Twp. supervisor facing charges conducts meeting
LOWER TYRONE TWP. – A township supervisor charged with possessing marijuana plants at his home conducted business as usual Wednesday and was not asked by those in attendance to offer an explanation. Supervisor Chairman George Gillespie fielded various questions about roadwork and a proposed personnel policy that the board directed the solicitor to develop from the 10 residents that attended the meeting at the Brownfield Community Center, but no one posed questions concerning the charges filed against him last month by the Fayette County Drug Task Force.
In May, drug task force Lt. Det. Kyle W. Sneddon charged Gillespie with possession of marijuana and possession with intent to deliver marijuana after a raid allegedly revealed 19 plants were growing on his Gillespie Road farm.
He was arraigned on the charges before Magisterial District Judge Dwight Shaner and released on a $5,000 unsecured bond. A preliminary hearing date has not been scheduled.
After the meeting, Gillespie declined to comment about the charges.
“Its attorney client privilege,” he said.
Township solicitor Richard Husband said earlier that nothing prevents Gillespie from serving in the position until the matter is heard in court.
“Until the issue is resolved, Mr. Gillespie can continue to serve in his elected position,” said Husband.
Husband is not serving as Gillespie’s legal counsel in the matter.
Turning to other matters, township Emergency Management Agency (EMA) coordinator Jim Rearick told supervisors that he continues to review the township emergency plan and would soon submit it for approval.
The plan, he said, provides protocols for emergencies, such as flooding or power outages.
“It lays out who should be notified and what should be done during the emergencies,” he said.
Also, Rearick noted that various grant programs are available for first aid/CPR instruction and other community-oriented programs.
In other action, supervisors conducted the following business:
Agreed to contract with Verizon, its telephone service provider, to include line maintenance insurance at a monthly rate of $5.75 and a one-time service fee of $15.
Approved a $250 donation to the Dawson Grange Fair Board for the Aug. 4-9 fair.