Old Lycoming exodus expands: Two supers resign as 12 out of 18 employees explore resignation or retirement
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Two Old Lycoming Township supervisors announced their immediate resignations and up to a dozen employees may also soon be gone, saying they will leave their positions or are exploring the option.
"I'm upset, heartbroken -- but can't work under conditions of constant abuse," Supervisor Linda Mazzullo, chairwoman, said following a special meeting Thursday morning. The end result was her resignation along with that of Supervisor David Kay. Supervisor Dave Shirn, who recently won nomination in the primary, is now the lone supervisor. Justin Kastner, who also won nomination in the primary, is expected to take the oath of office in January.
A judge in the Lycoming County Court of Common Pleas would have to appoint two interim supervisors in order to get business done and pass ordinances with Shirn without a quorum.
Mazzullo served the community for 22 years, starting out as sewer billing clerk before taking on the role of township manager. She retired and then ran for supervisor, a position that, she said, pays $2,500 annually. Kay was more recently appointed to fill a vacancy left by former Supervisor Sam Aungst, who is Williamsport Bureau of Fire chief.
"I did this for the community I love," Mazzullo said, holding back tears, expressing her remorse. but concerned for her health amidst tension in the township. That tension stemmed from the numerous township meetings leading up to and when she and Kay voted for a police regionalization between former Old Lycoming Township and Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police, which formed to create the new Lycoming Regional Police. The meeting Sept. 28, 2022, was considered by many in it to be a sham. Shirn voted against the regionalization of police in its current form.
"I'm mad," said Matthew Aikey, the former township manager, who resigned last week, who was by Mazzullo's side following Thursday's meeting.
Concerns for the taxpayers were among the highest priorities of the officials who resigned.
"It will function, but on a skeleton crew," Mazzullo said of the government operations.
"We will need applicants to fill positions," she said.
In recent weeks, at least a dozen employees either resigned or retired, she said.
These are critical positions in the road department, mechanical, fire department, manager, bookkeeper/treasurer and sewer. The township services include in-house zoning officer, sanitary (on-lot) and stormwater, fire and police service and road department. The township had $63,000 in the general fund in 2020 and most recently posted $1.7 million in its general fund balance, Aikey said, alluding to the year he took over as township manager. The audit for 2020-2021 was returned with "no findings," he said.
Aikey said he pushed for a $620,000 grant to pay for costs associated with a sewer vacuum truck and until he resigned last week he continued to oversee a storm-water management grant application that is outstanding.
Aikey was hired in 2002 and worked for 20 years moving from road crew to the manager of the township which covers close to 40 square miles, Mazzullo said.
Individuals are wearing "Make Old Lycoming Township Great Again" hats, which is their prerogative, but that clearly is a political knock-off to former President Donald Trump and his supporters, Mazzullo said.
The township has a budget of $4 million and a manager working with the supervisors is an integral part of what taxpayers expect to see managed properly, she said.
"They have no idea what they might have done by asking for new leadership," Aikey said.