DOUGLASS (Mont.) – One day before election day, the township supervisor who was removed as chairman two weeks ago resigned from the board completely.
Fred Theil, who was removed as chairman of the board of supervisors at the May 6 meeting, issued his resignation in writing, which was read at Monday’s meeting by Township Attorney Paul Bauer.
A ‘joint press release’ e-mailed to The Mercury Tuesday read as follows:
‘Unfortunately, the conduct of the past several meetings has focused on the conduct of the various public officials, rather than on the important job of running the Township. In an effort to move the focus back to where it belongs: to the residents and the township business, Supervisor Fred Theil has voluntarily decided to resign his position as Supervisor effective tonight. Mr. Theil and all of the Township officials believe that the focus should be on the people’s business and not personal attacks. The entire Township thanks Mr. Theil for his dedication over the past fifteen months, and wishes him luck in the future.’
A member of the ‘standing-room-only’ audience informed The Mercury that Monday’s meeting was ‘packed’ and that there was ‘clapping and cheering’ after Theil’s resignation statement was read.
Attempts to reach Theil for further comment Tuesday were unsuccessful.
In recent weeks, several hotly contested issues has consumed much of the township’s attention.
One has to do with a Sassamansville mulch business named Mountain Mulch which, neighbors contend, has been operating above and beyond the limits of its permit.
According to the minutes for the April 1 meeting, the most recent posted on the township web site, the township has considered litigation against the company.
And at the May 6 meeting, Constable Joshua Stouch informed the township he was ‘reserving my right to file suit,’ according to a May 7 report in Pottstown Patch.
In a statement he issued to Patch for the May 7 report, Stouch wrote ‘certain false allegations of impropriety were made to a member – or members -of the public, both in private and in a public meeting. I felt compelled to do this in order to protect myself and my family from any slanderous and/or false remarks made by – or inferred by – any member or member of the Douglass Township Board of Supervisors.’
He also wrote, ‘additionally, I would like to clarify that the statements made by the former Chairman of the Board and/or any other supervisors were personal in nature, and not professional or related to my position of State Constable. As an elected official and law enforcement professional, I pride myself in being beyond reproach on a professional and personal level.’
At the April 1 meeting, the supervisors unanimously appointed Stouch to the township’s Open Space/Recreation Committee.
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