Penn Township commissioner resigns; replacement sought

Penn Township is seeking a replacement for Commissioner Grant Pence, who recently resigned from the board.

Pence’s resignation was accepted at the April 17 meeting. Pence, who could not be reached for comment, has more than two years remaining on the four-year term he won in November 2017.

Pence represented the Second Ward.

Only residents who do not have a felony conviction and who have lived in the Second Ward for a year will be considered for the appointment, according to a Facebook post by Alex Graziani, township secretary-manager.

Commissioners are accepting cover letters and resumes from those interested in the position through noon May 3. They should be sent to Graziani at alexgraziani@penntwp.org. Those seeking more information should contact Graziani.

Eligible applicants will be asked to make a three-minute speech detailing their experience and interest in serving as a commissioner during the board’s caucus meeting at 6 p.m. May 8, Graziani stated.

A vote on Pence’s replacement will be held at the May 15 commissioners meeting.

The board has 30 days to fill the vacancy, starting the day the resignation was accepted, said Michael Korns, township solicitor. If the board is deadlocked, the chairman of the vacancy board can cast a vote.

“If the time limit expires, it has to go to the (Westmoreland County) Court of Common Pleas,” Korns said. The judges then would select a commissioner.

“You have one shot at this,” Korns noted.

Pence submitted his resignation after candidates were required to submit their nominating petitions to be on the ballot in the May 21 primary.

Beth Lechman, director of the Westmoreland County Bureau of Elections, said her office has not received official notification from Penn Township of Pence’s resignation.

In similar circumstances, the Republican and Democratic parties in the municipality are given the opportunity to nominate a person, whose name will appear on the ballot in the November election for a two-year term. The deadline for nominating a candidate to fill the vacancy is Sept. 16, Lechman said.