Township settles pension dispute with candidate
NEW HANOVER >> The township supervisors recently voted unanimously to settle a pension dispute with Keith Youse, the former police officer who leveled accusations of racism at the police department and who has since won both lines on the primary ballot to be a supervisor himself.
Township Manager Jamie Gwynn explained Thursday that it turns out there was “a problem with our pension ordinance” of which the administration was unaware.
However, it became evident after Youse filed first, a grievance through the police union saying his pension payments were short, and then a lawsuit.
Youse was receiving $3,500 per month after he was honorably discharged in February of 2019, Gwynn said.
However, when the township hired new labor counsel to deal with Youse’s case, a review found a flaw in the township’s pension ordinance. As a result, Youse will now receive $3,900 per month.
He will also receive a $10,000 payout to make up for the underpayments, Gwynn said.
He said the matter was complicated by the fact that when Youse filed his grievance, he provided “no documentation” about what the error was. “As far as we knew, we were following or ordinance,” but the ordinance turned out to be flawed.
“As soon as we knew what the prob
lem was, we went to work to fix it,” said Gwynn. “I’m just glad we were able to reach an agreement and take care of Mr. Youse. I’m always glad when we take care of personnel matters.”
“I’m glad we were able to settle this out of court and it’s time to move on now for my next step in serving the people in New Hanover Township,” Youse told MediaNews Group on Monday.
In May, Youse won the Republican primary for the seat on the board of supervisors previously held by Charles Garner Jr. As there was no Democratic candidate, Youse also won a write-election for that ballot line as well.
However in June, Garner, who had publicly backed Youse’s opponent, Greg Maskrey, resigned his seat.
Last month, the board chose Maskrey from among four applicants, including Youse, to fill Garner’s seat until the term expires on Dec. 31.
Youse’s name will be the only one to appear on the November ballot and only a successful write-in campaign by another candidate would cost him an apparent victory.