Bechdel Brothers Resign as Bald Eagle Township Supervisors; Replacements Sought

FAIRPOINT — Bald Eagle Township is down to one supervisor following word Monday night that supervisors Jim and Jack Bechdel had turned in their resignations.

Jim Bechdel was recently ordered by the Pennsylvania Ethics Commission to pay more than $100,000 in penalties for violations of state ethics law. The state agency charged him with using the authority of his office to make purchases from the Federal Surplus Supply Property Program and “subsequently converted those items to his personal use and/or conveyed them to a member of his immediate family.” Bechdel and his brother and fellow supervisor Jack Bechdel were both implicated in the ethics report issued a week ago.

Many of the some 30 attendees at the township supervisors’ meeting Monday night came expecting to hear of Jim Bechdel’s resignation but had not anticipated Jack Bechdel’s departure.

With the departure of two of the three supervisors (Ken McGhee is the third one), the matter will go to Clinton County Court to fill the vacancies. Township solicitor Lee Roberts said Tuesday the process to find two replacements is beginning. He said his office is preparing a petition which will need the signature of 15 township residents to be forwarded to the court. In the meantime, Roberts said, those interested in serving should submit a letter of interest to the township secretary at the Bald Eagle Township office in Fairpoint.

The Monday meeting could not be held due to lack of a quorum. Roberts, McGhee and township operations coordinator Gerard Banfill told the audience the resignations would not affect the day-to-day operation of the township.