Kiski Township has new supervisor, police chief, part-time officers

Kiski Township has a new supervisor and a new head of the police department.

Township supervisors on Wednesday night selected Chuck Rodnicki, 69, to take over the unexpired term of longtime Supervisor Jack Wilmot. They also named police Officer Thomas Dessell, 35, as sergeant and officer-in-charge.

Wilmot, who was supervisors chairman, stepped down last month after 35 years on the board.

Other candidates were Rebecca Cyr-Rupert and Sherry Tamski. An earlier candidate, Samuel Calderone, withdrew.

“We did interviews with all the candidates,” Vice Chairman Mike Bash said. “All of you gave us good responses and good ideas. We appreciate your vision in helping our township grow.”

“I’m happy; it’s an honor, actually,” Rodnicki said of his appointment. “I’m aware of some of the problems in the township, and I’m sure there are some other problems. I want to help the township move ahead.”

Rodnicki’s term will last until Dec. 31, 2021.

Supervisors Bash, Rich Frain and Jeff Snyder voted in favor of Rodnicki. Supervisor Dan Jaworskj was absent.

Dessell, with 13 years in law enforcement, takes over a department that has lost Chief Jerrod Thompson and Sgt. Christian Disciscio in the past month. Both are now Vandergrift police officers.

Dessell has worked at Kiski Township since December. He previously served in Derry and Indiana.

Dessell will make $21.25 per hour and will be considered full time.

The supervisors also accepted the resignations of part-time Officers Ashley Polka and Bethany Allera.

They, in effect, were replaced when the supervisors hired Clint McChesney and Noah Miller. They’ll start at $18.49 per hour.

The supervisors said another part-time police officer candidate would be interviewed after the meeting.

Dessell’s force will be getting upgraded computer software. The supervisors voted to spend about $12,000 on five laptops, four desktops and software for the police and public works through a state program that seeks bids for technical materials.

Dessell said the current Windows 7 program will be replaced by Windows 10 after Dec. 31.

George Guido is a freelance writer.