Ross commissioners fired one manager and hired a new one in the space of about an hour this week.

Commissioners voted 5-3 Monday night to dismiss longtime township Manager Tom Lavorini. Then, after an executive session, they voted 5-3 to hire the township's former finance director Wayne Jones to replace Mr. Lavorini.

Mr. Jones had resigned from his township position last week to take a similar job in Westmoreland County. He agreed to accept the manager's position when commissioners President Daniel DeMarco called and offered him the post Monday night.

He started work Tuesday.

Mr. Lavorini is on vacation this week, and several commissioners said they regretted taking action to replace him while he was away. He was informed by phone of the board's decision.

Mr. Lavorini had been manager for 18 years, but his last year has been stormy.

He was suspended for three days without pay in July 2007 following an argument with a commissioner.

He kept his job by a single vote in January when commissioners voted 5-4 to retain him at their reorganization meeting. In order to pass, that measure required a phone-in vote from Commissioner Peter Ferraro, who was on vacation in Florida.

The swing vote in January and Monday night was Commissioner Gerald O'Brien.

In January, Commissioners Dan Kinross, Grant Montgomery, David Mikec, Mr. Ferraro and Mr. O'Brien voted to retain Mr. Lavorini as manager.

Commissioners Chris Eyster, Lana Mazur, Grace Stanko and Mr. DeMarco opposed the measure.

In Monday's 5-3 vote, Mr. Kinross was absent and Mr. O'Brien voted to discharge Mr. Lavorini, joining Mr. Eyster, Mrs. Mazur, Mrs. Stanko and Mr. DeMarco.

"Tom is a good guy, but after 18 years I think it was time to move in another direction," Mr. O'Brien said after the vote.

Mr. Jones was hired as interim manager for a six-month period. His starting salary was set at $75,000 annually.

"He has been with us for two years," Mr. O'Brien said of Mr. Jones. "He knows the players and he knows the township issues. I didn't want us to lose a guy like that."

Mr. DeMarco and Mr. O'Brien said they appreciated Mr. Lavorini's years of service. They pledged to work with their fellow commissioners to craft a fair severance package for him.

Mr. Lavorini's salary had been set at $90,071 for this year.

Mr. Ferraro was not mollified.

"What we've done tonight is very unprofessional," he said. "After 18 years of service we should have offered him a settlement and allowed him to leave with dignity -- not give him the ax while he's on vacation."