Supervisors Chairman: Jackson's Resignation 'Surprising'

NEWTOWN SQUARE–In an email sent out on late Wednesday afternoon, Chairman to members of the Board of Supervisors, administrators and a few others from the community.

"In view of the township's position, I have chosen to resign as chairman of the Newtown Township Municipal Authority," states Jackson in his email. "It has been a pleasure working with all of you and I regret that I could not finish what we started. I do hope that the momentum we created will continue to a successful conclusion for the project. Thank you for the opportunity to serve and good luck to all."

In a previous email on June 20, Mike Trio, acting interim township manager, sent an email out to the Board of Supervisors confirming a discussion that was held between Supervisors Chairman Joseph Catania, Supervisor Ed Partridge, Jackson and Trio about the Act 537 sewer planning process for the township as well as Jackson's two requests for approval from the supervisors.

Trio's email states Jackson's two requests: to convert the Newtown Township Municipal Authority to an operating authority and to agree to employ Jackson as a paid executive director of the Municipal Authority at a salary of $7,500 per month on a part-time basis.

Upon receiving an email from Trio about the supervisors' decision to deny both his requests, Jackson sent out his resignation email several hours later.

Jackson's resignation came a little "surprising" to Catania as it conflicted with a previous statement the Municipal Authority chairman had stated.

"Bob's [Jackson] resignation is a little surprising since he previously stated that if his request for payment wasn't approved he wouldn't resign, but would reduce the amount of time he was spending each day on the project," commented Catania. "With that said, I do understand his decision, and thank him for his service on the municipal authority for the last one and a half years."

In addition, in the same emailing denying the requests, Trio addressed the approval process of payment of bills and that any expenses incurred by the Municipal Authority are the responsibility of the Authority.

"Any expenses incurred by the Municipal Authority that you feel are the responsibility of the township must go through this approval process," states Trio in the email to Jackson. "Effective immediately, you are not authorized to obligate township funds to any goods or services without my express approval. I am presently reviewing all previous invoices that you have forwarded to the township for payment to insure that they are obligations of the township and not the MA [Municipal Authority]."

Jackson was reappointed in January of this year as chairman of the Municipal Authority. His resignation was effective immediately on June 29.