Forks Tables Recreation Board Vacancy

It’s been five months since the one vacated seat on the Forks Township Recreation Board remains to be filled.

Earlier this month, the township Board of Supervisors interviewed four candidates for the one-available, five-year opening left vacant by Alex Banas. At that time, the board could not come to a consensus on a candidate, according to Supervisor Lilly Gioia.

Banas chose not to seek another term at the end of 2010.

At Thursday night’s board meeting, Supervisor Erik Chuss nominated Dan Reiter to fill the seat. Reiter served on the Recreation Board as treasurer from 1995 to 2009 but was not reappointed in 2010, according to Chuss. That nomination, however, failed with the board voting 2-2. Supervisor David Billings was not present for the meeting. Voting in favor of the nomination was Chuss and Supervisor Robert Egolf. Voting against the nomination were Gioia and Supervisor C. David Howell.

“He (Reiter) still remained active in the township running the car show on community days and a walk-run for charity,” said Chuss. “He has contributed a great deal to this township. I think he’s more qualified than anyone else who applied and demonstrated his commitment to the community.”

“Dan certainly knows the ins and outs, ups and downs of the recreation board,” said Egolf.  “He comes with a lot of understanding and background. He is certainly a qualified person.”

But Howell, voting against Reiker, had other thoughts.

“If you’re going to start appointing new people to the board over the next four or five years then you want to achieve some measure of diversity,” said Supervisor C. David Howell.  “Each board member hopefully represents a segment of our community. “

Rather than vote on the nomination, Gioia instead suggested that the board table the issue until the next meeting when all five board members were present. But Chuss disagreed saying five months of the term had already passed by. The motion was tabled 4-0 and will likley be brought up again at the June 2 meeting.

The board will now have to nominate another person for the position, if it is to be filled.