Politics & Government

Should Upper Macungie Add More Supervisors?

Upper Macungie supervisors approve resolution to put question of adding extra supervisors to voters.

Upper Macungie Township could be on its way to adding two more members to its three-person board of supervisors.

The supervisors on Thursday approved a resolution that will create a ballot question allowing township voters to decide whether the board needs five members instead of three.

“That way the supervisors have nothing to do with the decision," said Supervisor Sam Ashmar. "That’s the cleanest way."

According to the resolution, voters would decide whether or not to add two more supervisors in next November's election. 

Find out what's happening in Upper Macungiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If enough of them vote yes, candidates would run for office in 2015, and be appointed in 2016.

The vote Thursday was 2-1, with Supervisor Kathy Rader suggesting the board wait until the new year when new supervisor Jim Brunell is appointed. 

Find out what's happening in Upper Macungiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

And residents suggested the township wait until it could hold public meetings about the switch from a three- to five-member board. The idea of the switch has been debated in the township for the last few years, most recently at last month's board meeting.

In a related matter, the board voted to allow Republican Brunell-- who defeated Democrat Chris Casey and the write-in candidacy of former supervisor Edward Earley -- to sit in on township executive sessions for the remainder of the year. He'll take the oath of office in January 2014.. 


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