It was nearly midnight, five hours into a marathon meeting with only a five -minute break, when Mark Pinsley announced his resignation from the South Whitehall board of commissioners due to his recent election as Lehigh County controller.

“I recommend Joe Setton be nominated to my seat. He had the second highest votes on the Democratic ticket and owns a business in the township,” said Pinsley.

When commissioners seemed favorable to Setton, the matter provoked an outcry from residents in the Springhouse Middle School auditorium.

Several called out that Tom Utsch should be chosen as he had more votes than Setton in the recent election.

Utsch, a Republican, had 2,025 unofficial votes and Setton had 1,911.

Michael Wolk, who was elected in November, commented.

“This seems to be made up on the spot. I think the fourth highest vote-getter should be selected. What’s the hurry?” asked Wolk.

Diane Kelly, who also was elected to the board in November, said commissioners have 30 days to make a decision and usually undergo an interview process when appointing individuals to vacancies.

“People said they’re disconnected and that their government doesn’t work for them.

“The people spoke on Election Day. Utsch had more votes than Setton,” Kelly said.

Utsch, a mechanical engineering graduate of Lehigh University, is a former captain in the U.S. Air Force and a veteran of Desert Storm.

He campaigned on stopping more large developments in order to preserve the quality of life in South Whitehall.

Setton, in his campaign, stated his 35 years as a township resident and licensed real estate broker provide him with a “unique perspective and understanding” of the township.

Commissioner Matt Mulqueen nominated Setton for Pinsley’s seat, and Christina “Tori “Morgan seconded it.

They were joined by Glenn Block and David Bond in approving Setton for the board.

Morgan will be the only holdover from the existing board. Block and Bond did not seek re-election, and Mulqueen lost out in the primary.

The new board will consist of Morgan, Wolk, Kelly, Matthew Mobilio, and Setton.

As the Press was leaving the hall, several stunned residents approached and said the procedure for choosing Setton was “wrong” and a “travesty.”

In the parking lot, after midnight, people lingered with much loud discourse and at least one direct verbal confrontation of a resident with a commissioner.