FERGUSON TOWNSHIP — Ferguson Township Supervisors covered a wide range of business Tuesday, Jan. 20, from progress on hiring a new township manager to approving a stormwater restoration project at Tudek Park, while also navigating a brief procedural clash over how budget discussions should take place.
Supervisors opened meeting by noting they had met in executive session earlier this month to discuss township manager recruitment and a personnel matter. The board also formally welcomed the township’s interim manager, Tom King, who began Jan. 7 after previously serving as interim police chief.
“He went from interim police chief to interim manager,” Chair Jeremie Thompson said. “We appreciate his service in both of these capacities.”
Early in the meeting, Vice Chair Omari Patterson attempted to add a discussion of the 2026 budget to the agenda, arguing that time was becoming tight.
“I think we need some public dialogue,” Patterson said, suggesting a short discussion to begin framing the issue.
King advised against adding the item without notice, saying it was important to follow established procedures so staff and the public could be prepared.
“In the event we would get multiple people bringing up items, we may not be prepared for the information that we need,” King said, recommending the topic be placed on the Feb. 3 agenda instead.
Thompson ultimately ruled Patterson’s motion out of order, saying the board should follow its existing process. Patterson disagreed with Thompson’s decision but agreed to move on.
In an update on the township manager search, King said the board is working with a recruitment firm in MGT Impact Solutions and has begun interviews with supervisors and department heads to identify desired traits for the next manager.
A public survey is expected to be released within the next 10 days, King said, with both online and paper options available. An employee survey is also planned.
“The expectation is that this process will take between 14 and 16 weeks long,” King said.
During public comments, Ferguson Township resident Bill Keough asked whether the survey results would be shared with the public. King said results would be made public and presented in an accessible format.
Supervisors also received an update on a stop-work order involving Glo Fiber. Township staff said work was halted after multiple violations, including damage to tree roots, improper traffic control and unapproved equipment placement.
“We’ve met with them several times to address some of the issues and come up with a plan of action before they return to work,” Assistant Township Manager Jaymes Progar said.
A major portion of the meeting focused on a proposed regenerative stormwater project at Tudek Park. Representatives Kevin Abbey and Elise Johnson from the Spring Creek Watershed Commission and partnering organizations outlined a plan to stabilize a stormwater channel, reduce erosion and improve groundwater recharge.
“The biggest threat to Spring Creek is stormwater,” Abbey said, noting runoff from impervious surfaces heats up and degrades water quality. The project would use natural rock structures to slow water flow and reconnect the channel to its floodplain.
“This is a fantastic opportunity not just for stormwater mitigation, but also for education and community engagement,” Johnson said.
Supervisors voted unanimously to authorize a letter of support for a grant application tied to the project.
The board also authorized advertising a public hearing for a proposed car dealership and car wash on West College Avenue. The application was submitted by PennTerra Engineering Inc. on behalf of Blaise Alexander Family Limited Partnership.
Before conclusion in the communications portion of the meeting, Supervisor Patterson relayed to the board a question presented to him.
“Communication I got was ‘what are you doing about the several million-dollar deficit,’” Patterson said. “And my response was ‘it’s not me, it’s we.’ What is this team, this board, this staff doing about the deficit?”
“There’s a couple of places. There’s a revenue and then there’s expense. My response to this individual is that I hope it’s twofold. That the board would come to the table with their ideas.”
“I know that it was going to be a deficit anyway and so it was going to be us problem anyway. But we continue to come with ideas and also this is a new year, new era, new leadership and that we’d be seeing more staff ideas on controlling this deficit.”
The meeting concluded with reminders about upcoming township events, including a “Coffee and Conversation” session scheduled for Jan. 31.
