Ford City Borough Solicitor Resigns
by Jonathan Weaver
Ford City Borough Council will be represented by a new legal firm in 2017.
During last night’s monthly special meeting, five of the six council members accepted the resignation of New Kensington-based lawyer Anthony Vigilante.
Anthony Vigilante reportedly told Ford City Borough council members of his decision to resign as Borough Solicitor at their December 12 regular meeting at the Latin American Club. Vigilante, a lawyer based in New Kensington, represented Ford City Borough for three years. (photo taken at the December 12 regular meeting).
In a copy of his resignation letter, dated December 21 and obtained following the meeting by the Kittanning Paper, Vigilante thanked Borough Council for allowing him to serve Ford City.
“It has been a pleasure serving the Borough, however, for personal reasons, this representation must end,” Vigilante wrote. “I will do everything in my power to assist the Borough’s new Solicitor so that your legal representation is seamless.”
Council President Carol Fenyes and Councilman Marc Mantini thanked Vigilante for his service.
Fenyes said Vigilante notified council members at the December regular council meeting, and understood his decision.
“For every meeting a solicitor has to attend in an evening, that puts his family on the backburner,” Fenyes said. “He’s got a daughter that’s in soccer and he enjoys attending the games, there are family functions that he’s not able to attend – we understand that.
“Obviously, he’s helped us. He’s sat through meetings, helped us contractually with a lot of things that were on the table last year.”
Vigilante represented Ford City Borough since the beginning of 2014 following the resignation of Frank Wolfe.
Council members also unanimously voted last night to appoint Pittsburgh Attorney Alyssa E. Golfieri and the office of Babst, Calland, Clements and Zomnir – a firm that also represents the Borough in separate matters. Babst/Calland submitted a proposal letter that council members considered in an executive session earlier this month.
Fenyes justified council members’ decision to former Council President Jerry Miklos.
“Babst/Calland represents a myriad of different fields of law that historically the Borough has had to go out and hire for – the water extraction deal, the AT&T deal. When we can get a firm who handles every branch, why would we not do that?,” Fenyes said. “That just makes sense.”
Councilwoman Beth Bowser was absent from the meeting due to illness.
The first meeting of 2017 is scheduled for Monday, July 9.
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