As municipal corruption goes, the antics that have unfolded in Newtown Township the past couple of months are small potatoes.
Still, the issue came to a head in a bit of a weird way last night.
That’s right. Last night.
The District Attorney’s office sent out a press release at 9:25 p.m. to announce that criminal charges had been filed against four township officials, including a member of the board of supervisors.
Yes, the timing seems odd. Making it even odder is that the board of supervisors were actually meeting at the same time. Actually, they were not meeting, since two members of the board failed to show up at a meeting that was set to review possible replacements for a supervisor who had passed away.
You can read about the theft charges here, and the supervisors meeting here.
The theft case centers on Gwen Toyzer, administrative assistant to the township manager. It is alleged – as has been reported now for weeks by our columnist Gil Spencer – that she used the township Fed Ex account to mail items related to her home jewelry business.
Also nailed once township police started investigating are George Wood, chairman of the board of supervisors; George J. Clement, assistant to the township manager; and Mary Louise Richards, the township tax collector.
The total loss comes to a little more than $1,200.
Just another chapter in the soap opera they call Newtown Township politics.
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