First Posted: 4/20/2015

CLARKS GREEN — Borough Council expressed well-wishes and goodbyes to secretary and local service tax and real estate tax collector Janice Brown at its regular meeting April 15. Brown gave council her resignation effective June 30, 2015 to retire and relocate to Southern California to be close to family.

“Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of the community that will hold a special place in my heart,” Brown stated in her letter of resignation, read by council member Keith Williams of the personnel committee.

“We feel the same way,” Williams said, “and we appreciate your service.

“I did want to let council know there’s interest in this already,” Williams said, reporting that two letters of intent and resumes have been submitted to the borough for the position. “The sooner (the borough hires someone), the better.”

Council unanimously accepted the resignations from Secretary Brown as well as of Ben Brown from the planning commission and the Shade Tree Commission.

Council member Maureen (Marnie) Palmer asked if everyone would be able to interview candidates. Williams said that’s what council needed to discuss, and suggested he and Council President David Rinaldi interview the candidates.

“This was the same method used to hire the DPW employee,” Rinaldi said. “Essentially, the council people who work the most closely with the new hire were the ones, along with personnel, are the ones who did the interviewing. So we’re just continuing what we have done in the past.”

“I agree,” said council member Lynne Earley.

“Of course you do,” Palmer said.

“Marnie, you’re out of order. If you don’t want to be at the council meeting, don’t be at the council meeting,” Rinaldi said.

“I want to be at the council meeting,” Palmer said.

“Then stop interrupting the meeting,” Rinaldi said.

“I don’t say this with any intent to make a precedent,” council member Barry Phillips said. “I would make a motion to ratify the interview process which has been discussed” for Rinaldi and council member Williams to proceed with interviewing candidates.

Council voted 6-1 to ratify the interview process, with Palmer voting no.

Advertisements for the position will be placed on the borough’s website, social media outlets and advertisements will run in local newspapers. The application period will close by April 30. Rinaldi said council hopes to get someone in place as early possible so they have at least a month, if not more, of training before Brown’s last day of work.

“We have a very small window to get someone to be able to train for a sufficient amount of time,” Rinaldi said.

According to Rinaldi, for the real estate tax collector position, the borough has 30 days from Brown’s June 30 resignation date, or July 1 through July 30, to name an interim replacement. The replacement will serve through Dec. 31. The two years remaining of Brown’s term will be filled during the November election.