Published: June 05, 2009 12:06 am      

Susquehanna Township asks court to OK checks

EBENSBURG — With only one of three supervisors remaining in office – and he pleaded guilty to criminal charges last week – Susquehanna Township’s appointed secretary is turning to Cambria County court for help in getting checks signed so workers and bills can be paid.

Catherine Planisky, the secretary, filed a petition Thursday asking the court to authorize Supervisor Kevin Stanek and Arthur McDonald, the appointed treasurer, to sign township checks until replacement supervisors are appointed by the court.

Planisky said she sought the court’s approval because of the uncertainity about Stanek’s legal status as a supervisor. Stanek and McDonald have signed checks in the past, she said.

Stanek, Northern Cambria’s ex-police chief, pleaded guilty May 28 to drunken driving while off duty, forging doctors’ slips to collect sick pay while suspended from his job and insurance fraud. He’s scheduled for sentencing Aug. 21.

The two vacancies developed since early April, Planisky said. Supervisor Nancy Davis died

April 9, and before the next meeting could be held, Supervisor Rick Lloyd submitted a resignation letter May 8, listing personal reasons for his leaving the board.

Without a quorum to act on new appointments, township Solicitor Alex Svirsko was expected to ask the court to fill the two vacancies.

But as of Thursday, that had not been done.

Planisky said that in addition to herself, the township has two road-crew workers and a nonsupervisory roadmaster who are paid every two weeks. The current payroll period ends today.

The treasurer, who is paid monthly, was paid for May, she said.

If Stanek and McDonald are given approval to sign checks, employees won’t miss being paid for their continued work and bills won’t become delinquent, possibly jeopardizing the township’s financial condition, Planisky said.

The State Association of Township Supervisors advised petitioning the court immediately, she said.

The court administrator’s office said the petition would be sent to President Judge Gerard Long.