Larry Polansky has been an institution in Kidder Township and has served a number of terms as supervisor, but on Thursday he made his retirement from the board of supervisors official.

“The mind still works, but the body not so much,” Polansky quipped.

Vacancy Board Chairman Raymond Gluck was appointed to fill the seat left by Polansky. Gluck will serve until the next general election, which will be in November 2019. At that time Polansky’s unexpired term of four years will be on the ballot.

Peter Ginopolas was appointed to replace Gluck as chairman of the Vacancy Board.

Library issues

John McGuire addressed that board regarding the upcoming budget discussions and the fate of the Penn-Kidder Library Center. McGuire informed the board that the catalog system has pretty much failed.

He also said that the library center continues to work with the Dimmick Library and the Jim Thorpe School District on a number of issues regarding making the center a branch of the Dimmick Library.

Supervisor Barbara Franzosa, who was instrumental in getting the Penn-Kidder Library Center started, asked McGuire about the money the township had given to the library earlier this year for a new catalog system.

“The township gave the library $2,500 in June,” Franzosa said. “Mary (Farnschlader) assured us that the new catalog system would be in by August. What happened to that?”

McGuire said that the state has somehow interfered with the purchase of the new system.

“I can say anything I want since this is my last meeting,” said Polansky. “We had a library that satisfied the needs of this community until you guys got involved. I am dismayed. I wish they had never gotten involved with the Dimmick.”

Chairman Thomas Bradley intervened in the discussion, pointing out that McGuire had used up his time for public comment and suggested that the discussion continue at another time.

The township is looking for a new member for the Emergency Services Commission. Anyone interested should send a letter of interest to township Manager Lisa Klem.