State Rep. Tom Quigley, left, talks Tuesday with Lower Pottsgrove developer Wil Hallman following the Board of Commissioners' meeting

SANATOGA PA – Even Jonathan Spadt admitted he was having an ‘off’ night last Tuesday (Jan. 3, 2012).

Maybe the Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Board of Commissioners‘ newly re-elected president failed to eat his Wheaties that morning, or he might have had a tougher-than-usual day at the law firm where he is chief executive officer. Whatever the reason, Spadt jokingly acknowledged things just weren’t going his way during the board’s first meeting of 2012.

First he was momentarily confused on the procedure for conducting a board vote following a public hearing. Then he had to be reminded to lead commissioners and their audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Finally, and worse yet (but taken in good-natured stride), he almost overlooked a visit to the municipal building by Lower Pottsgrove’s state House representative.

Yeah, it was that kinda evening.

With a full agenda (and, as one township official later noted, with the Sugar Bowl college football game simultaneously playing on television), Spadt promptly opened a public hearing on the transfer of a liquor license to Bella Italia Restaurant. Once the hearing discussion ended, Spadt called for a board vote on the transfer.

That’s when township Solicitor R. Kurtz Holloway spoke up and gently reminded the president to close the hearing first, then call for the vote.

The unanimous decision had no sooner been cast when Keith Diener, Republican committeeman for Lower Pottsgrove’s 3rd voting district, mentioned Spadt had not asked those present to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance before the hearing started. “You’re right. I didn’t,” Spadt agreed, and quickly remedied the problem.

“And while we’re at it,” Spadt added, “I also failed to mention that state Representative Tom Quigley is here tonight, just to visit us.” At which point Quigley smiled and gave a short wave. “My pleasure,” he replied. For good measure, Spadt suggested Post Managing Editor Joe Zlomek take a photo of Quigley’s appearance.

He did (above) as the board meeting room was emptying … and before anything else could go wrong.

• Editor’s note: Notebook Worthy is a series of occasional articles consisting of jottings from a reporter’s notebook. Find others in the series, here.