Following a two-hour executive session behind closed doors, Ross Township Commissioners voted Friday evening to approve by mutual agreement the termination of township Manager Wayne Jones. His last day on the job was Monday, Aug. 6.

The vote was 5-3. Commissioners Gerald O'Brien, Peter Ferraro and John Sponcer voted against the decision. Commissioners Lana Mazur, Daniel DeMarco, Grace Stanko, Chris Eyster and board President Grant Montgomery voted in favor of the firing. Commissioner David Mikec was absent. 

Jones will receive a severance package, details of which will be made public after he signs it.

None of the commissioners commented publicly Friday about the decision, but two commissioners had explained their reasonings to North Hills Patch earlier in the day.

Commissioner Chris Eyster said the decision was the culmination of several issues and incidents. 

“There was a lack of accountability. Things were slipping through the cracks,” said Eyster. “Morale has declined among township employees because of the arbitrary and capricious application of rules."

Commissioner Gerald O'Brien said he supported Jones, who also served as finance director. O'Brienquestioned the wisdom of letting him go.

"Morale in my opinion was at an all-time high with Jones in charge," he said. "For instance, for the first time in years, there was harmony among the commissioners, the township manager, and the police union. The problem now is that certain commissioners want to micromanage everything."

The commissioners also voted, 5-3, to hire consulting firm Delta Development Group, Inc. of Wexford to help manage the township and begin the search for Jones' successor.

Jones, who has been unavailable for comment, served as township manager since September 2008. He succeeded Tom Lavorini, who had been fired.