For the first time in over four months, the Harris Township Board of Supervisors once again has a full roster of five members.
Penn State professor Bruce Lord was formally appointed to fill a temporary position on the board. He was officially selected by the township supervisors on Monday night, and will take his place on the board as soon as he is sworn in by a magisterial district judge.
Lord, a professor of resource economics and a township resident for nearly 11 years, says his love of Harris Township was his motivation for applying to the board.
“Harris Township is the kind of place where if you don’t know everyone, then you know some who knows everyone,” Lord says. “It’s got that great small town feel.”
Lord was appointed to fill a position left open by the resignation of former supervisor Christopher Lee last month. Lee has been absent from the board since he was arrested in October for allegations of felony child molestation. He is currently being held in federal custody while awaiting an April trial.
Township manager Amy Farkas says having five members on the board will benefit township residents, who had one less place to turn with their problems when there was only four members.
Farkas also says that having five members will prevent two-two ties, and will allow the supervisors to hold meetings even if one member is sick or out of town.
Board chairman Nigel Wilson says Lord has a proven track record in township government that will help him transition into his new role. Lord has previously chaired the parks and recreation advisory board and the shade tree commission, and helped the township draft an open space plan as part of the open space committee.
“When Bruce Lord chairs a committee, things happen,” Wilson says. “Things get done.”
The supervisors previously interviewed Lord and three other candidates at a Feb. 25 meeting, but were unable to reach a decision. One of the other candidates – Frank Harden, who actually ran against Lee in the last election – gave Lord a run for his money, but has now been appointed to an open position on the planning commission.
Board vice-chairman Dennis Hameister says he’s “very pleased” with the results of the appointment process. He says Harden’s experience in construction will serve him well on the planning commission, while Lord’s academic expertise in natural resources and rural economics will likely come in handy as a supervisor.
Hameister says Bruce’s work as a researcher and scientist will equip him with the tools to “really look at issues from all sides” when helping the board come to a decision.
Lord says he expects the creation of a new township maintenance facility and work with proposed housing developments to be two big parts of his time with the board. But for all the nuances of municipal government, he says his role is actually very simple.
“Basically, I like living here, I like the quality of life we have, and I look forward to helping maintain that quality of life,” Lord says.
Lord’s position only lasts until the end of the year, but Lord says he plans to run in the upcoming election to fill the remaining four years of Lee’s unexpired term.
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