Politics & Government

Contracts Extended For Newtown Interim Township Manager and Special Assistant

Both contracts for Newtown Township Interim Manager Mike Trio and Special Assistant to the Township Manager Larry Fischer were extended through the end of December.

NEWTOWN SQUARE–With a new administration on and just a few months in since the reshuffling and appointing began, supervisors voted at a meeting on Aug. 8 to extend the contracts of two interim administrative positions.

Both the temporary positions of Mike Trio as acting interim township manager and Larry Fischer as special assistant to the acting interim township manager were on the table on Monday night.

Supervisors Chairman Joseph Catania proposed to extend Trio's contract through Dec. 31 of this year, considering the amount of work he has been able to tackle in the in June.

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"We’ve discussed in executive session of appointing Mr. [Mike] Trio as township manager for the remainder of this year based on his performance over the past two months," announced Catania to the public.

Catania continued, "We've heard nothing but great feedback from the public on Mike’s performance over the past couple of months. I think it would be very wise for us to extend his employment contract and make his compensation equal to, at minimum, what the prior township manager was making."

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According to Catania, Trio was originally hired in June with a rate of $300/day, equaling out to approximately $75,000 per year. Catania recommend that the board increase his pay to $100,000 with the standard benefit and medical package, as it was with the prior township manager Jim Sheldrake. The position will be renewable on an annual basis and will be considered in January.

Catania also added that although Trio's new rate may be the same as the past manager's, a few things are different.

"Things are different from the last contract," said Catania. "He doesn’t have a township vehicle and he doesn’t have a township phone."

Both Supervisors George Wood and Linda Houldin were not present at the meeting, making the vote 3-0 to extend Trio's contract through December. Supervisors Dr. Ross Lambert and Ed Partridge shared the same sentiments about Trio as Catania.

"I think Mike's doing a fabulous job and I think it's an excellent move," shared Lambert.

"I think Mike has certainly exceded my expectations," added in Partridge. "We brought Mike in here quickly and like I said earlier, he's just been all over the place–he's obviously been multitasking and he's making so many improvements or potential improvements and I think he's done an exceptional job."

Partridge also expressed at the meeting that the supervisors and Trio establish short-term goals by September for Trio's position through the end of the year.

Although the supervisors were in unison to extend Trio's contract through December, Newtown resident Nathan Glazer said he was "puzzled" about the hiring process and asked whether the Board would be conducting any open recruitment process, seeking clarity in their intention to appoint Trio as a continued interim to effectively permanent manager or otherwise.

"I think the board is dillydallying around an issue here," said Glazer. "If the Board decides to do one thing, let it come out clearly and say, 'We do not intend to search, we essentially never did and we've closed the book on the that,' or is the Board saying that throughout this next three-month period, the search issue is still in fact an open book and it will be visited in some degree."

But Catania believes that the supervisors have not misstated anything from June until now about hiring Trio.

"Here we are two months later and it's obvious that he's [Trio] a significant benefit to us but does that mean on June 1 that we didn't have full intention of advertising it? No, absolutely. And we said what we said at that point," said Catania. "But things change. I’m not ready to say to Mike [Trio] or the public that we won’t search in the next four or five months that are left in the year. If in September, if his goals are realistic and his goals are met, as time goes by, that timeframe is going to be telling to us."

In addition to Trio, the supervisors voted unanimously to extending Fischer's interim position as special assistant to the township manager through the end of December as well.

According to Trio, Fischer has been "invaluable" to the township and has helped recover approximately $70,000 in collectibles. Fischer has been putting in the hours of around 32-36 hours per week, said Trio.

"Invaluable is the correct word," said Catania. "The amount of work that needs to be done going forward—that is where a lot of Larry’s [Fischer] services are of value to the township. Larry is not seeking a permanent position in any shape or form. He’s not seeking that. Mike [Trio] is using him as an interim role."

Though Echo Valley resident Paul Guest said Fischer was "a great guy" and "competent," he believed the township is "horribly mismanaged." Guest brought up the fact that Fischer was originally contracted to work 200 hours at $30/hour, coming out to $6,000. After seeking a confirmation from the Board on the amount of hours and pay Fischer has been paid to date, Trio said as of Aug. 1, Fischer has been paid in excess of $6,500.

"What you're saying is that this township is horribly mismanaged and that Larry [Fischer] is the answer," said Guest. "Your justification to hire Larry  is wrong. You're just perpetuating the problem. To me, what I see on the floor is a blank check."

Catania addressed Guest's comment and said he disagreed "100 percent" and believed the township has made "great strides."

"Our justification to extend what he’s done already is what he’s done in the past two months," said Catania. "We’re still approving on the basis of what he’s been approved of."

Partridge also jumped in to add on Fischer's behalf, "Larry’s been helping him [Trio] on the financial end and we’re making a lot of progress and we’re making good changes. Larry’s probably been working more hours than he’s been paid. We’re going to start seeing those improvements now."

Fischer also stood up at this time to defend himself and address Guest. "My goal is to reduce my hours. I could’ve stopped but I will take the credit in that we found more money," said Fischer referring to the collectibles.

Partridge motioned to approve the extension of Fischer's contract through December, which may be reevaluated at any time. Lambert seconded the motion and all three supervisors approved the contract extension.


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