Machesky’s future on board to be decided soon
Despite a condition with former board president Ron Machesky’s employment as Penn Hills Public Safety Director that does not allow him to serve in any elected capacity, the Uniontown Area School Board still is considering him as a member. He was retained to serve on the Uniontown Recreation Commission at the board’s annual reorganization meeting, despite being replaced as president by board member Susan Clay in an unanimous vote.
Board member Tammy Boyle addressed Machesky’s possible resignation from the school board at the Monday night board meeting.
“I know there is grumbling from the public that this board is putting pressure on Penn Hills to (have Machesky) resign,” she said. There have been innuendoes and none of it’s true, said Boyle.
“I have not communicated with Penn Hills and I don’t know anyone on this board who has done anything as underhanded as that,” she said. “I want to clearly state that if Ron is able to stay on (the school board), great. If not, he has to do what is right for his own situation.”
District solicitor Michael Brungo of the law firm Maiello Brungo & Maiello of Pittsburgh opened a sealed envelope handed to him by district Superintendent Dr. Charles Machesky at the meeting this week.
The contents, said Brungo, explained Ron Machesky’s situation and that he is meeting with Penn Hills to discuss the matter. Contacted Tuesday, Machesky said a determination will be made in the near future.
Clay, who stated she hopes to unite the board on a high school project as president, chose to return the public comment period to the standard three minutes after Machesky extended that time to five minutes to allow citizens to voice their opinions on the high school project earlier this year.
Machesky served as president in 2006 during the debate over a controversial $44 million extensive high school project. He advocated the start of a Citizens Advisory Committee to provide taxpayer input into the project after the majority of board members rejected it in May.