New Ford City Employees Pending
Ford City Borough Mayor Marc Mantini, as well as Council members Vicki Schaub and Gene Banks (on right), made the first arguments for tabling a decision on a possible new borough treasurer/accountant.
By Jonathan Weaver
During the Ford City Borough special meeting last night, a few personnel moves were also discussed.
Ford City Borough Council members agreed to hire Logan Serafine, Tucker Barrett and Joshua Dinus as summer help for the borough Street Department, effective pending Solicitor approval, a physical, drug test and a background check.
At least two of the new potential employees are Borough residents.
Serafine was recommended to be hired by Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Sheri Decomo – who works at the New Castle District office of the Occupational Vocational Rehabilitation program, part of the state Department of Labor and Industry.
Decomo oversees Armstrong County, as well as Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties.
According to Borough Manager Eden Ratliff, Serafine’s unidentified disability will not prevent him from any duties within the Street Department.
Ratliff said there are economic benefits to his hire, but added that Serafine is “uniquely qualified” for the position.
“90 percent of the wages are paid by the state – (Ford City Borough) pays the entire upfront cost, but only 10 percent on the other side after being reimbursed by the state,” Ratliff said.
All three possible employees would be paid $8.50 per hour. Barrett and Dinus would not work more than 120 days.
The three men will work mostly in landscaping this summer, Ratliff added.
While council members await those results, they also are pondering a decision to hire a new treasurer.
Council members tabled the hire of Virginia Finnegan as their new Treasurer/Accountant Monday evening after more information was received late before the meeting. Current Treasurer Susan Lasher Thompson put in her resignation letter more than a year ago.
Finnegan could make $35 per hour for the first month and $42.50 thereafter
Borough Mayor Marc Mantini was perplexed and was concerned with how it would affect the Civic Research Alliance’s (CRA) efforts under their agreement within the state Early Intervention Program. The program is helping to secure Ford City’s financial stability.
“Why are we changing accountants? My understanding is that this is an ill-advised thing to do,” Mayor Mantini said. “Susan came in and she did a wonderful job.
“These (aren’t) Soviet missile secrets – this is pertinent information all citizens in this community should know.”
Borough Councilman Gene Banks was equally curious.
“We have a lot of things on our plate right now – a water plant, paving. A new accountant might not be able to jump right in,” Banks said.
Borough Councilwoman Vicki Schaub motioned to table the discussion. She indicated that that information was received at about 5:30PM during the Council executive session that was held prior to the special meeting
“We got some more information today that we have not had time to check into,” Schaub said. “There (were) questions raised today about the CRA group, and (after) getting information today, that’s the reason why I would like to ask Council to table this motion at this time.”
Council members, 4-0, unanimously agreed to table the decision until at the July council meeting.
