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NEWPORT TWP. — Friday marked a week since Newport Township manager Richard Zika turned in his keys and told three supervisors he was resigning.

Paul Czapracki, chairman of the township’s board of commissioners, confirmed to the Times Leader Monday that Hanover Township resident Zika, handed over his keys on April 8, after he was confronted about a discrepancy in some accounts.

Zika, 71, was then expected to have his desk cleared off and a formal letter of resignation handed in by April 11.

That didn’t happen.

According to Supervisor Michael Roke, “as of yet” no official letter has been handed to township officials, “but we were informed by his attorney (that Zika and his attorneys are working on a letter).”

Roke said that “nothing had to be done” legally in regards to his resignation being effective.

The commissioners held a “strategic” personnel meeting with their solicitor Richard Shiposki Thursday night “for the here and now,” which “is being tended to .”

Zika functioned as the person who paid the bills, compiled meeting minutes, sent and collected mail, as well as being the go-to person for residents with questions. Due to Zika’s resignation, Roke said the township has “two acting township volunteers” working the day-to-day operations.

“We don’t want operations to go by the wayside,” Roke said. “Our main priority is the day-to-day.”

Roke said the commissioners are working with union officials and legal representation to make sure everything, from the investigation to potentially hiring another manager, goes smoothly.

A forensic audit of the township’s bills was also expected to begin last week but it never materialized.

“We’ve (commissioners) been calling around,” Roke said. “We’ll make a determination when we get the final numbers.”

Roke acknowledged the Pennsylvania State Police in Wyoming have begun an investigation and the commissioners are following the state police’s advice.

“Everything is in their hands,” Roke said.

Roke is confident that everything “will be ironed out” by the next meeting of the commissioners which will be held 6 p.m. May 2 at the township’s municipal building on the Kirmar Parkway.

By Melanie Mizenko

[email protected]

Reach Melanie Mizenko at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TL_MMizenko