WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — The people have spoken.
Such was the decision by the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners to reject advancing a ballot referendum proposal regarding the township Treasurer Tina J. Koren.
The referendum, proposed by Commissioner Ken Snyder, was voted down 5-0, with Board President Thomas Slonaker abstaining.
Snyder made a motion to approve the referendum.
Had the referendum been approved, voters would have been asked to cede electoral authority to township officials who then would appoint the treasurer.
Proponents said the change would allow for easier removal if the appointed official were offering lackluster performance.
Opponents indicated it would undermine voters' authority over their government.
Koren’s four-year term expires in December.
"The voters voiced their opinion."<br/>Alberta Scarfaro, secretary, Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners
Snyder failed to persuade the board to let him Monday present the reasons why he is in favor of placing the issue on the ballot.
“I want to get the chance to put the motion up for reconsideration,” he said prior to the board not letting him present.
Snyder was on vacation and did not attend the January meeting.
“I appreciate the work you do, but for me there was just a referendum two years ago and 70 percent voted against it,” board Secretary Alberta Scarfaro said.
“The voters voiced their option.”
'Don't think we have the votes'
Commissioner Robert Piligian agreed that voting for a referendum at this stage is too soon after the most recent vote of township residents.
“I supported the referendum last time and it got no support," Piligian said.
"I do think [the referendum] would be a tough sell in a short period since the last time there was a vote. I don’t have a problem hearing your proposal. But I don’t think we have the votes [to approve it] up here.”Whitehall Township commissioners Vice President Jeffrey Warren
Added board Vice President Jeffrey Warren: "I do think [the referendum] would be a tough sell in a short period since the last time there was a vote.
“I don’t have a problem hearing your proposal. But I don’t think we have the votes [to approve it] up here.”
The rejection of the referendum marked the second time the board voted it down since December.
Whitehall Township has tried a referendum question on the same topic before, but voters rejected it in the 2023 municipal primary, 61% to 39%.
The referendum's impetus extends years previous, involving a fraud investigation of the treasurer's office after irregularities were reportedly discovered in 2019.
Those irregularities included missing funds totaling about $78,000.
'Can't make her stay.' And a raise
Last Dec. 4, township Treasurer Tina Koren filed a federal lawsuit against Mayor Joseph Marx Jr. and Whitehall Township officials, alleging retaliatory acts stemming from Koren's 2023 mayoral candidacy.
On Monday, Snyder complained to the board that he is being “lambasted” on Facebook by people claiming he has a “person in his back pocket” to replace Koren should the referendum pass.
“I don’t have anybody for this position."Whitehall Township Commissioner Ken Snyder
“I don’t have anybody for this position,” Snyder said.
Snyder also disputed claims that he is in collusion with Marx to get rid of Koren.
Snyder also questioned the board about Koren leaving the proceedings prior to adjournment in three of the past four meetings.
"How are we going to ask her questions if she doesn't stay?" he asked.
"We can't make her stay," Slonaker said.
In other action Monday, the board adopted an ordinance increasing the annual salary of the treasurer 2% each year for 2026-29.
With that increase, the treasurer’s annual salaries for those years will be $41,263, $42,088, $42,930 and $43,789.
