Politics & Government

Council to Take Second Shot at Picking Controller

Last week, council deadlocked on picking Meg Holland's replacement; tonight it tries again.

 

Bethlehem City Council tonight will once again consider hiring a temporary replacement for city controller following January’s abrupt resignation by Meg Holland.

Council could not reach a consensus pick during last week’s special meeting to select a new controller. Another special meeting will be held following City Council’s regular meeting in Town Hall, which is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

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City Councilman David DiGiacinto, retired economist William Scheirer and financial consultant George Yasso got the support of two council members each during the last meeting, according to The Express Times.

DiGiacinto, as a nominee, was declared ineligible to cast a vote.

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Days before last week’s meeting, DiGiacinto had withdrawn his name from the list of candidates saying he did not believe he had the support of fellow council members. However, he was nominated at Thursday's meeting by Councilman Robert Donchez and Councilwoman Jean Belinski.

Scheirer, a council meeting regular, was backed by Council President Eric Evans and Councilwoman Karen Dolan. Yasso had the support of Councilmen Michael Recchiuti and J. William Reynolds.

The other candidates that had applied for the job were retired accountant Robert Pfenning, public policy specialist Jason Toedter and former facilities technician Duran Chakarian.

If no one is picked by March 1, someone could petition one of the county courts to select a replacement. In any case, a special election will be held some time this year to fill the rest of Holland’s term, which was not supposed to end until 2013.

Holland announced her resignation in January saying she needed more time to tend to her own accounting business. The part-time city controller job pays $49,000 a year.


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