Bradford Township Supervisor Jim Erwin retained the chairman of the board position for 2017.

Erwin was elected by a quorum at the reorganizational meeting held Tuesday evening. Supervisor Gayle Bauer was elected vice-chairwoman.

The appointments were not without some disagreement among the supervisors.

Supervisor Steve Mascho, who abstained from much of the voting during the reorganizational meeting, contacted The Era after the session about why he abstained.

Mascho felt Erwin and Bauer went “behind closed doors” to decide how the voting would go. Instead, he said the three should “all work together. This is not the way politics should be run.”

Mascho explained that the way the appointments were voted on — with groups of appointments being voted on at a time — made it impossible to vote against just the appointments he disagreed with. According to Mascho, this was the second year in a row he felt he was being somehow excluded in the decision-making.

“The people voted me in there to work for them,” said Mascho, explaining that he is to be a “spokesman” for voters. He believes Erwin and Bauer have “gone above and beyond what they can do. That’s not right.”

The Era reached out for comment from Erwin and Bauer, who disagreed that any actions were being taken to exclude Mascho.

“I’m sorry he feels this way,” said Bauer. “Each supervisor has one vote.” As far as having having conversations without Mascho, she explained they aren’t allowed to talk about the issues outside the meetings.

“Sometimes I vote the same as Jim, and sometimes I vote the same as Steve,” Bauer said.

Likewise, Erwin said, “He has a vote just like we do.”

Erwin said he’s sorry Mascho feels left out, but explained, “There’s no conspiracy.”

According to Erwin, Mascho’s “not participating. That’s the way I feel.” He believes Mascho needs “to put in more time in the township. I’m at the township building almost every day.”

Bauer and Erwin noted that Tuesday’s appointments were almost the same as those a year ago.

Erwin suggested that Mascho was upset because Erwin replaced him as chairman in January 2016. “I thought it was time for a change, a new direction,” said Erwin.

Erwin noted, “I don’t agree with (Mascho) most times,” but added that sometimes he disagrees with Bauer, too.

He referred to a vote in December 2016 in which, after some discussion, Erwin voted with Mascho — and against Bauer — to discontinue contributing to operation costs of the Kessel Athletic Complex at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

“He doesn’t really tell us what he wants,” said Erwin. “Sometimes I feel left out myself,” he noted, adding that he’s sure Bauer feels that way, too, sometimes.

Also during the reorganizational meeting, the supervisors announced regular meetings would take place at 7 p.m. the second Monday each month in 2017 at the township municipal building, 136 Hemlock St., and any work sessions will be held at 6:30 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month. Any extra or special meetings will be advertised.

The supervisors accepted a number of other appointments, too, at the organization meeting, which was followed by a brief regular meeting.

Nora Stewart will remain administrative secretary/treasurer, and Robb Shipman will remain chief of police. The appointment of road department and sanitation department foremen was tabled, as there is no one yet to fill the positions.

Mascho, Bauer and Stewart will be the voting delegates to the state and county conventions, and Erwin will be the alternate delegate to the conventions. All three supervisors will serve as road masters, while Erwin will be superintendent of roads and the garbage department, Bauer will serve as superintendent of the sewer department and as police commissioner and Mascho will serve as office supervisor and assistant secretary.

Bauer is asking that any residents interested in a three-year term representing the township on the Bradford Area Public Library Board to send letters of interest to the supervisors.

Erwin added the supervisors are accepting letters of interest for “any committee where we’re looking for people.”

The township also needs people to fill in a four-year term and a three-year term on the zoning hearing board.

Jack Carns remains the zoning officer, George Corignani remains the code enforcement officer, Todd Fantaskey remains the sewage enforcement officer and Nick Melnick remains the alternate sewage enforcement officer. Stapleford & Byham LLC will remain the solicitor.

Serving as labor counsel be Campbell, Durrant, Beatty, Palombo & Miller; and serving as special counsel will be Quinn Law Firm and Knox Group; and serving as the engineering firm will be the EADS Group.

Dan Burkhouse remains chief of the Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department, and Jay Bradish remains the municipal emergency management coordinator. Rick Grandinetti is the assistant municipal emergency management coordinator. Serving as township-appointed auditors are Steve Pettinato and Robert Burrell.

During the regular meeting, Erwin said township residents have until the end of January to become compliant with the new address sign ordinance, as certified letters will be sent out Feb. 1 to people who are not compliant.

Also at the meeting, resident Lynn Jackson came to talk to the supervisors about a South Avenue house with an “excessive amount of junk” in the yard, including vehicles and appliances.

Jackson explained that she had talked to Corignani several times and related that a citation that was filed against the homeowner had been dismissed. While she said Corignani has “been more than accommodating,” she is worried the case has slipped through the cracks.

Township officials indicated Corignani and an attorney were working on getting a letter to the homeowner and promised to find out where it stands.