George Gerhard will serve as chairman of the Rush Township board of supervisors.

Gerhard was appointed during Monday’s reorganization meeting, with newly elected James Stewart as vice chairman.

A third seat on the board remains open following the resignation of Robert Leibensperger, which was accepted at the meeting and became official on Dec. 31.

The board reappointed Becky Coccio-Roberts as full-time secretary and treasurer, and retained ARRO Consulting as the township engineer and zoning and code enforcement officer.

But other township employees — such as police, road crew and sanitary sewer workers — and their rates of pay were not on the reorganization’s agenda as they were in previous years.

Supervisors made note of the omissions, a change that was questioned by Leibensperger.

“Historically, the board of supervisors at prior reorganization meetings have used the occasion to reappoint several persons as employees of the township or to certain positions. It is not legally necessary for all persons employed by the township or holding certain positions within the township to be reappointed at this meeting,” according to a notice on the agenda that Gerhard read.

He noted that, “The failure at this meeting to reappoint, for example, the township sewer workers, the road crew, the police officers or fire police does not mean they no longer serve the township. Any person not reappointed as an employee or to an appointed position at this meeting is considered still in said position at the rate they were receiving one month ago.”

Under the public comment portion of the meeting, Leibensperger explained that for the past six decades, supervisors had always listed workers’ names and wages on reorganization meeting agendas.

The reason, he said, was so that anyone could reference the meetings’ minutes to see employees’ names and salaries, and names and fees paid to those serving on township boards and commissions.

“It doesn’t take much to follow the same format that was done for over 65 years,” Leibensperger said.

He asked why the change was made.

Gerhard said that no employees are seeing increases in their wages.

“It’s maintaining what they were at previously last month,” Gerhard said.

Leibensperger said attorneys’ names and fees also weren’t listed on the agenda.

“If you knew who it was last year, it remains the same,” Gerhard said.

Having the information in the meeting minutes, Leibensperger said, would allow all to see it and not have to request it. He asked whether the board would consider adding names and pay rates.

“We’re going to follow the agenda,” Gerhard answered.

In other meeting business, supervisors approved:

• Holding regular monthly meetings at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. The next meeting will be Jan. 15.

• Checking availability and rates from Jones and Company, Pottsville, to perform an audit of financial records required by township code.

• Having Mauch Chunk Trust as the township’s depository.

• Retaining ADP for payroll services.

• Using township fire police for safety purposes with the approval of the chairman at the request of the school district for an event whose scheduling precludes placing the request on the agenda of the next supervisors’ meeting.

• Authorizing the board and an employee to attend 2026 PAHRA conferences including mileage, room, food allowance and pay at regular rate.

• Appointing Chris Hartz as the Emergency Management coordinator conditional upon him meeting all county and state requirements.

• Appointing Stewart as roadmaster.

After supervisors had acted on all business, a second public comment portion was held.

Resident Scott Major questioned whether employees’ salaries could be posted on the township’s website.

“I suppose you could, it’s all public knowledge,” Solicitor Chris Reidlinger said.

“It is on the reorg(anization meeting) from last year,” Gerhard said, “and nothing has changed as of yet.”

Another resident, Steve Rimbey, asked if he could use the Freedom of Information Act to access the salary information.

While Reidlinger said he could, he didn’t think it was necessary.

“It’s public information. It’s not a secret,” Gerhard added.