Forks Township supervisor resigns

Robert Egolf cites health issues; applications sought to fill out his term

Forks Township Supervisor Robert Egolf, who was first elected in 2008, has resigned from the township’s five-member Board of Supervisors.

Egolf cited health reasons in his letter of resignation, which was accepted by the board Feb. 21.

All four board members praised Egolf ’s devotion to the position and said he would be missed. He has not attended a supervisors meeting since September.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Bob for a full recovery,’’ said Supervisor Erik Chuss.

“He was a great supervisor and my mentor. We will miss him. He was all about what is good for the township. We wish him well,’’ said Supervisors Chairman John O’Neil.

The 79-year-old Egolf’s sixyear term will expire this year. The board has 30 days to find a replacement who would stay in the position until the end of the year.

O’Neil said the board is taking applications for the position. They can be sent to township Manager John Cornell. The deadline is March 4.

Being a township supervisor was Egolf’s first time in an elected position, and when contacted by email Tuesday, he said, “Nothing in particular encouraged me to run for office except a desire to participate in the community.’’

He was re-elected to the post in 2013, but throughout his terms in office there was never an issue that caused any sleepless nights.

His wife, Brenda, said in a phone interview she doesn’t recall anything that troubled him, only that, “He just appreciated being able to work with the board for the benefit of the township.’’

The Allentown native retired

“He was a great supervisor and my mentor. We will miss him. He was all about what is good for the township. We wish him well.” — Forks Township Supervisors Chairman John O’Neil

in 2000 from the Allentown School District, where he spent his career as an English teacher and later English language arts supervisor. He moved to the township in 2003.

Egolf said the recent settlement of the lawsuit related to the township public works garage is a relief.

“I am pleased to see that the final settlement for the public works garage has been made,’’ he said.

One of his wishes in departing was to have his pay for being a supervisor go “wherever the supervisors deem necessary.’’

The supervisors approved that request at the Feb. 21 meeting and O’Neil said it was decided that about $1,200 remaining in Egolf’s annual fee will go toward buying magnetic medication charts residents can attach to their refrigerators.

O’Neil said the chart would list all the medications a person takes which emergency medical technicians can easily find and read in the event of an emergency.

Once the charts are made, he said, they would be available to residents for free at the township building.