A single issue shouldn’t be the basis for tearing apart a well-functioning municipal government. However, the proposed hiring of a part-time police officer threatens long-term negative implications for Buffalo Township.

On Wednesday, Supervisor Dan Przybylek opted to resign rather than remain a member of a municipal governing body that would hire a police officer who was the center of controversy in another municipality — in this case the borough of Saxonburg. But the loss of Przybylek’s insight and governmental experience could be detrimental regarding future important decisions that might come before the board of supervisors.

While Przybylek was only one vote, his past service to the township was a strong asset.

It’s unfortunate that Przybylek allowed this one issue to cause him to step down, although he didn’t run for re-election in 2011. He was appointed in January to fill a vacancy.

The person at the center of the Buffalo controversy is Erik Bergstrom, who currently is a part-time officer in Fawn and Frazer townships.

Bergstrom resigned from the Saxonburg department in October 2009 after reaching a settlement agreement with the borough. That agreement made Bergstrom’s resignation retroactive to May 2009 so a suspension without pay would be removed from his work record.

Bergstrom was charged initially by former Saxonburg Mayor Brian Antoszyk with committing 10 infractions, including altering a criminal complaint, falsifying his time sheets and visiting a sex personals website from his work computer.

In speaking out against consideration of Bergstrom for the Buffalo position, Przybylek stressed that the supervisors board was ignoring advice from the township’s solicitor.

“I like the guy (Bergstrom), but why bring problems,” Przybylek said.

That’s a good point. However, Supervisor Gary Risch also made the good point that “everybody deserves a second chance.”

One of the key points revolving around the hiring issue is that Bergstrom, if he were employed, would be an at-will employee of Buffalo Township, meaning that he could be fired at any time if there were any problems.

Before deciding on Bergstrom, the supervisors should gauge the opinions of township residents and allow them to be an important part of the decision-making process.

But for Przybylek and all other elected officials there is a reminder in the Bergstrom situation. That is that with governmental service comes the prospect of difficult or controversial situations.

And, just because an official is on the losing side of one issue, no matter how controversial, that fact should not be the basis for resigning. After the vote, no matter the outcome, it’s time to move on to other issues.

Przybylek did the township a disservice while commendably trying to represent what he believed to be the township’s best interests. It’s better that he be on the board than on the outside looking in.

Risch, who termed Przybylek “very integral in the operations here,” was one of the supervisors who said they hoped Przybylek could be convinced to return.

Although Przybylek said he won’t reconsider his departure, he should.

As with whether Bergstrom should be hired, Przybylek should let the voices of township residents guide him as a follow-up to his abrupt departure.