HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —Eric Glemser is waiting in the wings.
For two Horsham Township Council meetings since Councilwoman Theresa Harmon resigned, a council seat remains vacant and Glemser sits on the sidelines, waiting and wondering if he will join the council.
Glemser, a Republican, was nominated by the party to replace Harmon, who resigned in late August after serving three years on the council because she is moving out of the township.
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Boroughs, like Hatboro recently, seek candidates from the public to apply for open council positions and then a committee reviews resumes and applications before choosing a replacement.
Township Manager Bill Walker told Patch that the process is different for townships per state municipal government code.
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At its Aug. 26 meeting, the council considered an appointment to replace Harmon.
Three votes were needed for Glemser to join the governing board, but the vote fell short.
Council President William Whiteside and Council Vice President Sean Wade voted yes, but Democrat Ellen Zschunke voted against the measure. Democrat Samantha Slaff did not attend the meeting but would have voted along party lines.
“I plan to vote no on this motion,” Zschunke said. “I do not disagree that the candidate would make a great addition to Council. They are engaged and active in the community and he cares about Horsham. About that, there is no doubt. Beyond that, I know him relatively well so voting no on this motion was not an easy decision.”
Zschunke said she inquired about the process for council appointments “and quite frankly, there is no process.
“I was elected to Council to represent the residents of Horsham and yet, decisions such as this have been made with no community input or transparency and I’d like to change that, she said. “I wish to propose to institute a clear, consistent process moving forward to open up to the community for residents to express interest if there is a vacancy on Council. (I realize people aren’t exactly banging down the door to do so.) My hope is that this won’t happen too often, but this is the second such vacancy here in Horsham since 2022 so to think it won’t happen again or is rare is foolish. It is imperative that we are prepared and that the community can trust the process we put in place. Beyond a call for interest, reviewing resumes or interviewing potential candidates would help to ensure that we have the best interests of residents at the heart of the decision that will ultimately be made.”
The council appointment must now go before the township’s Vacancy Board, Walker said.
The vacancy board is made up of the four council members and Chairman Anthony Spangler.
The vacancy board is expected to meet at the end of the month to decide the outcome.
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Walker said the township has 45 days to decide following the date of Harmon’s resignation.
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