A reimbursement request from an incoming councilwoman had an outgoing councilman questioning her authority at the start of Thursday night’s meeting.

Councilman Benjimin Frederick questioned why incoming Councilwoman Melanie Dunn filed a $450 expense with the borough secretary now when she and three others who won seats in the November general election won’t be sworn in until January.

“I understand you won the election,” Frederick said, “… but where do you get the authority to have our secretary write checks?”

Speaking on behalf of the four, Joseph McGurk said the group is taking 14 classes that are three hours each to better serve Leetsdale. He said the four newcomers have a right to ask for reimbursement on expenses benefiting the borough.  

“We’re taking a course to learn how to run government, all four of us,” McGurk said. “… We believe it’s necessary for us to do it to better serve our people.”

Both men acknowledged it was Dunn who filed for reimbursement at the borough office. McGurk said perhaps Frederick's questions were better addressed to Dunn, who did not attend Thursday’s meeting.

Because the four won’t be sworn in until January, borough manager Paul Scimio said it was up to council to decide whether to approve the reimbursements now or let the new council approve the reimbursements later.

Council ultimately voted to approve the reimbursements, but voted against accepting grant funding for 85 percent, or up to $66,572, for a recreation-related project through the Quaker Valley Council of Governments.

The guaranteed 2011 funding would have been earmarked for the expansion of the Henle Park Pavilion. Incoming board members made it clear they did not support the expansion and would have revoked the grant approval in January.