Members of the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees approved the promotion of Deputy Township Clerk Anthony Burdick to the position of township manager during the June 28 meeting.
Burdick has been the township deputy clerk for about 3 ½ years and assumed his new position effective July 1. His promotion was unanimously recommended to the board by members of the hiring committee who met to review his qualifications and experience.
During the meeting, Burdick said he hoped to support the needs of township residents, staff and issues in his new position. He said he looks at his job as fulfilling the direction provided by board members. Burdick's formal resume lists nearly 40 years of steadily advancing management responsibilities and accomplishments.
“Delivering the services and support our residents’ needs is paramount,” Burdick said later. “Nothing is more important right now than our public safety and emergency services. These functions have my full support. We do hope our residents feel the same about these critical services,” he added.
Burdick's appointment met with only one negative vote cast by Trustee Peggy Morgan who claimed that the township had no authority to name a township manager. Morgan insisted that the board had only discussed and approved the hiring of a township administrator and that the two titles were not interchangeable. (See story page 2.)
Burdick will continue as deputy clerk until a new deputy for Clerk Esther Hurst is named. That dual role is temporary and will continue only until the position is filled by appointment, according to the formal motion approved by the trustees. Burdick's new employment contract with the township includes a $90,000 salary along with the benefits he has accrued during his current tenure with the township. His employment agreement will be drafted by township attorney Rob Young and will be consistent with the standard terms of Sumpter Township, officials said.
Burdick thanked the board of trustees for their consideration and the “trust they've placed in me.” He also said it was an honor to be associated with Clerk Esther Hurst and his peers and staff at the township. He also thanked his wife of 43, years, Toni, “for her support, understanding and tolerance of me during this journey.”
Deputy Supervisor/Trustee Tim Rush said he was confident in Burdick's ability to handle the job. “I have every confidence he will do very, very well,” Rush said. Trustee Matt Oddy was also pleased with Burdick's promotion. “He has shown exemplary work in the clerk's office,” Oddy said.
Burdick replaces Deputy Supervisor Michelle Cole who resigned Nov. 29.
