With spoken words thanking and praising the employees of Marlborough Township and calling them “second to none,” Marlborough Supervisors’ Chairperson Joan Smith announced her retirement from the board, effective at the close of the Wednesday’s meeting of the board of supervisors.  Smith was elected in 2009 for a term that runs through 2015.

            Smith’s announcement ends her decades long service record to the community.  In addition to being a retired educator in the Upper Perkiomen School District and at The Perkiomen School, she has served on the Upper Perkiomen School Board, as tax collector for Marlborough Township and several other positions in the community.  Joan and her late husband Winfield were 2009 winners of Upper Perkiomen School District’s “Above and Beyond” volunteer recognition award.

            According to solicitor Marc Jonas, the remaining supervisors, Charles Walter and Brian Doremus, have 30 days to name a replacement.  If they fail to name one, the open seat will be turned over to the vacancy board which will have 15 days to name Smith’s successor.

            Doremus and Walter had kind words for Smith, asking her to reconsider and stay on through the end of 2014.  Smith said she is retiring for personal reasons and was firm saying “now is the right time” citing accomplishments of the township over the past years.

            While no decision was made at the public meeting, Doremus and Walters discussed the possibility of soliciting people from the township to apply for the open seat.