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Forward Township

Part-time road crew hire approved without posting the job.

Written by Bethani Cameron

The board voted 2-0 to hire Mark Stewart as a part-time road crew employee, with Levdansky abstaining.

DeRosa said the situation was too urgent to advertise the job and accept other applicants because one of the township’s two full-time road crew workers plans to leave at the end of February, and winter conditions require at least two workers available for snow response. Stewart has previously worked with the township on a fill-in basis.

Levdansky argued that any publicly funded position should go through an open hiring process. He said he first learned about the hire when the agenda was posted and did not know the pay rate, hours, or job terms before the vote. 

DeRosa responded, “I haven’t decided yet.”

Levdansky then declared “democracy dies in darkness. That’s a dictator.”

Cline said replacing a departing full-time worker with a part-time employee would not affect the budget and emphasized the need to maintain staffing continuity during winter operations. Township Solicitor Matt Racunas noted the hire will require an amendment to the budget because the part-time position was not included in the approved 2026 budget.

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