Sep 13, 2014 By Mike Tony for The 2 min read

CALIFORNIA — Immediately following a public open house at the California Municipal Building to gather feedback to its comprehensive plan update, borough council on Thursday accepted two letters of resignation and discussed the effectiveness of its open house format.

One of the resignations was from borough manager Tim Buchanan, who is leaving to spend more time with his ailing mother. Buchanan’s resignation begins effective September 19.

“You’ve done an excellent job, Tim. We’re going to miss you,” Councilman Chip Glab told Buchanan, who has also served as a volunteer firefighter in the borough and retired in September 2012 as executive director of special initiatives at California University of Pennsylvania.

“It’s been a pleasure to serve,” Buchanan responded. “I’m not quitting, I’m resigning.”

As a sign of appreciation for Buchanan’s efforts as borough manager since January, Council President Patsy Alfano voted a “stubborn no” in the vote to accept Buchanan’s resignation.

Upon accepting Buchanan’s resignation, council voted to advertise its borough manager vacancy.

Council also accepted the resignation of patrol officer Terry Rabatin Jr., effective immediately, as Rabatin plans to spend more time with his family.

In other business, council approved the Eagle Scout project of Brian Carnahan, who plans to complete a Vietnam War memorial in the vicinity of Memorial Circle on Fourth and Liberty streets that will list the names of all Vietnam veterans hailing from the California borough.

Council mourned the death earlier this month of Norm Hasbrouck, former special assistant to the president/director of continuous improvement at Cal U and California Area school board member.

Hasbrouck had also been one of five members of the borough’s planning commission, and council acknowledged it will have to replace him.

In yet another personnel change, Councilman Jon Bittner volunteered to fill a vacancy on the Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority Board.

Near meeting’s end, Buchanan made his final recommendation to council as borough manager, endorsing the creation of an information technology internship for the borough to help with its “E-Gov” initiative and other web-based projects. Council accepted his recommendation, approving the creation of an internship consisting of five hours per week at a wage not to exceed $12 per hour.

Council’s next regular meeting will be held on Thursday, Oct. 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the municipal building.