During its July 24, 2024, meeting, Lower Saucon Council voted 3-1 to offer the position of Township Manager to Brian Bond. Councilmember Carocci voted no, and Councilmember Banonis was absent.
Council President Priscilla deLeon explained that back in March of this year, Council had approved hiring Keystone Municipal Solutions to conduct a search for a permanent township manager. According to deLeon, a pool of more than a “dozen candidates” was reviewed by Keystone Municipal Solutions and the “top 3” were made known to the township manager search committee, comprised of Priscilla deLeon and Victoria Opthof-Cordaro.
President deLeon stated, “The job was offered to Brian Bond who accepted the position and will start sometime in mid-August.”
Councilmember Laura Ray added, “We did make sure the candidate is fully aware of how things go here because we don’t want someone coming in not aware of the situation. I think we should do well.”
One member of the public questioned Council’s decision, asking for some background on Mr. Bond and details of his experience. Council President deLeon didn’t provide answers, stating, “you know what, you’re doing questions – that’ll be coming out.”
Councilmember Tom Carocci jumped in addressing the member of the public, “see they don’t want to be transparent. We’re hiring this guy for $142,000 of taxpayer money and they won’t tell you anything about him.”
Councilmember Victoria Opthof-Cordaro defended the lack of transparency in selecting Mr. Bond by blaming the last administration for a “lack of public meetings” in the selection of Township Manager Mark Hudson.
Opthof-Cordaro continued, “we did do things a little bit different this time and I think that we were more effective. We now have a candidate within 3 months and I’m excited.
But, according to the minority members of Lower Saucon Council, Mr. Bond is apparently not taking the position. Council members were informed by Township Solicitor Goudsouzian that Mr. Bond will not be accepting the position, but several days have passed without any additional explanation to several members of Council.
With Mr. Bond having declined the position, Cathy Gorman will continue filling the interim manager role following the resignation of previous manager, Mark Hudson.
The revelation about Mr. Bond declining the position would follow in a long string of disastrous management issues and turnover within Lower Saucon following last year’s election results.
One of the first acts of the new council majority was to remove long-time Township solicitor Lincoln Treadwell. But his replacement, Mark Freed, resigned after just sixteen days into his new position. Following that, long-time Township Zoning Officer Jim Young submitted his resignation.
The next regularly scheduled Lower Saucon Council meeting is August 21, 2024, at 6:30 PM and will be held at Town Hall.
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