The Upper Makefield Municipal Complex
The Upper Makefield Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 last month to offer Interim Township Manager David Nyman a deal to make his role a bit more permanent.
Supervisor Mike Tierney, however, was not pleased with the plan and the meeting became heated. At one point, a recess was called before the meeting resumed and the vote was taken.
Nyman, a former teacher, was offered a contract that would run through budget season. It would include a pay increase, $200 per month for vehicle expenses and $500 per month for health care. Currently, he is on a per-diem basis and has worked for the township many times over the past 15 years.
The draft contract put forward by the Supervisors was similar to the agreements former managers Sally Slook and Jim Pascale, who resigned unexpectedly last year, received from the township.
Tierney raised concerns that term of employment was only for six months while the township looks for a new full-time manager.
“I don’t see how that drives productivity,” he said.
Tierney raised the issue that Nyman was not at the meeting and Supervisor Chairman Dan Rattigan noted that Nyman has been present at other meetings but had a conflict.
“This should be shredded,” Tierney said of the offer.
Supervisor Diana Nolan suggested the township should get pricing on getting a headhunter to fill the role, which Rattigan directed the assistant township manager to look into.
Tierney shot back that the only person that would be looked at was someone political or who came at a high price for the taxpayers.
