It's Back: Debate Over the Township Treasurer's Role

If you followed the saga (for lack of a better word) of the ousting of Radnor Township's longtime manager Dave Bashore more than three years ago, you may recall the role that Township Treasurer John Osborne played in exposing bonuses and massive amounts of accumulated vacation time.

The treasurer is an elected position. It has been called by some a political patronage position that is outdated and unnecessary, and more than a few people had made waves about cutting all remianing power from the treasurer's office.

Fast forward to now, as the township's Charter Review Committee is still giving people pause, reports Main Line Media News.

“The Treasurer is the only officer elected township-wide and as such is answerable and responsive to all the township residents,” the newspaper quotes the committee report as stating.

What's interesting is that the treasurer is not a staff member, yet has rights over township finances.

That dynamic contributed to the animosity between Osborne and Bashore, who publicly accused Osborne of harassment of his staff, himself and his family and said he was fired because he demanded the Board of Commissioners take action against Osborne.

According to the newspaper article, "the committee had left the old language in the charter, not really having the authority to remove his old responsibilities from the charter. In other words, they couldn’t abolish him."

Do you think the township treasurer should be a watchdog for taxpayers or is it an antiquated position (there are private companies that can collect the taxes) that is no longer useful?