New Stanton council reinstated a secretary to full-time status Thursday after a bitter, acrimonious discussion that involved audience members castigating officials for demoting her in the first place and questioning their commitment to the growth of the borough.
The vote was 4 to 3 to return Anita Hoffman to full pay at 36 hours a week. With six members of council present splitting their votes, the tie-breaker was cast by the mayor, Joseph Kazan.
Council President Scott Sistek said after the meeting that the decision regarding Hoffman will force council to reconsider the 2009 budget. He said council would pass a preliminary budget Dec. 4. He thought it possible to have a final budget in place by Dec. 18, in time for an end-of-the-month deadline.
The debate touched not just on Hoffman but on the future of the borough at the crossroads of Interstate 70 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
William Bitar, a resident who spoke at length, said to applause, "We're moving backwards."
Other residents threatened to leave the borough and join Hempfield.
The motion to reinstate Hoffman was made by Councilman James Mack. Councilman Thomas Smith, who voted last month to cut Hoffman's hours to 16 a week, switched sides last night and voted in favor of the measure.
Smith indicated it was the absence of a written job description for Hoffman that swayed his vote. He said if there was fault, past councils should share part of the blame.
Mary Quinn, speaking from the audience, said Hoffman was publicly "humiliated" by her demotion by council last month. She pleaded with officials to return the secretary to full-time work.
Bitar, often acting as the chief interrogator of council, said, "Some people got raises" while Hoffman's hours were cut and her health insurance coverage eliminated. "How did you come up with that decision⢠How much planning?"
Sistek said council determined there wasn't enough work for borough secretaries.
Councilman Todd Bartlow concurred, saying there was "not enough work to justify two full-time employees."
Later in the discussion, Sistek said that part of the reason for Hoffman's demotion involved a pay raise for Melvin Steele Jr., the borough's code enforcement and public works director.
The back and forth was heavy with pointed references to "corruption" and bad faith. At one point, Councilman Robert Quinn said in a loud enough whisper to be heard throughout the cavernous fire hall meeting room, "You're idiots."
It was evident he was referring to other members of council. Quinn voted to reinstate Hoffman, the same position he took last month.
