LOWER SAUCON TWP., Pa. — As Lower Saucon continues its search for a new township manager, the workload has increased dramatically for the acting manager and her team, officials say.
The council majority on Wednesday approved some rate increases in the meantime, with councilmen Jason Banonis and Thomas Carocci vouching for even more pay to the team for its work.
The changes includes new salary rates of $125,795.20 a year for acting Township Manager/Director of Finance Cathy Gorman, $57,419.07 for Administrative Assistant Stacy Werkheiser and $55,923.20 for Administrative Carol Schneider.
All of the salary increases were suggested by Gorman and are considered retroactive to March 28.
As of Jan. 3, 2023, the assistant township manager/director of finance role was allotted a salary of $85,462.19, with the manager position allotted $131,840.
The proposed salary bumps for the team of assistants were $5,000 each.
Bringing value to the township
Banonis said Gorman as of late has taken on the duties of three positions — manager, assistant manager and director of finance — and the proposed salary increases didn’t reflect the value she and her team have provided for the township.
He suggested an increase of $50,000 for Gorman — as well as $10,000 increases each for Werkheiser and Schneider — on the grounds the township ultimately was saving money since there’s currently no official township manager to pay.
“They’ve stepped up, they haven’t asked for this mess,” Banonis said. “They didn’t create this mess, but they’re the ones that are stuck dealing with it.
"And unfortunately, this council are the ones that created it, and the least they could do is compensate the people that have to deal with all the garbage they’ve created.”
“They’ve stepped up, they haven’t asked for this mess."Lower Saucon Township Councilman Jason Banonis
Councilwoman Victoria Opthof-Cordaro made the motion in support of the proposal.
She added she appreciated the team's time and efforts, bringing light to the fact the meeting had passed the 1 a.m. mark.
“They’ve worked very hard, and I respect everything that they do,” she said. “So I’m very happy to offer this to them, and I’m thankful for them.”
Manager search ongoing
Carocci said council had a "perfect" manager candidate right in front of them in Gorman.
But he said council also had to further consider salaries as the township hopes to entice quality applicants for the role, and daily duties alongside current council leadership and its solicitor are no easy task.
“Anybody that has to work with Priscilla [deLeon] and Steve [Goudsouzian] deserves more."Lower Saucon Township Councilman Thomas Carocci
“Anybody that has to work with Priscilla [deLeon] and Steve [Goudsouzian] deserves more,” Carocci said.
Former Township Manager Mark Hudson now holds the same position with Hanover Township, Northampton County, and reportedly makes $160,000 a year.
