Residents Voice Support of Tax Collector During Supervisors Meeting

As far as the Warminster residents that piled into Thursday's board of supervisors meeting are concerned, the payment and character of tax collector Barbara Loftus should not be up for debate.

Centennial school board director Jane Schrader Lynch kicked off the evening's public comment session with a prepared statement that praised Loftus for her performance over the last 13 years as township tax collector.

"She is a lady of integrity and high morals," said Lynch. "I am proud to have her as our tax collector."

Subsequent speakers seconded Lynch's statement, praising Loftus and criticizing former supervisor Ellen Jarvis for the way she left office two weeks earlier.

"In my 48 years as a Warminster resident, I had never seen such a display," said Lynch. "It was an unprofessional and mean-spirited attack by Ms. Jarvis."

Near the end of the Feb. 16 supervisors' meeting, Jarvis asked the board to further investigate and consider what she saw as payment discrepencies made to Loftus. She felt that  the township for handling trash collection fees. When township solicitor Mary Eberle informed Jarvis that the matter had been investigated and no wrongdoing had been found, Jarvis stood, and left the meeting. The sudden decision was made final when the rest of the board of supervisors her written resignation on Feb. 23.

In May 2011, Jarvis revealed that she had not paid monthly premiums into the township's employee health care program since February 2011. This revelation prompted the rest of the board to and ordered repayment of the premiums taken out of her supervisor paycheck.

Township Manager Rich Manfredi confirmed Thursday night that there is still a balance due to the township and that he would be in contact with Jarvis to discuss a payment plan for the reimbursement.

Those interested in filling the open supervisor seat have until March 8 to send a resume and letter of intent to township Manager Richard Manfredi at the , 401 Gibson Ave., Warminster, PA 18974 or fax them to 215-443-2761.