Charles Hall. SUN-GAZETTE FILE PHOTO

After much discussion, Muncy Borough Council by a narrow vote this week decided to fire its borough manager.

Prior to the vote, the handful of people jammed into the small municipal chambers demanded to know why council was considering the dismissal of Charles Hall.

“Myself and others feel it’s time for a change,” Borough Council President Bill Scott said.

He added that there had been philosophical differences and that it was time for a “restructuring.”

The vote to oust Hall was 4-3 with Mayor Jonathan Ort casting the deciding vote.

Council members voting to fire Hall were Scott, Steve Shank, and Richard Baker. Voting no were Thad Martin, Scott Delany, and Linda Stein.

Brooke Bishop abstained.

Delany said he was surprised to learn that the matter was even on the meeting agenda.

“Almost half of council is blindsided by this,” he said.

He asked for the matter to be discussed in executive session prior to a vote.

Martin agreed.

“I think we are putting the cart before the horse,” he said.

Stein asked if perhaps the matter had been discussed before the council meeting.

At one point, borough resident Pharron Banghart asked,” Was there a backdoor meeting?”

When pressed on the issue, Scott noted that residents would later have their turn to comment on the matter. He subsequently called for order, pounding his fist on the table, and demanding Banghart be escorted by police from the council chambers.

DuBoistown Borough Manager Ann Marie Baker, a Muncy resident, said Hall has always been of great help to her and is knowledgeable about different issues.

Disagreements with people, she added, are part of the job.

“Our jobs are not easy,” said Baker, who serves as vice president of Downtown Muncy Inc.

Tara Ashby, a former borough employee, said, “He (Hall) is a phenomenal asset to the borough. She said it would be a mistake to fire him.

Borough resident Jim Bishop said there are the wage savings to consider.

Baker said she and Hall are among the lowest paid borough managers.

Hall said his yearly salary amounted to $39,179 with no benefits.

Following the vote, Hall quietly gathered some of his belongings and left council chambers.

There was no discussion about filling the vacant position.

At the end of the meeting, Stein asked, “Where do we go from here?”

In other matters, council voted to terminate the contract of the school resource officer for the high school.

The termination will allow the officer to rejoin the Muncy Police Department on a full-time basis, according to borough officials.

However, the officer will remain as school resource officer until a replacement is found.

Council voted to sell a police cruiser for $6,500 and tractor for $9,500.

Borough Treasurer Jeff Sholtis reported the 2024 budget appears to be in good shape.

“I’m predicting we are going to be about break even,” he said.

The next council meeting is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7 at the borough hall, 14 N. Washington St., Muncy.