township supervisors have removed Sally Byler from the township secretary/treasurer position.

Supervisor Clair Damon nominated Byler to continue in her post but his motion died for lack of a second at a reorganization meeting earlier this week.

Supervisor Pat Angiolelli then nominated newly elected Supervisor Robert Eckert to fill the job, and the motion passed with Damon voting against the move.

Contacted after the meeting, Byler said the supervisors’ failure to rehire her came as a surprise as she believed she would be kept on for at least another year.

She said she believes she more than paid for her wages, stating she saved the township $200,000 last year. She was being paid $15 per hour and benefits.

Byler, a former township supervisor and auditor, has long served as township treasurer and secretary/treasurer. During her tenure as township supervisor from 1989 to 1996, Byler split the position, doing the treasurer’s job while Cathy Schmidt was secretary.

After Byler left office, she was appointed by supervisors to be secretary/treasurer in 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2007. Schmidt held the job in 2004 and 2005.

Eckert, who was elected supervisor in November and is a contractor, has served on the township zoning board. Wages for Eckert, a Slippery Rock University graduate, will be set by township auditors. The secretary/treasurer’s pay for attending meetings will remain at $35.

Damon was unanimously retained in his post as township roadmaster, and his wages will also be set by auditors. He will work 40 hours per week.

Angiolelli was unanimously elected chairman of the supervisors and Damon vice chairman.