Donora won't get involved in 'neighborhood dispute'

DONORA - The wife of a former borough councilman chastised the borough for not apologizing to her son for an incident between the child and the borough's fire chief last month.

Christine Szakal said her 13-year-old son, Aaron, was called a derogatory name by Fire Chief Patsy Vince in August and that, when she complained to council, nothing was done.

According to a police report filed with Magisterial District Judge Mark Wilson, of Monongahela, Vince was charged with disorderly conduct Aug. 5 by borough police as a result of the alleged incident.

However, the case was dismissed at a preliminary hearing Thursday because no victim appeared at the hearing.

After Szakal, the wife of former Councilman Gilbert Szakal, brought to council her concerns about the language Vince used toward her son, council met with the Szakals and Vince.

After that meeting, council sent a letter to Gilbert Szakal saying that no action was being taken against Vince.

Christine Szakal said the letter was addressed to her husband but should have been addressed to her son.

"He is the one who was the victim, not my husband," she said.

She said she did not want Vince to be disciplined. All she wanted him to do was apologize to her son.

"There was no apology," she said, holding the letter. "You guys didn't feel my son deserved an apology."

Szakal told council it saddened her that she had to go to council to "beg for an apology."

Councilman Thomas Kostolansky said the letter was addressed to her husband because he was the only member of the family who attended the meeting.

Christine Szakal said she has numerous responsibilities in her personal life, including work and church duties.

"Just because I wasn't there does not mean that I don't care," she said.

She then tried to address Vince, who was seated at the borough officials table.

Vince asked her why she was not at the hearing.

Szakal said she works and she was not going to take off a day of work to go to a hearing.

"I had to take a day off," Vince replied.

Councilwoman Marie Trozzo said that it was her opinion that the matter was a personal one between Vince and the Szakals and that the borough should not get involved.

"Patsy is our fire chief," Trozzo said. "But he wasn't acting as fire chief (during the incident with the younger Szakal)."

She added that the spat is a "neighborhood dispute" and that there have been neighborhood disputes as long as there have been neighborhoods.

"What else do you want us to do?" Trozzo asked.

Szakal said she was disappointed in the borough's stand and claimed it's a bad lesson for her son to learn.

She said the victim at the heart of the matter "is a 13-year-old child."

"What if it was your child?" she asked council members.