LOWER SAUCON TWP., Pa. — The township now appears to be changing course in its search for a new manager after reportedly deciding on a candidate just last month.
At a nine-hour council meeting Wednesday, officials voted 3-2 to instead offer the job to Sheldon Hudson, of Millsboro, Delaware, at a salary of $155,000.
Councilmen Jason Banonis and Thomas Carocci opposed the motion.
If everything goes through as outlined, Hudson is set to work 20 hours per week for the first 45 days of employment.
Banonis said that was concerning since there’s been no confirmation whether Hudson eventually would relocate to the township.
Township solicitor Steven Goudsouzian confirmed Hudson has municipal management experience, but has never worked for a township in Pennsylvania.
After voting July 24 to hire Brian S. Bond to the manager role at a salary of $142,500 — and even posting a news release to the township website that said he had taken the job — officials on Wednesday confirmed he declined the offer and they ultimately pursued another candidate.
“At the time the press release was written, [Bond] had accepted the job,” Council President Priscilla deLeon said.
Secret meetings or business as usual?
Not even two minutes had gone by at the meeting Wednesday before the gavel was sounding off.
Councilwoman deLeon said an executive session took place Aug. 16 for an interview with the prospective township manager, where all five council members were said to have been invited to attend.
“I can’t be clearer, it never happened. These people are corrupt.”Lower Saucon Township Councilman Jason Banonis, speaking on what was said to have been an executive session for hiring purposes on Aug. 16, 2024
Banonis said it was never explicitly scheduled as an executive session and was a meeting taking place both “in secret” and in violation of the Sunshine Act.
“I can’t be clearer, it never happened,” Banonis said. “These people are corrupt.”
He said he showed up that day and wasn’t able to get into the building. He said he waited a half-hour before leaving.
The building's doors are scheduled to lock at a certain time on Friday afternoons and people at the meeting were checking the entrances to let people in, deLeon said.
'Absolutely desperate'
Banonis and Carocci have repeatedly said over the multi-month hiring process that candidates’ resumes have been kept from them.
They also have vouched for the township to hire Cathy Gorman to the role. Gorman has served as the township finance director and assistant manager for nearly two decades total.
“We were left out of the process,” Carocci said. “We don’t know who the best candidate was. I think the best candidate was Cathy Gorman.”
“The only person keeping their finger in the dike to keep this whole dam from breaking is Kathy — and yet, you’re scrambling around trying to find somebody."Lower Saucon Township Councilman Jason Banonis, speaking to the council majority
At one point in the meeting, he made a motion to offer the job to Gorman, but it failed.
Banonis called for Gorman to get a four-year-guaranteed contract with appropriate benefits package.
He said the council’s Democratic majority is “absolutely desperate.”
“The only person keeping their finger in the dike to keep this whole dam from breaking is Kathy — and yet, you’re scrambling around trying to find somebody,” Banonis said to the council majority.
“And the person who’s willing to take this position and put in the hard work and take the lumps and keep things moving along is sitting right next to you, and you’re looking past.”
'A dog and pony show'
Councilwoman Victoria Opthof-Cordaro, who was a member of the hiring committee, said Gorman didn’t submit her resume or application for consideration of the open position but was always welcome to do so.
Banonis and Carocci, as part of a previous council, had never offered Gorman the position in the past, she said.
“I think it’s been orchestrated from the very beginning to drag out our meetings, to complain, to interrupt and create a hostile environment for our staff.”Lower Saucon Township Councilman Victoria Opthof-Cordaro
“I think it’s a dog-and-pony show right now in order to frustrate and to create concern and problems within this township, to create concern and problems within our staff,” Opthof-Cordaro said.
“I think it’s been orchestrated from the very beginning to drag out our meetings, to complain, to interrupt and create a hostile environment for our staff.”
Councilwoman deLeon said she would “vote my conscience.”
Township resident Donna Louder said Gorman understands the lay of the land in Lower Saucon and deserves a shot.
“Make her the manager, give her an assistant and then give her assistant an assistant,” Louder said. “You’ll still come off cheaper and you’ll know what you’re getting.”
Resident Dave Boulin asked the panel, “Do you think [Hudson] wants to come here to this zoo where it’s nothing but dirty politics on one side?”
