Williams Steps Down From Schuylkill Township Board

In a move one supervisor called “long overdue,” Schuylkill Township Supervisor Laurie Williams submitted her resignation letter.

The board unanimously accepted the one-sentence resignation letter on Wednesday evening at its year-end special budget meeting. Williams was not present and the notarized letter was dated Dec. 21 and read simply, “I hearby resign from Schuylkill Township’s Board of Supervisors effective immediately.”

Williams was serving a six-year term that ends in 2014.

Supervisor Jim Morrisson called her resignation “long overdue,” and other board members said they believed Williams’ resignation would benefit the township.

Board Treasurer Fred Parry said Williams let her personal life become entangled with her work as a supervisor during her time on the board.

“I think that infringed upon her thinking … because she certainly had the ability, had the decisiveness and was a smart person,” Parry said.

However, he added that the supervisors are supposed to work together and get along. That didn’t happen while Williams was present, Parry noted.

“As [Vice Chairman] Norm [Vutz] had indicated, it was a task just to sit next to her,” Parry said. “She was making a mockery out of the board of supervisors.”

Chairwoman Barbara Cohen said she agreed with the words of her fellow supervisors.

“It’s sad that she is going through personal turmoil,” Cohen said. “On the other hand, her actions were very, very, very detrimental to the township and to our staff as well. I hope it’s a peaceful new year for her and her family and for us as a township.”

Morrisson reflected that she’d have more time to focus on her family.

“Now she can really have the opportunity to focus on her children like she might have otherwise not had before,” he said.

Williams was at the board’s August meeting, and the board unanimously called for her resignation within 48 hours at that point. Following the censure, she had Morrisson and Cohen for a defamation lawsuit. The suit was later dropped.

Parry said he’s confident the board will move past the tumultuous time.

“I think it will be better for her and there’s no question it will be better for us and our township,” Parry said.

The board has 30 days from Dec. 21 to agree on a replacement who will fill out the remainder of Williams' term, according to acting Solicitor Ken Butera. The board reorganizes on Jan. 3 but all members present agreed they didn't want to rush into choosing someone. 

Vutz said they should wait until after incoming Supervisor Kevin Handforth takes over for Vutz' seat in the new year. 

"I'm not ducking the decision but it's a biggie," Vutz said. 

All agreed that they can likely come to a decision by Jan. 21. If not, a committee will be formed and the township already has a vacancy board in place. 

"I don't think that'll happen," Parry said.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the board also passed the 2012 budget, which does not include any changes to township tax rates. There will be more on the budget in a future article.