Supervisor Removed as North Buffalo Roadmaster
North Buffalo Township Supervisor Paul Kirkwood reads the monthly roadmaster report earlier this year. Wednesday, he was removed from that paid position by the other two elected supervisors (KP File Photo).
by Jonathan Weaver
For the next two months, a different elected supervisor will be acting as North Buffalo Township’s working supervisor.
That’s because after an executive session last night, Supervisor Chair David Wolfe and Vice-Chair Clark Whiteman removed fellow Supervisor Paul Kirkwood as roadmaster.
Wolfe will act as interim roadmaster until Whiteman is complete with his full-time job for the Fall. The elected supervisors will re-evaluate the position at the January reorganization meeting.
“For the record, I did not fire Paul Kirkwood,” Wolfe said after the unanimous vote. “I don’t have the authority to fire – I’m one vote.
“He was not removed by anybody – contrary to what he might say or feel. I mean, he had a job to do and there was an issue and that’s it.”
Wolfe has acted as roadmaster – a position he had before while he was an elected supervisor – the past few weeks. Neither supervisor has talked with Kirkwood since a discussion a few weeks ago
“He’s a personal friend of mine – I still consider it,” Wolfe said. “This has weighed on me for a week. Paul has knowledge, vast knowledge of these roads that we want to continue to utilize, but right now, we’re going to try to operate the way we’re planning on it.”
Whiteman formerly also served as township roadmaster.
“I feel bad about (removing him as roadmaster),” Whiteman added. “But, it’s to the point that we had to do something about it.”
As roadmaster, Kirkwood earned $11.45 per hour as set by the township auditors and was responsible for vehicle maintenance, overseeing road employees, ordering supplies and maintaining the township building – as well as communicating with the public. Working supervisors are not required to work 40 hours.
Kirkwood, a supervisor since 2012, was not at last night’s meeting and was not available for comment on what Wolfe described as part of a personnel issue. His term expires in January 2018.
Local News | jweaver October 20, 2016
By ktown_kid, October 20, 2016 @ 7:33 AM
He made $11.45 per hr? That has to be a misprint. Come on now wolfe, you voted to remove him from his job but still consider him to be friends. Then say you still want to use his knowledge for the roads. I bet he told you where to stick it also. Typical politician using that ounce of control.
By jorn jensen, October 20, 2016 @ 7:37 AM
What is ‘it’ as in “we had to do something about it.”?
By Rainbow Rider, October 20, 2016 @ 2:21 PM
There’s a whole lot more to this by the sounds of it. That’s where the real story is. Pittsburgh talkin’ Dave is Takin’ Over!
For better or worse though?