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Bellwood-Antis supervisor not resigning

BELLWOOD – Antis Township Supervisor Robert E. Smith told fellow board members he was not planning to resign amid criminal charges.

Smith was allegedly a PennDOT employee when he filled up containers with gas for his own personal use.

According to state police in Hollidaysburg, Smith was caught stealing gas by using a department fuel card March 17 at Bellwood’s Martin’s General Store. A June 4 hearing has been scheduled.

Smith declined to offer his resignation after Ron Gensamer, a former supervisor, told the board Thursday during the meeting’s public-comments period he had a two-part question.

Gensamer asked Smith whether he planned on resigning, to which Smith replied, “No. Emphatically, no.”

Unsatisfied, Gensamer asked other board members whether they planned to do a full audit of the municipal building to ensure nothing had gone missing.

“Once you’re tagged a thief, you’re a thief,” Gensamer said, and encouraged township officials to lock up and secure the building.

Township Manager Lucas Martsolf told Gensamer that, as a matter of course, periodic audits are conducted.

Supervisor Charles Taylor said he wanted to make clear that Smith is innocent until proven guilty.

Gensamer said he was unhappy with the decision, noting that Smith had been caught and many community members know it.

“He can’t escape the hangman’s noose,” he said.

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