California council fills vacancy
?CALIFORNIA — California Borough Council this week accepted the resignation of Councilman Gerald “Galvie” Gardner and named a former councilman, Edwin “Chip” Glab, to fill the vacancy.
The vote to appoint Glab was a 3-3 split decided by Mayor Casey Durdines. Councilmen Jon Bittner made the motion to appoint Glab, noting that he has experience and there are several important issues coming before council. Councilmen Patsy Alfano, Anthony Mariscotti and Bittner voted in favor of the appointment, while councilwomen Donna Bridges, Sheila Chambers and Shelly Roberts voted against it.
Glab will begin serving as soon as he is sworn in. Bittner was named council vice president.
Council had earlier in the meeting voted to advertise the vacancy and conduct interviews during a continued meeting on June 22. Bittner and Mariscotti had voted against that motion. After the motion to appoint Glab, the motion to advertise and interview was rescinded. The meeting will still be continued until June 22 to consider the hiring of a part-time secretary and other matters.
Under the Borough Code council had 30 days from the date of the resignation to fill the vacancy. Glab will serve until the end of the year. Solicitor Ernie DeHaas said the remaining two years of Gardner’s term will be filled through a special election process in November.
Durdines said that he checked with the Washington County Election office and that once the vacancy is reported to the election office, the county Democratic and Republican committee people will be notified, then the local committee people will come up with nominees for the November ballot.
Council, also Thursday, voted 3-3 along the same lines to hire Wesley Sheets as a full-time police officer, with the mayor again breaking the tie. Sheets has been a part-time officer on the borough’s force. Bridges said she didn’t know Sheets and had wanted to interview him prior to the vote.
Council last month voted to hold a Civil Service test for new officers. Durdines noted that the test is still needed, since Sheets was the last candidate available on the borough’s Civil Service list . Durdines said Sheets is also a certified D.A.R.E. officer and has served as the school resource officer in the California Area School District.
Council also voted to give Fayette Engineering permission to do design work to repair the sewer line on Peach Alley, one of the main sewer lines in the community. Council also voted to allow the mayor to continue discussions with West Pike Run Township regarding a cooperative agreement that would provide sewerage to the Daisytown section of the borough.
In other matters, council voted to seek proposals for auditing services for 2011, 2012, and 2013. The audit will cover the borough, the recreation authority and the volunteer fire department.
It was announced that the Washington County Redevelopment Authority will be putting the demolition of the old Hollywood Theater out for bids next week. The work is expected to be done over the summer.
Council also voted to seek proposals for new, redesigned police uniforms not to exceed $6,000 for the uniforms, badges, hats and a redesigned shoulder patch.