The remaining supervisor and the now-former manager are offering conflicting explanations for why Old Lycoming Township recently saw two supervisors and a number of township employees resign.

Former Old Lycoming Township Manager Matthew Aikey says harassment and bullying on social media and an intimidating workplace environment led to his decision to quit his job.

Aikey said the harassment stemmed from the regionalization of police and his administration pursuing what was the best solution to law enforcement coverage.

Aikey said the lack of respect for trying to do the best for taxpayers was enough for him to call it quits. He was made manager in 2020 and had worked for the township since 2002.

Also resigning were Supervisors Linda Mazzullo, former chair, and David Kay, who lost in the recent Primary Election. He was not elected but rather appointed to fill a vacancy left by Sam Aungst, who resigned in 2022 to become city Bureau of Fire chief.

Mazzullo said she faced similar harassment and intimidation as Aikey. She said it was not worth her health suffering to continue as a supervisor.

For his part, Supervisor David Shirn — the only one of the three not to resign and to win nomination in May’s Primary Election — says its the two resigning supervisors who harbor disrespect for their constituents, and it’s that disrespect that fueled the supervisors’ exits.

“I am disappointed by the lack of respect for our residents by the two former supervisors,” Shirn said in a statement provided to the Sun-Gazette on Friday. “They chose to ignore residents for the last one and a half years.

“Sept. 28, 2022, was the ultimate

showing of disrespect,” Shirn stated. “A special meeting was held to allow residents the opportunity to learn and comment on the proposed regionalization of our police department. After three hours, the chairperson was questioned about whether or not she and the other now-former supervisor had made up their minds prior to this meeting for the residents. She admitted that they had made their minds up prior to the meeting. Their two votes that night were in direct opposition to the over 200 people at the meeting.”

A private citizens group, then known as Concerned Citizens for Old Lycoming Township, wanted Mazzullo and Kay to consider taking a pause on the police regionalization steps until an updated state Department of Community and Economic Development-led study was done because of potential partners in the arrangement — such as Woodward Township — dropping out of what would be covered by the new police department and numbers were skewed.

The police department that was formed answers to a police commission.

Shirn believes the results of the Primary Election reflect how township residents feel about the decision to proceed with regionalization.

“May 16, 2023 was the time for Old Lycoming Township residents to speak,” Shirn said in Friday’s statement. “They spoke loud and clear. They want change.”

As for township governance, multiple employees — as many as a dozen — are either considering resigning or are in a position to retire.

Mazzullo said whoever is coming in will need to review resumes and get people appointed because, she said, the government is a reactionary one working with a skeleton crew.

Shirn’s statement Friday morning was also contrary to Mazzullo’s apprehensions.

“The ship is not going down, we are going to turn it around,” Shirn said. “I along with two new supervisors will move Old Lycoming Township forward. To Old Lycoming Township residents: Our best days are coming!”

The procedure to get the supervisors a quorum will be done through a Lycoming County Court of Common Pleas judge, who will have to appoint two interim supervisors to conduct business, Mazzullo and Aikey said.