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A former Muncy Borough employee dismissed from his job in October has been reinstated to the position.
Council voted 4-1 at its recent meeting to rehire Charles Hall at the same rate of pay he was earning as a part-time borough manager -- $30.15 per hour.
Previous council meetings have included sometimes heated discussions on whether to fill the job.
Scott Delany, Richard Sutton, Thad Martin and Ryan Scruggs voted to rehire Hall. Steve Shank cast the lone no vote. Bill Scott and Brooke Bishop were absent.
Prior to the vote, Shank questioned why the vacant borough manager position was not posted to give other people the chance to apply for the job.
Muncy resident Betty Baker also wanted to know, "Why aren't we advertising it?"
She questioned if the right person for the position was being considered.
Shank, along with Mayor Jonathan Ort, asked why the job description has been changed.
For more than a month, Muncy has operated with just one employee, borough secretary Katie Hakes. Jeff Sholtis resigned as borough treasurer in late December.
Borough officials never provided an explanation for Hall's dismissal. In considering Hall's reinstatement, Delany said he sought to "fix a wrong."
In an email to borough officials shared with the Sun-Gazette, Bishop outlined her reservations about rehiring Hall.
She noted that council in November approved Hakes an hourly wage hike of $8 to compensate for the additional responsibilities she was carrying out.
"With the termination of Charlie Hall and elimination of the Manager position -- regardless of personal feelings -- one of the main benefits of this is to save tax payer's dollars on unnecessary costs so that this money can be invested elsewhere that would better benefit the Borough."
Hakes, she noted, requested Hall be reinstated, and council did agree in discussions that he be brought back.
However, Bishop also noted, "Half of us feel strongly that Mr. Hall is untrustworthy, not a good employee, and should not be offered any other employment opportunities with the borough based on past experience. The other half feel strongly that Mr. Hall is an asset to the borough, wrongfully terminated, and should be immediately hired back."
Delany, for his part, said he had problems with the accusation that Hall was untrustworthy.
Hall said he is happy to once again be serving the borough.
"I am looking forward to coming back," he said.
He's anxious to work toward helping the borough with unfinished business and ongoing projects.
In other matters, council approved the 2024 budget that includes no tax hike. Council in December had approved a spending plan with a half-mill-property-tax increase later vetoed by the mayor.
The budget was subsequently reopened before being finalized.
Council agreed to continue with discussions regarding a possible land swap with the public library.
Plans are for the borough to give up ownership of the downtown library building in exchange for library property at New and South Washington streets.
Borough officials are looking for another site for a municipal building.
The status of Councilman Scott who has not attended the last several council meetings was discussed.
The question was raised if Scott has resigned and if he can possibly be removed for missing council sessions.
"I personally have not heard anything," Delany said.
Borough solicitor Chris Kenyon said there is nothing in the borough code specifically addressing removal of a council member for missing meetings.
"Abandonment of duties is subjective," he said.
Council approved a $7,000 Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency grant to help fund the hiring of a borough police officer.
The next council meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5 at Muncy High School.