Rob Ritson stepping down as Hempfield supervisor

Hempfield Supervisor Rob Ritson submitted a letter of resignation this week after serving four years on the board, township officials confirmed.

According to George Reese, board chairman, Ritson submitted the letter following Monday’s meeting, citing increased demands from his job as chief of staff for Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Hempfield. Reese will take the letter to the October meeting for action.

“This decision was not made lightly,” Ritson wrote in his resignation letter. “It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve the residents of Hempfield these last four years. The demands associated with changes to my full-time job have increased to the point where it is becoming increasingly difficult to attend monthly township meetings.”

He continued, stating that township residents deserve commitment and focus from elected officials, “and I feel it would be selfish of me to deny them that if I were to continue for the remainder of my term.”

Ritson declined to provide further comment.

Ritson was elected to a six-year term in 2017. In that time, he has been part of decisions centered around improving the township’s fire service by consolidating 11 stations into one department, and has seen commercial and residential growth throughout the township.

Prior to holding public office, Ritson served as the Hempfield Township manager from 2002-12. He resigned from the position after Ward named him chief of staff.

Before joining Hempfield, he served as an aide to a Westmoreland County commissioner.

“Rob’s been around a long time,” Reese said. “He’s a Hempfield guy. He was our first township manager and to have him come on board at the same time I did, we kind of ran at the same time, it was great. But I get it. He’s out of the area more than he’s in the area.”

According to township Solicitor Scott Avolio, once a supervisor gives notice that they intend to resign, action must be taken by the board to accept the resignation. Once it is accepted, the vacancy is created and the board of supervisors has 30 days to pick a replacement to serve the remaining two years of Ritson’s term.

Avolio said supervisors will have the opportunity to discuss Ritson’s replacement next month. The appointment of a replacement could take place at the November meeting.

Of Ritson’s resignation, Reese said, “It was an honor for me to serve with him and he’ll be missed. He will be missed. He was quite the resource.”

In his letter, Ritson added, “I am proud of the work we have accomplished together as a board. Navigating the difficulties of a pandemic, creating a welcoming climate for residential and commercial growth and blazing a new path for our emergency services are all areas that I am extremely grateful to have contributed to.”