A longtime Penn Forest Township supervisor resigned Monday night after learning that fellow board members planned to replace him as chairman and roadmaster.

Warren “Butch” Reiner resigned when a majority of the board indicated they would appoint Tom Cross as chairman and newcomer Christian Bartulovich as roadmaster.

Reiner, a supervisor for 16 years, walked out of the meeting, saying that it became clear that three board members had met before the meeting to plan his ousting.

“We’re not gonna have a meeting now because they have their own,” he said. “I’m resigning. I’m done.”

Ironically, Bartulovich failed to get enough votes to take the roadmaster position, leaving the top position in the township road crew open in the middle of snowplowing season.

Scott Lignore, who opposed the change, held nothing back when he shared his thoughts with his fellow board members.

“It’s all a bunch of (expletive). Tom, I can’t believe it. We worked together so good,” Lignore said.

The board had to go through its reorganization meeting twice Monday night because Bartulovich had not taken his oath of office prior to the first meeting. Reiner left between the two reorganization meetings. During a regular meeting following the reorganization, the board accepted his resignation.

During the first reorganization, a majority made up of Cross, Bartulovich and supervisor Judy Knappenberger, participating by phone, voted to appoint Cross as the board’s chairman. Reiner and Lignore voted against.

Cross, Bartulovich and Knappenberger then voted to appoint Bartulovich as vice chairman and roadmaster, with Lignore and Reiner voting against.

Following the 35-minute meeting, Lignore pointed out that Bartulovich hadn’t taken his oath of office. Bartulovich defeated Roger Meckes for a seat on the board in November.

Solicitor Tom Nanovic, who arrived after the meeting started, conducted the swearing-in and told the board that they had to vote all over again.

At the outset of the second reorganization, Reiner said he would vote no to all the motions because he planned to resign.

As he left, he threatened to hit Cross.

“Go ahead,” Cross said.

“I would,” Reiner responded.

During the second reorganization, Cross, Bartulovich and Knappenberger voted to appoint Cross as chairman and Bartulovich as vice chairman.

When it came to roadmaster, they voted in favor of Bartulovich. However Nanovic said that Bartulovich couldn’t vote to appoint himself to a paid position — so the motion failed with only two votes.

Before he left the meeting, Reiner had asked Bartulovich if he felt he had the time to commit to the roadmaster position. Reiner said he had committed about 35 hours per week to the job.

Bartulovich said he is able to set his own hours at his job, so he can be available to run the road crew.

Nanovic asked Lignore if he would consider a temporary roadmaster. Lignore said he would consider Knappenberger for the position, but not Cross or Bartulovich.

The board conducted the rest of its reorganization meeting as scheduled. It reappointed Nanovic as solicitor, Dana Vitale as township secretary and Laura Krout as township treasurer. Cross was appointed personal liaison for township employees, and as the board’s representative to the Carbon County Tax Collection Committee.

Following the meeting, Cross denied that he, Bartulovich and Knappenberger had met to discuss a plan to replace Reiner.

Asked if he had any plans for his tenure as board chairman, Cross said he would only make changes if they benefit the township.

“We hope it’s positive, only improvements,” Cross said.