Mar 9, 2005 By Angie Santello 4 min read

MASONTOWN – Councilman Joe Volansky was asked to resign his post on council by the president of the Fayette County NAACP Tuesday night after he allegedly made a racist remark following a recent borough council meeting. “The Fayette County Branch of the NAACP vehemently requests that Mr. Volansky resign as councilman of the Masontown Borough Council effective immediately,” Clinton Anderson said, speaking as president of and spokesperson for the executive committee and general membership of the Fayette County NAACP.

He told members of the council and a roomful of residents from the Masontown community that he has been contacted by members of the council about remarks made by Volansky following the Jan. 25 regular council meeting.

“It has been stated, sworn and witnessed that Mr. Volansky used the ‘N’ word when making a statement referenced toward Ms. Debra Ryan,” Anderson said. Ryan is the wife of borough police officer Joe Ryan. She is running for borough council this year.

“Not only were the remarks offensive and unacceptable, but consequently an elected official has the responsibility to equally represent all of the people of Masontown,” Anderson said. “Mr. Volansky’s remarks certainly demonstrated that he does not have the best interest at heart for people of the African American descent.”

Volansky offered no public comment, nor did he publicly offer his resignation.

Given that he did not resign, the borough solicitor Gary Monaghan was asked if the council has the authority to vote him from his seat.

“At this point, you have witnesses who say different things, but apparently council has a different recollection. I don’t know if that’s grounds for impeachment.

“I don’t know if the council has the authority to do that on an allegation,” Monaghan said.

Anderson said that Volansky’s remark is more than hearsay.

“I have two written statements that are notarized and sworn that Mr. Volansky did make that statement,” Anderson said.

Monaghan said certain speech outside council chambers is protected by First Amendment rights.

“(The council) needs action to take affirmative action,” Monaghan said. “I’m sure if there were 10 people, you’ll get 10 different versions about what was said, when it was said and how it was said.”

Anderson said he agreed with First Amendment rights, but not in this case.

“Your First Amendment rights do not allow your council to say or do anything they want,” he said.

While the majority of the council wanted to seek the advice of the solicitor, Councilman Harry Lee said that his fellow councilman should resign.

“We have never had to deal with this before,” Lee said. “I don’t think we support it, but Mr. Volansky should resign.”

Anderson was satisfied with the council agreeing to contact the Fayette County NAACP about their decision after an executive session between the council and Anderson and at one point Masontown Borough Police Chief Rich Barron to discuss the matter, which Monaghan called potential litigation.

Councilmen Tom Loukota, Charlie Popovich and T.J. Salonick said that they did not hear Volansky make a comment, and, in Popovich’s case, he said he left the Jan. 25 meeting before anything was said. Councilman Frank McLaughlin was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.

All three wanted to consult with the solicitor.

Outside the meeting room, members of Masontown’s African American community gathered to express their disgust with the matter and their disappointment in an elected official.

Marlene Jackson of 117 Harvey Ave. said Volansky should be held accountable for what the said.

“It’s about being fair,” she said. “You got to be held accountable for what you do in life.”

Adrianne Wilson with the NAACP said the situation is sad.

“In 2005, we’re still going through so much illness and poverty. We should be past the point of name-calling.”