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FORTY FORT — The appointments of a new councilman and a solicitor — among other agenda items — were overshadowed during Tuesday’s borough council meeting by a public outcry for answers about Councilman Frank Michaels.
Although Michaels wasn’t present for the meeting, the primary discussion was regarding his continuing to serve on the council after having been convicted of a felony.
It was standing-room only for the meeting’s first half, with many residents taking the podium to demand answers as to what will happen to Michaels, and if he has offered to give up his seat.
“In light of some of the recent news events, I just have some deep concerns,” Forty Fort resident Brian Ginocchetti said to the board. “I don’t think it’s any surprise that there’s a convicted felon sitting on our council board.”
Council President Jeff McLaughlin admitted that while he has done a large amount of research on the topic, Michaels does not currently meet the listed requirements for removal from council, and that at this time, the borough is powerless to take any action for his removal.
When Ginocchetti asked if Michaels has offered to remove himself from his position, McLaughlin said that while they have discussed the matter, he did not want to comment on his behalf, especially without him being present at the meeting.
“I’m just wondering what the next steps are, if there is a process and how we could go following up on that,” Ginocchetti said. “So we can just make sure the right thing is done, because I think the right thing needs to be done here — and I think that there are a lot of people in this room that might agree with me.”
Michaels pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of children in the fall and was recently sentenced. The former Coughlin High School principal was charged in connection with an incident between former teacher Stephen Stahl and a student over a decade ago.
Michaels couldn’t attend the meeting due to his work hours, but he did arrive shortly after its end to speak with council members. When asked what his plans are for his position, he stated that his attorney is still investigating all the legal ramifications and that in the end, he will decide not for himself, but for the borough fo Forty-Fort.
“I will always do what’s in the best interest of Forty-Fort borough,” he said.
Holding up a yellow Pennsylvania Title 8 code book for state boroughs and incorporated towns, Mayor Andy Tuzinski spoke to concerned residents as to the vague and outdated laws the state has in regards to the legal powers boroughs hold.
“The thing about PA — for every law they pass, there’s two they didn’t remove,” he said to the crowd, adding that the laws for removal for elected officials only apply to convictions and not charges.
Residents asked if council members had to obtain clearances in order to assume their positions, to which McLaughlin said they did not. They also asked if they could start a petition to have Michaels removed or resign. And while McLaughlin said they could, he added that ultimately, no legal proceedings would be necessitated by a petition.
Council members also voted to fill a vacant seat at the meeting. Rick Kamus left the post in December to become the head of the borough’s Public Works Department, which prompted a search to fill the void. Currently, Kamus still holds a seat on the West Side Council of Governments as a representative for the borough.
Four residents were nominated during the meeting, and council voted with the first majority vote-getter to gain the seat. Theodore Ritsick won the vote.
Tuzinski gave Ritsick high praises before taking his oath of office, adding that he served as a junior member of council in the past and is an active volunteer in the community.
Council unanimously voted to hire attorney William T. Finnegan Jr. as solicitor for the borough.
