(1/22) At its Jan 2nd meeting Liberty Township re-appointed its existing leadership to their existing roles. Supervisor Walter "Mickey" Barlow was reappointed Chairman with Bobby Keilhotlz reappointed Vice Chairman.
The Board of Supervisors are elected governmental body officials responsible for overseeing municipal government. Supervisors are tasked with ensuring public services are provided while maintaining fiscal accountability. The Chairman leads discussion for board consideration and the Vice Chair holds responsibility in the absence of the Chairman.
John Lisko will continue as township solicitor, providing legal advice to the township. Township engineer and sewer enforcement officer was reapproved as KPI Technology Inc., and the township’s zoning officer remains PA Municipal Code Alliance.
Smith Elliott Kearns & Company LLC was again approved as the township’s certified public accountant (CPA) to perform the upcoming yearly audit. The supervisors also approved five more hours to the township secretary’s assistant in January to help perform the audit report.
Barlow was also reappointed Township Roadmaster, tasked with duties pertaining to local municipal roads, including duties such as snow and debris removal, overseeing equipment, and road program strategizing.
Barlow’s reappointment coincided with a discussion about how much Liberty Township’s Roadmaster should be paid has entered a second year.
Discussion about how much Liberty Township’s Roadmaster should be paid has entered a second year.
In early 2023, the Liberty Township Board of Auditors set Roadmaster Walter "Mickey" Barlow’s hourly rate at $23.10. The auditors set the rate because Barlow is a township supervisor. The auditors also set Assistant Roadmaster Bobby Keilhotlz’s hourly wage at $23.10.
Keilhotlz argued Barlow should be paid more than he because Barlow is responsible for the department’s operations. Keilhotlz added, Barlow is required to hold many more certifications than others on the road crew, including bridge safety and culvert replacement, traffic signs and controls, geosynthetics, paving and preventative maintenance, risk management, cost estimates and mathematical principals, road surface management, roadside vegetation control, winter maintenance, salt and snow, engineering and traffic studies, equipment and workers’ safety, infrastructure management, CPR, Hazmat recognition, and flag training.
During their 2024 reorganization meeting in January, the auditors expressed interest in increasing Barlow’s pay but said they needed more information to make an informed decision. Auditor Richard Swiat requested a complete review of Barlow’s accomplishments and proof of certifications. Auditor Chair Katie Bostek said she would also like to see pay rates for Roadmasters in neighboring municipalities. Auditor Vincent Gee agreed with his colleagues but stressed Barlow deserves a raise.
"Mr. Barlow is the roadmaster and anybody under him should not be making the same," Gee said.
Bostek said she would call another auditors’ meeting this year to settle the matter.
Other than the potential for Barlow to receive a raise, Liberty Township entered 2024 by conducting business as usual.
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