West Penn Township has a new supervisor.

On Monday, the board appointed Kyle Kester to the position vacated by Jim Akins in July.

Kester was one of two applicants — both of whom supervisors Chairman Tony Prudenti and Glenn Hummel said were very qualified for the job.

Township solicitor Paul Datte noted that Akins gave written resignation on July 29.

Akins moved away from the township.

Datte noted that under second class township code, once a resignation is submitted, supervisors have 45 days to accept it.

For the Akins resignation, the day would have been Sept. 12, he noted.

“That was 45 days after he tendered his resignation. There was no formal acceptance of the resignation prior to that date,” Datte explained.

At that point, he said, supervisors would have 30 days to fill the vacancy — or until Oct. 12.

“Which means tonight is really the only opportunity you would have to fill the vacancy,” Datte said.

If supervisors decided not to do so, the matter would have went to the township’s vacancy board.

“The bottom line is tonight is the night you need to do something to fill the vacancy because you won’t be meeting again before Oct. 12,” he said.

Prudenti then nominated Earl Pratt.

Hummel said he wasn’t going to second the motion.

“So what do we do?,” Prudenti asked.

“Well, the motion dies for lack of a second,” Datte said.

Hummel then nominated Kester.

“Alright, I’ll second Kyle Kester,” Prudenti said.

Kester needs to submit paperwork and has to be sworn in to office by a notary or a magistrate. He will serve until Jan. 3, 2028.

After the board moved to appoint Kester, Hummel complimented both men.

“In fairness to the two applicants, both of you are very well qualified,” Hummel said.