Readers deserve accuracy

After reading the egregious editorial titled "Interviews should help determine appointments" in the March 26 edition of the Echo Pilot, we feel a response is necessary. We believe reporters are obligated to report the facts and that our citizens deserve the truth from their media sources. The truth is that we (supervisors) were never even asked by the reporters of this newspaper if we had interviewed the appointed candidates. We actually did re-appoint an incumbent, Ronald Cordell, to serve another term on our Zoning Hearing Board, although the editorial insinuated that there weren't any re-appointments. As elected supervisors one of our many responsibilities is to appoint the most qualified individuals to serve on boards and authorities. Tenure is no assurance of re-appointment. Should citizens who have not previously served in an appointed position be excluded simply because the incumbent whose term is expiring wishes to serve again? All interested individuals were encouraged to submit resumes for consideration. Individual supervisors then conducted one on one interviews (which means a candidate was potentially interviewed five times). At the reorganization meeting in January candidates were nominated and appointed by a majority vote. If the writer(s) of the editorial were to examine the resumes submitted instead of making accusations and assumptions it would have been exceedingly clear that our appointments were truly the most qualified of those submitted to us. The past service and willingness to serve by those not appointed, is greatly appreciated and their resumes will be kept on file for future consideration.

This board of supervisors supports every facet of investigative reporting of the facts, however we do not promote misinformation and one-sided reporting of inferences and innuendo that has been the past practice as evidenced by the above mentioned editorial. This is why the supervisors decided to post recordings of past public meetings on the township's website in order to discourage misinformation and myths while promoting transparency in every decision this board makes.

As always, we encourage your participation and attendance at township meetings. We hope you find the township's quarterly newsletter to be informative as well as our website at www.twp.antrim.pa.us where you will find the "Township Supervisors Pledge of Service" to the citizens of Antrim Township.

Thank you for your continued trust and support while we serve the citizens of our great township.
Curtis Myers and Fred
Young III
Chairman and
Vice-Chairman
Antrim Twp. Board of
Supervisors