Milesburg Borough is facing challenges as it seeks to fill two council seats following a series of sudden resignations. Samantha Walker, who was elected in November and appointed council president last month, resigned abruptly during a meeting after a discussion about filling an open council seat became heated.
Another council member, Sandy Dieterle, had already submitted her resignation on February 22. Walker explained that her resignation was a strategic move to prevent the immediate filling of the vacant seat by the three council members present at the meeting, as she believed the process should be more transparent and fair to residents.
The resignations come amid a staff shakeup, including the resignation of the former borough manager and four other employees in January.
During Monday’s meeting, council members discussed the hiring structure for new employees before the conversation turned to filling the vacant council seat. The council voted 3-1 to start the process of appointing a new member, with Walker dissenting.
However, after Walker’s resignation, the meeting lost its quorum, and the remaining council members reorganized, appointing Fred Kellerman as council president.
This reorganization may be invalid due to a potential violation of the Sunshine Act, as the public was not given a 24-hour notice of the meeting.
According to state law, the borough has until April 19 to fill Dieterle’s council position and 45 days after Walker’s resignation acceptance to fill her seat.
The municipality’s vacancy board or the county’s court of common pleas may break a tie in the event of a draw during the appointment process.
The borough’s next special meeting is scheduled for March 27, where Walker’s resignation acceptance and the appointment of the next board member could occur.
