Ross Township supervisors held their reorganization meeting Tuesday evening with James Zahoroiko remaining the board chairman.

David Shay returns as vice chairman and Randy Detrick is the third supervisor.

Deb Brown remained the secretary/treasurer and planning commission secretary.

There was a new face at the front table during the meeting - attorney Rich Campbell from the firm KingSpry in Bethlehem replaces solicitor Tim McManus.

At the Dec. 4 meeting, Shay announced that McManus would be scaling back his hours and it was his last meeting. McManus had been the solicitor for more than a decade. Shay and his colleagues applauded McManus’ years of service and invited him to visit any time.

Campbell was named the new solicitor during the reorganization meeting.

Supervisors discussed whether to split their zoning and building codes officer into two positions. Last year, SFM Consulting did both zoning and building code enforcement for the township at a rate of $65/hour and 6 hours a week.

“I believe our zoning person should be a different person than our building codes inspector,” Shay said.

Shay said they interviewed someone with zoning experience in a nearby township. He proposed a pay rate of $27 per hour for 6 hours a week.

“We have had nothing but complaints regarding zoning issues from our residents. We are doing a disservice to our township,” Shay said.

At recent meetings, residents have asked about ongoing cases where neighboring properties have yet to be cleaned up and continue to be an eyesore - including a house with major damage from a fire several years ago.

Shay proposed three different firms be the building codes officer: Lehigh Valley Builders, Building Inspection Underwriters of PA, and Keller Building Administrators. He was the sole vote for each of those motions.

Zarohoiko and Detrick voted twice to keep SFM Consulting. First as the zoning officer, and then as the building codes officer. Shay voted no to both. The position will remain together as it was in 2023.

“They have experience and continuity. They can get a lot done,” Zahoroiko said.

Detrick suggested that someone from SFM Consulting come to meetings periodically and speak with residents. He also suggested more detailed record keeping on the progress of each property.

The monthly supervisors meeting is at 6 p.m. on the first Monday of the month. If a holiday occurs that day, the meeting will be held the following Monday. Supervisors’ workshops, if needed, will remain on the last Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m.

Supervisors voted for pay raises for their secretary-treasurer, receptionist, road foreman, labor operator and part-time laborer.

The holidays and benefits package will also remain the same as 2023, they said. Employees have 12 paid holidays, and the office is closed for two days when the building is used as an election polling place.