Kiski Township supervisors fire treasurer who became newest supervisor

The Kiski Township supervisors fired township Treasurer Sherry Tamski during their reorganization meeting this week.

Like other municipalities across the Alle-Kiski Valley, Kiski Township held its reorganization meeting Monday night to swear in newly elected officials and appoint township professionals such as the solicitor, treasurer, township manager and others.

Tamski, who has been township treasurer for about a year and a half, garnered the most votes of four candidates running for two six-year supervisor seats in the Nov. 2 general election. She is the township’s second woman to be elected supervisor, according to recent records.

Supervisors Mike Bash, Rich Frain, Chuck Rodnicki and Tamski voted 4-0 on Monday to appoint Patrick Bono as secretary. They voted 3-1 for Bono’s appointment as treasurer. Tamski voted no.

Tamski said Monday night after the supervisors’ meeting that she was disappointed to lose her job as treasurer but said it was more important for her to serve as a township supervisor.

“The voters decided to put me in there, so that’s where I’m going to stay,” Tamski said. “I gave them (the supervisors) the chance to do the right thing, and I’ll let my attorney handle it at this point.”

Tamski said supervisors told her in a closed-door meeting Nov. 18 with Bono, who also had won a supervisor seat in the 2021 general election, that they couldn’t hold a township job while serving as a township supervisor.

Kiski Township Solicitor Tim Miller and Bono declined to comment because of potential litigation. Calls to Bash and Frain for comment were not returned.

On Dec. 1, Bono announced to council that he was giving up the supervisor seat he won in the election. The reason for relinquishing the seat was “personal,” Bono told the Tribune-Review. Bono’s seat has not been filled yet.

In a letter recapping the Nov. 18 meeting with supervisors, Tamski said she told supervisors that it is legal and possible to hold both positions.

It is legal for a supervisor of a Second Class Township to be employed by the same township, according to Dave Sanko, executive director of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors.

“It happens in a lot of instances,” he said. “Many are roadmasters, township secretaries and township treasurers.”

However, supervisors cannot set the salary of an employee who is a supervisor because of potential conflict of interest. Sanko said a township’s board of auditors sets the salary and wage increases for supervisors who are employed by the township.

Currently, Kiski Township has no members on its board of auditors, Bono said. Several months ago, the township sought members, but no resident has applied so far, he said.

While it’s legal to serve as a supervisor and to work for the same municipality, supervisors collectively decide who they appoint to hold paid positions.

“When appointed by a political body, you serve at the pleasure of the politicians that appointed you,” said Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association. “That said, general labor laws still apply. If she has an allegation, that doesn’t mean she can’t pursue it.”

The Tribune-Review obtained a copy of Tamski’s letter to supervisors. Tamski confirmed the contents.

She also outlined other grievances such as alleged unequal pay and gender discrimination.

Highlights of the letter include: Tamski said she was paid less than Bono after she was told by supervisors that they would be paid equally. She also claims she was excluded from the township’s pension program after prior Secretary Monica Austin was allowed to participate.

Bono was hired at a rate of $24.06 an hour in August 2020, Tamski said. Before Bono was hired, she was earning $16 an hour. After Bono was hired, supervisors increased Tamski’s pay to $20 an hour, a rate which is $4.06 less than Bono’s, Tamski said.

The pay rate of both workers stayed the same after that, according to Tamski.