Hanover Township, Northampton County supervisors candidates concerned about new pool, taxes

HANOVER TWP, Pa. — The candidates for seats on the board of supervisors for Hanover Township, Northampton County, are hoping to make a splash with voters come Election Day.

One of the biggest issues in the supervisors' race is the completion of the township's new community pool.

• Six candidates are running for three open seats on the Hanover Township Board of Supervisors
• Four of the candidates have served as elected officials in the town in previous years
• All say they hope to focus on the township's new pool

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Hanover Township candidates

The candidates are running for three open seats — two with six-year terms and one with a two-year term.

The six-year seats are being sought by Republicans John "Jack" Nagle and Jay Finnigan and Democrats Jean E. Versteeg and Susan A. Lawless.

Candidates for the two-year seat are Republican Barry Check and Democrat Stephen Gross.

Versteeg also is on the ballot for township auditor. There is no Republican candidate for auditor.

Ideas about infrastructure

"We’ve recently approved the construction of a new community pool at a significant expense. It will remain in our sights so that budget and schedule are maintained," Check said.

Check, a civil engineer who moved to Hanover Township with his family in 1991, was a member of the township Planning Commission since 2009 and its chairman since 2017.

He also was the chairman of the Impact Fee Advisory Committee.

He was appointed township supervisor last November after Jeff Warren resigned.

Check said that if elected, he also hopes to focus on the influx of warehouses moving into the area.

"They must be carefully planned to mitigate issues such as traffic, noise, and runoff that could adversely affect the surrounding community," Check said.

"Recently the multi-municipal comprehensive plan was adopted by the township. It is now up to the board to implement the recommendations by reviewing and modifying our local ordinances and maps.

"Point of all, we will carefully control the budget, savings, investments, and spending and make the proper selection of short-term and long-term goals."

Switching roles

Along with concerns about the new pool, Finnigan said he hopes the township focuses on its infrastructure.

Finnigan has been township manager since 2006.

Prior to that, he was a member of the board of supervisors from 2000-06 — including stints as vice chairman from 2001-02 and chairman from 2003-06.

He also served on the 200th Anniversary Committee, chief fundraiser from 1997 through 1998 and the recreation advisory board from 1998-2000.

"Hanover Township also has two major State Roads, PA-0512 [Bath Pike] and PA-0987 [Airport Road] that provide access to Route 22," Finnigan said.

"We must continue to press for improvements along the Airport Road corridor to relieve the traffic congestion that occurs during the a.m. and p.m. peak hours."

In April 2022, he announced his retirement at a supervisors' meeting but rescinded his decision four months later.

"I want to continue my public service as a member of the board, helping to enact and implement legislation, policies and procedures that will continue to make Hanover a great place to live, work and play for years to come," he said.

Some candidates recently raised questions about Finnigan's switch from manager to an elected official.

"At the next meeting of the board of supervisors, I intend to ask what precautions and systems are being put in place to ensure that there is a wall between Mr. Finnegan’s job and his political activities," longtime Supervisor Lawless said.

Lawless is a civil litigation attorney.

She said she hopes she is joined on the dais by residents with "differing points of view."

"As an initial matter, there should be no campaign work during work hours," she said. "Perhaps more importantly, there is a risk that an employee, a resident, even an applicant might feel compelled to support his campaign or might feel compelled not to freely support that of another."

Asked via email about Lawless' concerns, Finnigan declined to comment.

'Community changing'

Lawless said she wants to see a younger group of candidates in the political pool.

"Our community is changing all the time. People retire and move out, younger people move in. Demographically we are changing as well," Lawless said.

"The Hanover Township Board of Supervisors presently consists of members all in their late 50s or well into their 60s. We want to ensure that all voices in the community are heard, even those that do not agree with us."

"The board of supervisors needs new and differing points of view, particularly those of women and residents with children growing up in the community."

She said she supports candidate Stephen Gross for the two-year seats.

It would be Gross's first time serving on a board in the township. He moved to the area a few years ago with his wife.

"The most important reason I have for running for office is I want to make sure that the township continues to maintain that reputation and even improve it because I’m raising my 2-year-old daughter here," Gross said.

"For me, it’s important that Hanover Township is a great place to live now, but also just as good, if not even better, for her generation."

"It’s also really important to see the township better represented on the board of supervisors. It should be more representative of the township on a whole — a mix of both younger and older members from a variety of backgrounds."

"The current board of supervisors does not reflect that vision and most of the candidates running won’t change that."

Keeping the town 'attractive'

Versteeg is making her second campaign for township supervisor.

If elected, she said, she'd like to focus on developing the new community center.

"A more modern approach is needed throughout the Township to continue to attract new residents and young families," Versteeg said. "One example of an area that could use an innovative approach is our community center and the programs and activities it offers."

"It is important that we support [the community center's] new director and assistant director as they work to grow the interest and participation in what it offers."

"I believe we can keep the township attractive to new residents by applying a fresh perspective to our community and what it offers."

"I would like the opportunity to collaborate with our various township departments and help understand what they need to improve efficiencies if possible, and modernize."

A tab on township taxes

Gross said he'd like to focus on keeping township taxes in order.

"Taxes are one of the most pressing issues," he said. "They are one of the few things everybody pays attention to, whether they’re interested in politics or not."

"And it’s very hard to balance the needs of the community and the infrastructure while also keeping costs as low as possible. It’s also one of the main reasons I’m running for township supervisor."

"Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m frugal when it comes to my personal finances. It’s an approach I’d like to take with our local government too. To be clear, however, that doesn’t mean cut programs."

Gross said he would like to start with the community center.

"Investment in it is crucial and I think we can actually grow the programs it offers while also improving it," he said. "But to do that, we need to take a new approach and rethink how it’s funded."

Longtime elected official John "Jack" Nagle, a Republican, is running for re-election in the six-year seat.

He said he also is concerned with the township's spending.

"I want to continue to keep the township financially healthy as it has been over the past 30-plus years and not stray down the path of fiscal irresponsibility as many other municipalities have done," he said.

"I also want to keep the township moving forward following the long-term plans that have been established."

"One of the roles of [a] supervisor is to foresee the future as best as possible and plan for the overall financial health and well-being of the township."