Residents call for resignation of two officials

Supervisors are satisfied with apologies

By TOM KANE

DAMASCUS — Damascus Township residents called for the resignation of two planning commission members at Tuesday’s supervisor’s meeting.

However, the board was satisfied with an apology and a harsh reprimand.

But that didn’t satisfy resident Wayne Rutledge.

“An apology doesn’t solve this,” he said.

Planning Chairman Josh Sheard made several racial slurs at the commission meeting on January 11, in reference to the national holiday Martin Luther King Day.

In letters to the supervisors and several residents, Sheard, apologized, stating that his remarks were said in jest.

“I find it hard to believe that his resignation was not asked for,” said resident Sally Esterbrook.

The other member of the commission, William Adams, at the same meeting stated that he refused to read the township’s municipal code.

Again, Adams claimed he made the remark in jest. He, too, sent letters of apology.

“How can he fulfill the job if he doesn’t know the code,” Esterbrook said.

“It’s a good lesson for everyone,” said Supervisor William Gager. “Any further expressions like this will be greeted with a request to resign.”

Gager and the other board members, Larry Newport and Stan Kuta, agreed that a special meeting should be held for all township officials—elected and appointed—along with the township attorney, Rich Henry, and zoning consultant Carson Helfrich, to discuss the need for sensitivity training and to develop an ethics code for township officials.