Etna Township ends its contract with consultant

As Etna Township prepares to hire a full-time administrator, it's parting with the management consultant it's worked with since last April.

The trustees unanimously accepted the termination of the contract with Bill Vance's local government consulting firm, WMV, LLC, effective March 11 during a special meeting Tuesday night.

Trustees Jeff Johnson and Rozland Mckee thanked Vance for his work since the township contracted with him in April.

“You were very professional. We got a lot of things done. I would like to wish you all the best in your future,” Mckee said to Vance.

Trustee Mark Evans, who had been openly critical of contracting with Vance and clashed with him throughout Vance's time with the township, said he'd stay quiet.

The termination coincides with the township interviewing candidates for a full-time administrator position. Two candidates were interviewed in a special meeting Feb. 3 and two additional applicants were interviewed at the Tuesday meeting in executive session. The board did not vote to an administrator during the meeting.

Vance confirmed after the meeting that the contract's termination was part of the “natural progression” of the township moving forward with hiring a full-time administrator.

“They're moving forward, hiring an administrator, and that was the plan to begin with and after 10 months I'm glad we made a lot of progress and we found our way to this point where they can substantiate hiring a full time person,” he said.

Mckee said previously Vance will stay with the township for about a month to help train the new administrator.

The special meeting was held Tuesday because the regular Feb. 7 meeting was canceled .