TOWNSHIP SUPERVISORS

TOWNSHIP SUPERVISORSTAEadmin2024-04-25T16:15:02-04:00

> View meeting dates of the Township Supervisors, including minutes and agendas when available.

JAMES OSWALD

Jim has been a resident of Lower Alsace Township for all but 4 years of his life. Jim attended school K- 12 in the Antietam School District graduating in 1981. Upon graduation, he joined the US Navy Reserves Seabees. He retired from the Reserves in 2003 at the rank of Construction Mechanic 1st Class.

Jim has been married for 30 years to Tammy Oswald, also a lifelong Township resident. Jim and Tammy are the proud parents of one daughter, Emily, Graduated from Antietam Jr. Sr. High School. Jim became a Township Supervisor for many reasons but mainly to try to help residents solve their problems and to make the Antietam Valley a better place to live.

In addition to elective office, Jim serves as a volunteer with Mt. Penn Fire Company since 1985 and as an EMT with Lower Alsace Ambulance Association since 1993. Jim is also a regular donor at the Miller Keystone Blood Bank having donated over 27 gallons!

In his spare time Jim enjoys motor racing with his family. Jim and his wife Tammy race cars while their daughter can be seen racing her go kart on Sundays in Topton. If it has wheels and an engine Jim enjoys working on it or driving it!

To date, the things he is most proud of during his term as Supervisor is the purchase of Antietam Lake, the initiation of the Township’s first recycling program and 4 years of service on the Central Berks Regional Police Commission.

JOHN THEODOSSIOU

John has been a resident of Lower Alsace his entire life, graduated from Antietam High School in 1997 and then attended Penn State University and graduated with a degree in Electrical engineering Technology. After college John took over his family business Stanley Theodossiou & Son Electric Refrigeration & Air conditioning. In addition to his elected position John serves as a volunteer with the Mt Penn Fire Company since 1996 and has been Second Deputy Fire Chief of the Department for 10 years.

John is also a Technician for the Berks County Hazardous Materials Response Team, a Fire Facilitator for the Berks County Fire Training Center, and Vice Chairman of the Central Berks Regional Police Dept.

John married Samantha Snyder in June of 2011 and has a dog named Cincinnati.

John enjoys traveling with his wife Samantha especially to Greece which is where his family is from, working on his house, spending time with his friends, and serving his community. He takes great pride in knowing that he is helping to make a positive affect on someone’s life.

TODD M. WEIKEL

Todd M. Weikel was born on April 19, 1968 in Mount Penn, PA. He lived in Mt. Penn entirely before moving to Lower Alsace Township.

Todd graduated from Mt. Penn High School in 1986. He began working at the age of 12 as a newspaper delivery boy and also worked as a gas station attendant, restaurant kitchen food prep/dishwasher and home construction worker. Since he thoroughly enjoyed art in school, he began the hobby of screen printing which led to the opening of Weikel Sportswear, Inc. in 1987 and continues to operate the business in St. Lawrence.

Todd married Jenny Reimert in 1995 and they have 2 children. Todd was a member of Mt. Penn’s 100th Anniversary Committee in 2003. After working on this committee, he helped to create Revive Antietam Inc. which evolved into current day AVCP, Antietam Valley Community Partnership.

The board of supervisors plays the central role in township government. Article 15 of the Second Class Township Code places general supervision of the affairs of the township in the hands of the board of supervisors. Supervisors combine many of the roles found in separate branches or levels of the state and federal governments. The board serves as the legislative body of the township, setting policy, enacting ordinances and resolutions, adopting budgets and levying taxes. Since there is no separately elected executive, the board also performs executive functions such as formulating the budget, enforcing ordinances, approving expenditures and hiring employees.

Because of the supervisor’s elected status, an individual in that position is often looked to as a community leader. Certainly supervisors are the proper recipients of complaints, ideas and suggestions concerning township affairs. In many cases, the supervisor is called upon to perform as a problem solver, acting as an agent for township citizens with outside agencies or private firms. The supervisor has a role in representing the township’s communal interests, past, present and future. Although assisted by a planning commission, paid administrator or historical commission, many of the final decisions must be made by elected officials.

Local government is becoming more complex every day. Residents are demanding more services and federal and state governments are placing more responsibility at the local level. The administration of local government has reached the point where it is extremely difficult for a governing body to handle all of the day-to-day administrative functions without help. A number of municipalities including Lower Alsace Township, have delegated administrative powers to an appointed Township Manager.