QUINCY—Quincy Township’s Board of Supervisors met Tuesday evening with one conspicuous absence: Longtime Supervisor Kerry Bumbaugh.
Bumbaugh, 57, died suddenly Friday, Dec. 3, at the township building. The cause of his death has not been announced, according to officials.
“It is with deep grief and reflective honor that we are here tonight,” said Supervisor Lee Daywalt. “We will remember and honor his dedication. A true public servant has departed.”
Bumbaugh was arrested in May following an investigation involving the FBI and charged with seven felony counts and three misdemeanor counts for allegedly defrauding an estimated $150,000 from the township and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
He was accused of misappropriating townships funds and resources by using township time, staff and equipment to work on his personal property, as well as falsifying grant and funding documents to cover his theft, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro.
He was released a short time later on $25,000 bail pending trial sometime in early 2022 and remained on the township board.
On Tuesday, the board hired several people to fill the void left by Bumbaugh, who was also roadmaster/program coordinator, and to begin to right the township’s course.
New hires; supervisor wanted
The board hired Travis Mong as roadmaster/program coordinator at $25 per hour.
“A supervisor should never have been doing those things,” said Supervisor Tabb Justus.
Rich Heinbaugh was hired as a general laborer at $19 per hour; Dave Rock was brought back as a consultant for $20 per hour. Mike Zeger was hired as an office administrator at the salaried rate of $65,000 annually.
“He’s going to manage the whole place [road crew, water and sewer],” said Daywalt. “He has extensive experience managing people and extensive HR training.”
Daywalt said moving forward, it’s important to keep a division of tasks.
“Part of our goal is to avoid corruption and conflicts of interest that were here before,” he said. “We want to keep supervisors as just supervisors.”
Justus and Daywalt verbally agreed to prohibit supervisors from also being township employees, however township solicitor Linus Fenicle said there is nothing they can do to make it a rule.
“The Second Class Township Code does allow a supervisor to be an employee,” Fenicle said.
The board hopes to fill Bumbaugh’s vacant seat before the end of the year. By code, they have 30 days from his Dec. 3 death to fill his seat.
Applications are being accepted through Dec. 16. The successful candidate will fill the remainder of Bumbaugh’s term, which runs through 2023. Interested candidates can submit a resume to the township building.
Credit card consolidation
The board also agreed to get a handle on credit spending.
Justus said Quincy has a total of 15 credit cards, plus warehouse club memberships for any employee that wants one.
“Quincy Township is the only one in Pennsylvania that gives a township credit card to all employees,” he said. “The auditor’s report is terrible. We have charges without receipts.”
Justus and Daywalt agreed to consolidate the cards into just four departmental cards—Office, Road Crew, Sewer and Water—and receipts must be turned in the day following any purchase.
Moving forward
Justus and Daywalt admitted they have just one more meeting as supervisors before two new board members take their places in January. Steve Bakner joins for a six-year term and Alan Peck joins for a four-year term.
At that time, the newcomers can make their own decisions and rules. But in the meantime, there’s work to be done.
“We are trying to do everything for this township and for no other reason,” Justus said. “We have business to take care of and we’re taking care of it.”
The board will meet Dec. 16 at 8:30 a.m. in the township building on Mentzer Gap Road.
