EAST SMETHPORT — Meeting in a special session late Wednesday afternoon, the Keating Township Supervisors officially accepted the resignation of fellow Supervisor Richard Tanner.
In a letter that was received by the supervisors and The Era on April 13, Tanner said his resignation was effectively immediately. In the letter, he said decided to step down from the three-member board, citing “differences in the ideas, concepts, opinions, and just plain lack of respect and transparency for the public we are elected to serve and my concerns how business in general is transacted.”
“This meeting,” said Supervisor Chairman Doug Covert on Wednesday, “is to discuss and determine our next step. We hope to move forward in everybody’s best interests.”
Telling The Era that Tanner has missed 40.5 percent of the meetings since January 2016, Covert referred to the difficulty of governing the township with just two supervisors, especially with a full schedule of projects that are scheduled to begin soon and must be completed before the end of the year. Covert said, “During the next several weeks, we’ll be searching very diligently for a candidate, gentleman or lady, who puts the township’s interests first. We’re hoping someone steps forward to help move the township forward.”
Supervisor David McClain spoke about the time supervisors often spend on township business, noting, “It can take about six hours or sometimes more of personal time a week partly due to the research needed.”
The township has 30 days from this meeting to fill the position by appointment. Residents who wish to be considered for the appointment should submit a letter of interest to the township office in East Smethport.
Covert encouraged residents to be aware of township news by attending supervisors’ meetings. The next meeting is 6 p.m. on May 1 at the township offices.
Covert announced the Spring Clean-Up in the township is slated for May 7.
Following the brief meeting, Covert spoke with The Era, providing some details about the major projects that are scheduled to begin this summer and must be completed by year’s end,
The Gifford Hollow bridge work will involve a full replacement with an aluminum box culvert and a road realignment to eliminate a blind spot. Eighty percent of this project is to be funded with state money. “We’re awaiting permits,” Covert said.
In Kent Hollow, a driving surface aggregate is to be applied to the roadway. This work is to be completed through the state’s Dirt and Gravel Road program, administered by the McKean County Conservation District. The conservation district has received the bids for the aggregate, according to Covert.
On Prospect Hill, the work includes applying a stone base topped with a driving surface aggregate. The conservation district has the bids for gravel. The township is to have a contract with the application of surfacing material.
Covert wanted to alert the public about the impact on driving that the repair project at the Valley Crossroads Bridge can have when it begins, saying the township is waiting for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s bridge report. “In the fall, the bridge is to be shut down for a week for replacing the steel bridge deck,” he said.
