Former Leetsdale Employees File Unemployment Claims

A week after council , Leetsdale's former borough manager and junior clerk have filed for unemployment, borough officials said.

Councilwoman Melanie Dunn said the borough received notices from the state Department of Labor & Industry that former borough manager Paul Scimio and junior clerk Sandra Bajsec, wife of former councilman Mike Bajsec, filed unemployment claims.

In its meeting Jan. 3, the newly sworn-in council voted to remove the positions as well as that of senior clerk. Those office titles were created by the previous council.

Liz Petalino, who had been named senior clerk, was reinstated last week to her former position as secretary/treasurer. Council also dissolved an agreement with Scimio and offered him a severance package.

Leetsdale President Joseph McGurk said that as of Tuesday night, Scimio had not accepted the severance offer.

Council held an executive session at Tuesday night's workshop meeting to discuss personnel matters, but no decisions were voted on afterward.  

McGurk said council has no plans in 2012 to hire another borough manager, adding that Petalino was more than capable in her role.

“I can say, we’ve had a secretary/treasurer that did this job for 19 years,” he said, referring to Petalino’s tenure in the borough.

McGurk said that if Petalino requests assistance later, the board would address the need. Anyone hired must have the proper credentials to serve as an assistant, he said.

In other council business:

• Discussed establishing a no-smoking zone around the perimeter of the borough building and a no-smoking policy in borough-owned vehicles.

• Discussed the possibility of a borough-wide recycling program.

• Discussed board vacancies due to resignations and term expirations.

• Considered community room requests.