Newbury Seeks Several New Zoning Officials
Newbury Township residents interested in helping determine the community’s future have an unusual opportunity to contribute their knowledge and talents, with several immediate and upcoming part-time openings in the zoning department, trustees said Jan. 16.
Newbury Township residents interested in helping determine the community’s future have an unusual opportunity to contribute their knowledge and talents, with several immediate and upcoming part-time openings in the zoning department, trustees said Jan. 16.
Trustees re-appointed Newbury Township Board of Zoning Appeals member Lou Tomsic to another five-year term Wednesday, and announced immediate openings for an administrative assistant to the zoning inspector, zoning secretary and BZA secretary.
Marge Hrabak, who served the township for many years as secretary of both the zoning commission and the BZA, announced her retirement late last year.
Tomsic told trustees Newbury Township Zoning Inspector Mike Joyce has needed an assistant for several years and township Fiscal Officer Marcia Mansfield verified Joyce is in great need of office help to manage paperwork.
Trustee Glen Quigley said it will be difficult to replace Hrabak, who handled many of the duties for both commissions. He added Joyce has also expressed a desire to retire as soon as the township can find another zoning inspector.
“Mike told me six to eight months ago that he wants to retire and spend more time with his grandkids,” Quigley said. “He will definitely be missed. He’s one of the few in this county who has all the zoning knowledge and also understands all the nuances.”
Quigley said it will be difficult to find a zoning inspector as qualified as Joyce.
Tomsic said he hoped trustees will fill the positions soon.
“I’m afraid something’s going to fall through the cracks and that’s enforcement,” Tomsic warned. “The zoning inspector needs an assistant who can manage the paperwork.”
He urged trustees to compose a job description for the assistant, which will be a new position.
Quigley said he has already received “four or five” applicants for the various positions and would like to get the word out within the community that the jobs are available.
“We as a board (of zoning appeals) would like to look at all the applicants and start vetting them,” Tomsic told trustees, adding they need an assistant badly.
Quigley said the trustees have always been supportive of the zoning board, making sure members have what they need.
“My understanding was the BZA was supposed to hire their own secretary,” Tomsic said.
“Let’s review what you have first and go from there,” Quigley replied. “We’re all on the same page.”
After Tomsic was unanimously voted in for another term, Quigley told him everyone likes the job he does.
“We’ll keep you posted on the application process,” he said. “I’ve been emailing Mike to hang in there while we go through the process.”
Tomsic added, “Mike’s a wealth of information and training will be the key for his replacement.”
