Rafail meets redevelopment goals while staying on air
It’s been six months since the Uniontown Redevelopment Authority offered a contract to Mark Rafail to serve as the executive director and five months since he accepted that position and was approved by city council.
During the month between the offer and the acceptance, a number of contractual issues were hashed out, including the hours Rafail was to work.
Former authority chairman John Orris wanted it spelled out that Rafail was to work Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. for his $40,000 salary, meaning an end to Rafail’s talk show on WMBS. When the final agreement was signed, Rafail was permitted to continue on-air because of contractual obligations he said would go at least until the end of June.
“I still have [obligations], and the authority is OK with me working three jobs,” Rafail said during an interview last week. “I talked to all the board members, and they’re OK with it, so I don’t see where there’s a problem with it.”
Rafail spends two hours on the air Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and one hour on Thursdays. He said it doesn’t interfere with his obligation to the redevelopment authority.
“I’ve been averaging a 42-hour work week with the redevelopment authority. I work until I get my work done.”
Rafail said his work day starts at 7 a.m. and goes until around 1 p.m., when he heads to WMBS. After the talk show, he goes back to work, though that doesn’t always mean returning to the office.
Uniontown Mayor Ed Fike said he has been pleased with Rafail’s work and doesn’t believe that the city is paying for hours that Rafail spends at the radio station.
“I’d be the first one to jump on that. I don’t think it hinders him at all,” Fike said. “I think it could be a plus, getting information out about the city.”
Fike said the redevelopment has been moving forward this year, constructing a second new home on Lemon Street for sale at market value and tearing down a dilapidated house on Gordon Street.
Rafail’s probationary period ends in October, at which time the authority’s board of directors will decide if a permanent contract will be offered.