Mahoning Township will function under new leadership in 2026.

Supervisor Deb McGowan was appointed board chairperson, while Supervisor Ron Reeser was tabbed for the role of board vice chairperson.

Supervisor Carol Etheridge, along with newcomers Matthew Wentz and Mark Schwalm, round out the board.

Other appointments:

• Natalie Haggerty, secretary-treasurer, $28.39 per hour.

• Barbara Kester, full-time township clerk, $22.17 per hour.

• Nanovic Law Office, legal counsel.

• LTL Consultants, Peter Eisenbrown, township engineer.

• Nevin Frey, roadmaster, 3-1 vote. Supervisor Deb McGowan was opposed. Supervisor Ron Reeser abstained.

• Rejected a 3% raise for the roadmaster. Supervisor Deb McGowan and Supervisor Carol Etheridge were opposed, with supervisors Mark Schwalm and Matthew Wentz in favor. Supervisor Ron Reeser abstained.

• Gabe Szozda, part-time police officer, $29.87 per hour.

• Supervisors Deborah McGowan and Carol Etheridge to oversee the police department, 4-1 vote. Supervisor Mark Schwalm was opposed.

• Ryan Wessner, RMW Inspections LLC, zoning officer.

• Supervisors Matthew Wentz and Ron Reeser to oversee the road department.

Salaries

• Ron Wenrich, AJ Wenrich and Chase Ziegenfus, part-time winter road department workers, $20 per hour if they hold a Class B CDL; $18 per hour for all other.

• Jeffrey Kirsch, part-time summer road department worker, $17 per hour.

• To have all supervisors who are authorized to work when needed in 2026 if needed and qualified to do the work.

• Recommended the board of auditors the rate of pay for working supervisors at $20 per hour for Class B CDL work (only), and $18 per hour for all other work performed.

• Recommended the board of auditors set the rate of pay of $28.62 per hour for working Supervisor Ron Reeser, and benefits same as Teamster Contract 2024-27. Supervisor Ron Reeser abstained.

More appointments

• Nevin Frey, encroachment officer.

• Ian Farrell, sewage enforcement officer.

• Scott Bieber, Lehigh Soils and Wetlands, alternate sewage enforcement officer.

• Yvonne Reeser, chairperson of the vacancy board. Supervisor Ron Reeser abstained.

• AJ Wenrich, zoning hearing board. Supervisor Mark Schwalm was opposed.

• Mark Schwalm, Jeffrey Hill, Ryan Hoffman and Keith Rex, agricultural security committee.

• Timothy Eckhart and Todd Wingert, municipal authority, 4-1 vote. Supervisor Mark Schwalm was opposed.

• Ryan Wessner, RMW Inspections LLC, building code official.

• Nanovic Law Office, solicitor for planning commission.

• Strubinger Law Office, Matthew Schnell, solicitor, zoning hearing board.

• Establish the rate of pay for the zoning hearing board secretary at $90 per meeting, 4-1 vote. Supervisor Mark Schwalm was opposed.

• Rejected Mark Schwalm as representative to the Lehigh Canal Recreation Commission, 3-2 vote. Supervisors Deb McGowan, Ron Reeser, and Carol Etheridge were opposed. Supervisors Matthew Wentz and Schwalm were in favor.

• Carol Etheridge as representative, and Natalie Haggerty as alternate, to the Carbon County Tax Committee.

• Robert Slaw, joint board of appeal member, 4-1 vote. Supervisor Mark Schwalm was opposed.

• Deborah McGowan, voting delegate to PSATS State Convention.

Financials

• Travelers Casualty and Surety of America Insurance Co., and set the treasurer’s bond in the amount of $1,000,000.

• Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank, Lehighton, depository for the township funds, and three of five signatures needed, one being the secretary-treasurer to deposit township funds.

• Recommend to the board of auditors a mileage reimbursement of 72.5 cents IRS standard rate.

• Equipment and operator at $125 per hour at a minimum of two hours to other municipalities.

• Board of supervisors meetings at 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month, except for April 1 and Dec. 30.

• Planning commission meetings at 6 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month.

• Zoning hearing board meetings at 6 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month.

• Pauline Homm, tax collector, to collect real property tax, pert capita, streetlight and fire hydrant assessments.

• Mahoning Township to collect Local Service Tax and Amusement Tax.

• Set fees for building permits, zoning hearing board activities, planning commission, testing and issuance of sewage permits and zoning permits.

• Kirk, Summa and Co. LLP to perform 2025 audit.