Lower Towamensing Township has sorted out a couple issues it had with the supervisor seats during it reorganization meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

There were two seats available in November. One was for a six-year term and the other for a four-year term. Jay Mullikin ran unopposed for both positions after winning as the write-in candidate with the most votes during the primary election in May. He went on to win both seats, so the supervisors needed to appoint someone to fill one of the terms.

Mike Takerer had been appointed to the board of supervisors in April 2022 to fill the seat vacated by Terry Kuehner. In order to keep the seat, he would have had to run for election in 2023. Takerer did not run as a candidate, but did have the most write-in votes for both terms, just not more votes than Mullikin. At the supervisors December meeting, he did not say whether or not he would apply for the empty seat.

Since then, Takerer let the township know he was interested in being considered for the third seat. Supervisors Connie Brown and Mullikin approved appointing him to the empty seat. In order to keep it, Takerer will have to run for election in two years.

“Still work to be done here,” Takerer said after the meeting about coming back to the board.

The supervisors also approved appointing Brown as chairwoman of the supervisors.

Brown said she ran for the board of the supervisors because she wanted to be there for the residents and make a difference. She hopes more residents will attend meetings to voice their opinions.

Brown also said she feels that each of the supervisors have experience in their careers that will help them guide the township.

“Between the three of us, we all have our own fields of expertise, and I feel together we are going to do well,” she said. “We’re sorry we lost Brent, who was terrific, a wealth of knowledge. He also told us if we have questions, we can reach out to him.”

Brent Green was the chairman of the supervisors and a board member for several years. He did not run for reelection.

Brown also commented that the township’s secretary has done a great job, and the foreman of the Public Works Department is an asset.

Mullikin informed the board that his new work schedule will make it difficult for him to attend the meetings, and asked if he could call into the meetings in order to attend. James Nanovic, the solicitor for the township, said that he could attend via telephone.

Other appointments

• Vice chairperson - Mike Takerer;

• Township secretary/treasurer - RoniSue Ahner;

• Township solicitor - James Nanovic;

• Zoning officer/building code officer - Duane Dellecker;

• Township engineering - Hanover Engineering;

• Conflict engineer - Keystone Consulting Engineering;

• Sanitary/sewer engineer - ARRO Consulting Engineering;

• Sewage/well enforcement officer - Scott Brown, Hanover Engineering;

• UCC reviews and inspection - Barry Isett and Associates - Lehigh Valley Inspections;

• Emergency Management coordinator - Rory Koons;

• Carbon County T.C.C. delegate - RoniSue Ahner;

• Carbon County T.C.C. alternate - Connie Brown;

• Vacancy Board chairperson - Gerald Madden;

• Zoning Hearing Board solicitor - Holly Heintzelman;

• Zoning Hearing Board members - James Ord, Keith George, Ralph Cortazzo, and Georgia Mock (alternate);

• Planning Commission members - Angela Farrell, Jay Mullikin, Gerard Madden, Steve Meining, and Daniel Royer;

• Township auditor - CPA firm - Kirk, Summa and Company LLP;

• State convention voting delegate - Connie Brown;

• Township’s treasurer’s bond - $1.5 million;

• Township’s depositories - Mauch Chunk Trust and PLIGIT;

• Bank signatories - one supervisor and township secretary;

• Hourly rates for employees as indicated in the budget;

• Mileage rate - the IRS rate for 2024, and;

• Monthly board of supervisors meetings - first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m.