The Lower Towamensing Township supervisors have selected a candidate for the secretary-treasurer position.

They approved offering the person $18 per hour plus health care and other benefits. The name of the person and his or her qualifications were not discussed at the meeting.

Brent Green, the chairman of the supervisors, did say they interviewed four people and this one had the most experience. If the person decides to not accept the offer, then he plans to offer it to the second person in line for the job.

“Hopefully, they accept the offer,” he said.

The position became open in September when Christine Wentz turned in her two-week notice.

Resident Steve Meining asked if the township is able to negotiate the salary in order to get a top candidate. Green said that the salary is for the most part fixed by the budget, but they have some flexibility to negotiate.

“The budget is just a guess,” he said. “We try to hold true to that guess.”

Green said they did go over the budget on some line items last year due to road repairs. He went on to say that salary wasn’t the issue with the top candidate. The main reason the person was reconsidering the job is due to the events that led to the former secretary resigning.

At that time, resident Terry Kuehner said he planned to fire all of the township’s employees, in particular Wentz, if he became elected to the board of supervisors. He said he didn’t think they were doing their jobs well enough.

About salaries, Green said, “We’ve been flexible with salaries in the past. Even as counteroffers when employees leave, we do go out and try to offer occasionally depending on the circumstances.”

Another resident asked if the township plans to hire a road supervisor.

“At some point,” Green said. “It is something we are still exploring. The last couple times that we have looked, qualifications kind of came into question with it.”

Green said it’s hard to find someone with the knowledge to be able to fix the older trucks and equipment owned by the township. The pay scale has been a problem, too.

“Because we are relatively small, it’s hard to compete with construction right now,” he said.

In other business, township solicitor Jim Nanovic said he was informed that the zoning hearing board meeting regarding the Blue Mountain Plaza set for March 8 has been rescheduled for April 19.