Robeson Township officials approved hiring several township employees, including a police chief.

The decision came amid controversy over a high rate of employee turnover in the office.

The alleged reasons for that turnover, along with disagreements over who should be police chief, has led to months of infighting among Robeson supervisors.

Those issues came to a head at a meeting April 16, when supervisors voted 3-2 to hire Joseph Brown as the new chief at a starting salary of $135,000.

Brown formerly served as a detective with the Berks County District Attorney’s Office and a sergeant in the West Reading Police Department and has spent decades as a patrol officer and investigator.

Supervisors Timothy Bitler, Margaret Fix and Harold Steve Jr. voted yes. Scott Gullo and Jeff Rhoads voted no.

Gullo made a motion to rescind Brown’s hiring. It failed 3-2 along the same lines.

Former Chief Dennis Cassel Jr. retired in 2024. Interim Chief Jason Rimby has been filling in since then.

Many residents, along with Rhoads and Gullo, had voiced support for fully instating Rimby as chief of police, citing his record as a trusted figure in the community.

A Change.org petition supporting Rimby as chief had 367 signatures in April.

Some claimed Bitler and others had a personal vendetta against Rimby. Brown’s appointment was met with frustration from those residents.

“At the end of the day, everybody loves Rimby,” Cassie Ketterer said. “It makes me think you didn’t take this seriously from the start.”

Bitler, Fix and Steve denied that they have any ill will toward Rimby.

Fix said her vote for Brown was based on Cassel’s recommendation.

Rimby was at the meeting but made no comment.

His wife, Tara, said her husband had gone above and beyond to do the job and deserved the position.

“For whatever reason, Mr. Bitler, you don’t like him,” Tara Rimby said. “And you know who that’s hurting? The township.”

Other residents brought up allegations that Bitler’s aggressive outbursts while staffing the township office drove some employees to quit.

Bitler did not comment on those claims. He previously noted that the township had hired a labor attorney to address several issues.

Township employees

Supervisors took steps to restock the employee ranks at a meeting April 9.

At that meeting, the board voted 3-2 to hire Osmer Deming as township manager at a starting salary of $90,000, conditional on a background check and probationary period being completed.

Gullo and Rhoads voted no.

Bitler and Fix said the township was in dire need of a manager.

“We’ve been without a manager since June,” Fix said. “We’ve interviewed people, we’ve extended offers, and they have not taken them.”

Fix said she wasn’t just hiring Deming to fill a seat and that she was impressed with Deming’s credentials.

Deming served as managing director for Reading under Mayor Wally Scott from 2018 to 2020. He was replaced by Pedro Cortes shortly after Mayor Eddie Moran took office.

Deming’s recent employment history includes working as an attorney with a general practice law office in Reading.

“He has a passion for municipal work,” Fix said. “We had an interview and I was very impressed.”

Some residents questioned Deming’s salary and said managers of smaller municipalities generally make $50,000 to $75,000.

Fix and Bitler said Deming’s salary is lower than what the township had budgeted, and the previous manager, Rich Howett, made $100,000.

“I think the man is worth it,” Bitler said.

Rhoads said he thought Deming’s hiring process was done incorrectly and unfairly.

“No offense to Mr. Deming,” Rhoads noted.

Gullo said he was voting no because Deming was the only one interviewed for the position.

Gullo alleged Deming had a personal relationship with Bitler.

“You went for your friend,” Gullo said.

Bitler said other resumes and candidates were reviewed and denied that he had an ongoing relationship with Deming.

“I have not seen Osmer in 25 years,” Bitler said.

Supervisors also voted unanimously to hire a full-time fiscal assistant at $28 per hour and two public works employees.

Bitler noted the township is still looking to hire two more staffers in the township office.