Official voted out of job
WASHINGTON TWP. – The Washington Township Supervisors voted this week to remove Supervisor Chuck Yusko from his position as assistant secretary, upsetting a large number of local residents. Yusko said he “had no idea” that Supervisor Joanne Latkanich and Chairman John Yetsconish were planning to take his position from him and give it to Yetsconish, and he was blindsided by the decision to remove him from the position without his consent.
A large number of residents present were angry about the action, and questioned the supervisors about the reason for their decision.
Latkanich said that at previous meetings, the public raised concerns about one person having too many duties while others did not have enough. She said that Yetsconish was at the township building every day, and Yusko was not there enough to handle his job as assistant secretary.
“I need someone besides myself to be familiar with the workings of the township,” said Latkanich.
Yusko countered that he is also at the township building every day, and he claimed the other two supervisors rarely speak to him while he is there.
Local resident Arnold Dull pointed out that at last month’s meeting, Latkanich had told the public that Yetsconish would be taking a voluntary lay off as the township’s roadmaster because by now the $14,700 in the budget set aside to pay him would have run out. Yetsconish had agreed then to continue his duties for the year without pay.
Since Latkanich said Wednesday that she was going to train Yetsconish and the two of them would share township secretarial duties, Dull wanted to know where the money would come from to pay both of the supervisors.
Yusko suggested that if Latkanich and Yetsconish were going to share responsibilities, they should each work only four hours a day to be certain to stay within the budget amount for salaries.
Yetsconish said he and Latkanich would agree to share hours and pay.
“Since you are currently a full-time employee, are you telling us that you will take a pay cut,” Dull asked Latkanich.
“Depending on the hours that I work, it is possible that I will go on partial unemployment,” said Latkanich.
Yusko, who remains the only unpaid supervisor, said he thinks that the actions against him are in retaliation because Latkanich wants Yusko to drop charges against her son, Michael Latkanich, who was charged with aggravated and simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, harassment, disorderly conduct and terroristic threats, following an Oct. 13, 2005, incident involving Yusko.
Some local residents seemed to agree with Yusko’s theory.
“I think you people have made a mockery of the township and have taken deliberate action against Mr. Yusko,” said local resident Susan Lape.
Several other residents chimed in that the supervisors should be working together for the benefit of the township, not taking sides against one another.
Yusko said despite the fact that it appears to him that the other two supervisors have teamed up against him, he will not allow them to push him out of his elected position as supervisor.
“I’m taking one for the cause,” said Yusko.