Freedom Township Supervisors Reorganize

Hamor Bids Fond Farewell

Long-time Freedom Township Supervisor Maureen Hamor stepped down earlier this month, capping 14 years on the board that saw water line expansion and a major employer come to the township.

Hamor and her husband Rick recently moved to South Carolina to be closer to their children and two-year-old granddaughter, leaving the place they called home for 31 years to begin a new chapter down South.

"Honestly, I never thought we would leave here, but when you have a grandchild, it pulls at your heartstrings and we want to be closer to her," Hamor said. "I love Freedom Township, I loved my house, but it is important for us to be close to our kids and granddaughter."

Hamor's entry into public service came more than 15 years ago when she began attending Freedom Township Water and Sewer Authority meetings to encourage bringing public water to the Puzzletown area of the township.

"I wanted to bring water to our neighborhood because so many of us had terrible sulfur water," Hamor said. "I started to go to authority meetings and when a seat on the board became open, I was asked to serve."

Hamor accepted the invitation to serve on the authority board and helped expand public water to the Puzzletown area in 2005, which paved the way for a major retailer to build in the township and create hundreds of jobs.

"With the expansion of public water into Puzzletown, it made further expansion easier and when Walmart came in a few years later it was an easy hookup because the main lines were there," Hamor said. "Had we not expanded into Puzzletown when we did, there wouldn't have been a public water line for Walmart to hook into."

While still a member of the authority, Hamor said she was approached to run for a seat on the board of supervisors.

"I was asked to run so I did," she said. "I won and here I am 14 years later."

Hamor said it was a privilege to serve as a supervisor and credits the people she sat at the table with for making it a rewarding experience.

"Ed (Bender) and Tim (James) have been great to work with," she said. "There are no egos involved in anything we did at that table. We didn't always agree and when we didn't, we would agree to disagree. Nobody came to a meeting with a personal agenda. It was and is all about what is best for Freedom Township."

Bender said Hamor was a calming presence on the board and never stopped learning when it came to her role as a supervisor.

"Maureen was so good to work with," Bender said. "She was always willing to learn and if there was something she didn't understand she would ask the questions she needed answered until she was satisfied. She wanted to make sure she could make an informed decision on everything that came before us."

Bender said the township will not only miss Hamor's leadership and experience, but also miss her on a personal level.

"Having her on the board was just great, having her for a friend is even better," Bender said. "Everyone here is going to miss her."

Hamor said the people she worked with at the township are like family and it was hard to say goodbye.

"I love them all," she said. "They are family, and the hardest part of leaving is missing family."

Although she will miss day-to-day life in Freedom Township, Hamor said she and her husband are looking forward to their lives in South Carolina.

"We always loved the beach and loved the water," she said. "This move makes sense at this point in our lives. The people of Freedom Township are so special, and it has been an amazing time serving them. It will always be home."

Caldwell Tapped for Seat

The three-member board of supervisors in Freedom Township underwent a change earlier this month with the resignation of long-time Supervisor Maureen Hamor.

Hamor, who served 14 years as a supervisor, gave up her seat when she moved out of state. To fill the vacancy, supervisors Ed Bender and Tim James appointed Nathan Caldwell. At 30 years old, Caldwell becomes the youngest serving supervisor in Freedom Township history.

Caldwell brings years of township service to the supervisor's table. He has been employed by the township since 2016 and is a certified wastewater plant operator. Caldwell has been a member of the Freedom Township Volunteer Fire Company for more than 15 years, currently serving as assistant chief, he sits on the Freedom Township Water and Sewer Authority, and was elected township auditor last year.

With his appointment to the board of supervisors, Caldwell stepped down as auditor. Tommy Miller, an assistant chief with the fire company and an EMT with AMED, was appointed to complete Caldwell's term as auditor.

Caldwell said he is honored to be named supervisor and sees it as another opportunity to serve the township.

"I have lived in the township my entire life and I am looking forward to bringing a new perspective to the board," he said.

Caldwell said he looks forward to working with Bender and James.

"I know these guys and even if we don't agree on everything, we will work it out," Caldwell said. "We are here to serve the township and working together we will do what we think is right."

Caldwell praised Hamor and said he knows he can't replace her experience but will work hard to uphold the example of service she set.

"Maureen certainly leaves big shoes to fill, and I am honored to be the one who gets to step in for her," he said.

Bender said choosing Caldwell to replace Hamor on the board was an easy decision because of his knowledge of the township and its needs.

"Nate knows every inch of this township," Bender said. "Not only is he out there every day in his role as an employee, but as a member of the water and sewer authority and being involved in the fire company he knows the residents and wants to do what's right for them."

Caldwell will serve the remainder of Hamor's term and said he plans to run for a full term in next May's primary election.