MOUNT JEWETT — The Mount Jewett borough council accepted the resignations of councilwoman Linda Berry and police chief Steve Hale on Monday.
Borough mayor Melissa McGuire solemnly reported Hale’s resignation. After the mayor yielded the floor to him, Hale read his letter of resignation publicly.
The letter, dated June 24, read, “While I have for the most part been satisfied with my time at the Mount Jewett Borough, I feel that my current employment position has become somewhat untenable and undermined by the elected parties sworn to look out for the best interests of the Mount Jewett community.”
Hale went on to say that he has “obtained full-time employment elsewhere; where I am respected and allowed to do the job how it should be done. No longer am I disrespected, constantly ridiculed or publicly humiliated by those elected to look out for the best interests of the people that put them in that position.”
After being reduced to part time status effective at the beginning of the year in Mount Jewett, Hale took a position with the Elk County Sheriff’s Department. He was recently promoted to chief deputy.
McGuire said she is sorry to see Hale’s departure, but understands his need for full-time employment. She said the borough still has patrolman Mike Henry on the roster and is still advertising for more part-time officers.
Hale said he currently has four court cases pending that he will see through to the end. There are three cases in Smethport and one in Kane. The dates of the proceedings weren’t immediately available.
Regarding the council vacancies, council president Chuck Paar reported that solicitor Dan Hartle suggested if the borough council wanted to eliminate two positions, it would best be done before the vacancies are filled. Councilman Brett Morgan felt that since there were two candidates for the vacancies, it would be in the borough’s best interest to keep the number of council members at seven. Councilman Rod Danielson concurred.
Sarah Glover and Eugene Ginkel were appointed to fill the vacancies created by the resignations of Berry and former borough councilman Don Martyna. Both council members resigned at the end of June. Both council members’ terms expire at the end of 2017.
Glover, an intern with the McKean County Economic Development Authority, was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Martyna. She staged an unsuccessful run for borough council in the May primary. Glover will have to petition her county party chairman if she wants to appear on the ballot in November.
While filling Berry’s vacancy, Ginkel is on the ballot for the November general election for the seat of council vice president Wil Antrim. Antrim is not seeking re-election this year. If Ginkel is elected in November, the borough council will have to appoint another candidate for the remainder of Berry’s term.
In other news, council accepted the bid of Franklin based IA Construction in the amount of $60,659.60 for paving Poplar and Hill streets. State College based Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. bid $81,010 on the project.
Paar also reported that the borough received notification from Sam Cummings Jr. of Kane-based Cummings Funeral Home Inc. that the Mount Jewett location would be closing. According to Paar, Cummings said it was a tough decision to close the Mount Jewett facility after 18 years, but he is willing to provide viewings in borough churches.
Paar thanked Cummings for his years of service to the residents and clergy of Mount Jewett and said he appreciated that council was told before the announcement was made public.
The next borough council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Aug. 3.
