Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners, at its Jan. 13 meeting, rejected an ordinance that would have allowed a referendum to be placed on the ballot for May’s primary regarding the treasurer position.

Commissioner Ken Snyder drafted a plan for the commissioners to discuss the possibility of eliminating the treasurer position and replacing it with a financial director. The board rejected the referendum, with most saying it was too soon to make this decision before the upcoming election.

If the board approved the plan, voters would have been asked on the ballot whether the position of the treasurer should be removed and replaced by a financial director.

Snyder spoke about the treasurer’s appointment through the reviewing of the charter and code review. He said it has nothing to do with Tina Jo Koren occupying the slot of the treasurer but, more specifically, the way the government functions.

“Based on the complexity of what’s going on, this position should be eliminated and strictly have a financial director,” Snyder said. “At that particular point, you have a person who is directly responsible for collecting all the dollars and cents and complexities. If there’s a problem, it can be addressed by the mayor and not wait four years to solve the problem.

“We did a heck of a job, considering there’s so many legalities we couldn’t answer because we’re not attorneys,” he added. “We did a heck of a job, considering that we were short-staffed. I understand you can get a tax collector in here for four years who knows nothing, but you can also get a mayor or commissioner in here who knows nothing.

“I’m talking about the fact that our form of government is set up in such a way that we have no control over that particular location. Some first-class townships, not Home Rule Charters, have elected to bring in finance directors in order to take care of that,” Snyder said.

Commissioner Robert Piligian noted it was too soon before the primary election in the spring, adding the voters had already spoken their mind on this issue.

Commissioners previously approved a referendum for voters to change the Home Rule Charter to eliminate the treasurer position and replace it with an appointed finance director for the May 16, 2023, municipal primary election. The referendum failed.

“I think the referendum was decided upon by the voters; regardless of the outcome, they spoke. It’s not that long ago that this was decided upon,” Piligian said. “I don’t think this is a great time for a referendum. It’s too close to having it fail. I think we’re too close to that. If there’s something that’s tangible, maybe the taxpayers would agree to it. But I don’t see any other change.”

After lengthy discussion, commissioners decided not to proceed with adding this referendum for a vote to the agenda.

In other news, Mayor Joseph R. Marx Jr. was reappointed to Coplay Whitehall Sewer Authority. His term will expire at the end of 2029.

The board approved the purchase of a 2026 Mack tandem axle dump truck for the public works department. The motion was passed 7-0. Commissioner Vice President Jeffrey Warren reported this purchase was included in the 2025 budget.

Louis Jany was reappointed to serve as a member of the zoning hearing board.

Frank Krempasky was reappointed to serve on the building code of appeals.

Jeffrey Mackiewicz was reappointed to serve on the tax appeals board until the end of 2027.

Stanley Wimmer was reappointed to serve on the township authority until the end of 2029.

Lane Donatelli was appointed to the planning commission until the end of 2027.

Monica Chibber’s appointment to the environmental advisory council was tabled. EAC President Debra Rosene said she wanted an opportunity to discuss the appointment at the EAC’s monthly meeting.

The next board of commissioners meetings are set for 7 p.m. Feb. 3 and 10 at the municipal building, 3219 MacArthur Road.