Tim Rapp entered Monday night's Tarentum Council meeting as a councilman and left as the borough's newest employee.
Rapp, who until this month, was president of council, was hired as a plant operator in the borough's water department in a 4-2 vote with Councilmen Eric Carter and Joe Davidek voting against the hire. Davidek was recently appointed to fill the unexpired term of Hugh Fox, who resigned in November.
Rapp abstained from voting and then resigned his 1st Ward council seat immediately after the vote was taken.
A member of council since 2003, Rapp, 57, was employed by ATI-Allegheny Ludlum for 38 years until last February. He was fired after his estranged wife told state police that he had stolen tools from the steel company and police subsequently found $4,600 worth of tools belonging to ATI at his home.Rapp, who had no criminal record to that point, was charged with theft. His attorney and cousin, Francis Rapp, said it was routine and acceptable for Allegheny Ludlum employees to take tools or other items no longer being used by the company rather than scrap them.
Rapp entered a program for first-time offenders through the Allegheny County courts in September, which eventually will allow his criminal record to expunged.
Councilman Tim Firko said four people were interviewed for the position and, like Rapp, none had a water plant operator's license. He said the advertising for the position did not limit candidates to borough residents.
Firko, chairman of the administrative, employee relations and finance committee, who made the motion to hire Rapp, said, “a lot thought, a lot of discussion” went into the decision, which he said was very difficult.
Council President Mike Gutonski said: “Tim Rapp, as far as I am concerned, has been a tireless worker for Tarentum Borough. Anytime anyone ever needed anything, Tim Rapp was always there.”
Davidek said he voted no because he didn't think the position should be filled. Carter said he just did not support hiring Rapp but would not explain why.
Rapp was overcome with emotion and found it difficult to speak as he fought back tears. “It was an honor to serve with you,” he said. “On behalf of myself and my daughter, I thank you.”
He then hurriedly left the council chamber.
Firko and Gutonski were asked later about council leaving itself open to charges of cronyism by making the hire.
“Well, they could,” Gutonski said. “But, remember, our borough manager was a councilman when he was voted into that job by council and our previous code officer was on council when he was hired.”
Contacted later, Rapp said he has been unemployed for 10 months, mainly because of the charges against him. He said he has been trying to get by with part-time jobs that have no benefits and was concerned for his teenaged daughter.
“I'm not happy about my position,” Rapp said. “I'm embarrassed, but I have a daughter I have to worry about.”
Although he did not know who else was up for the job, Rapp said he is confident that his qualifications were as good or better than theirs. He pointed to his 36 years at Ludlum where he worked as crane inspector, maintenance technician and even filled in at the plant's wastewater treatment facility.
“I have a maintenance background,” Rapp said. “I would think I was the most qualified — that's why they picked me. This council, I think they appreciate the situation I was in, but I also think they wanted to do what was right for the borough.”
He said he is excited about the opportunity but will miss serving on council. Rapp said he will continue serving on the Recreation Board and being involved in the borough.Borough Manager Bill Rossey said that, under the union contract, Rapp will be paid 70 percent of the starting salary for a plant operator but could not recall what those wages are. He said Rapp will serve a six-month probationary period and will have to receive training and obtain a plant operator's license.
Following the probationary period, Rapp's wages will rise to 80 percent of the starting wage and then subsequently will rise to 100 percent the longer he is in the position.
“It takes about two years or so to get up to the full rate,” Rossey said.
Meanwhile, council also voted to advertise for residents in the 1st Ward who are interested in serving out the rest of Rapp's term, which has three years remaining.
Anyone who would like to serve should submit a letter of interest to Rossey at the borough office on Second Avenue by Jan. 16. Council is expected to choose a replacement when it meets Jan. 19.
Tom Yerace is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-226-4675 or tyerace@tribweb.com.
