Ex-planner chosen to fill supervisor vacancy

EAST VINCENT » Township supervisors appointed a former member of the planning commission to fill a vacancy caused by the second resignation in a month.

During a special meeting on Jan. 27, Christopher Canale, a former member of the township planning commission, was selected to fill the seat made vacancy by the resignation of Mark Dunphy, according to Township Manager Mary Flagg.

Canale was chosen from among three applicants for the vacancy. Also applying were Paul Semon and Joel Kelman.

Flagg said the supervisors indicated Canale was selected because of his previous service on the planning commission and his knowledge of the township.

According to the township website, Canale is not currently a member of the planning commission.

Dunphy’s resignation was the second one to occur in January.

Supervisor Jane Peronteau submitted her letter of resignation on Jan. 7, one day after the board’s re-organization meeting at which Dunphy was again elected chairman of the board.

The board of supervisors held a special meeting on Jan. 9 to accept her resignation.

On Jan. 15, another special meeting was held and former supervisor John Funk was named to replace her.

Dunphy’s resignation came in the face of increasing questions about his residency, raised at meetings and on a a public Facebook page with more than 400 members called East Vincent Voices.

According to township minutes, Dunphy missed six of the township’s 11 meetings in 2019, including every meeting since July.

Edmund Dracup is now the board’s chairman.