Scott Township commissioners fill open seat, 1 vacancy remains

Scott Township commissioners have filled a vacancy on the board for 7th Ward representative.

Nick Seibel was sworn in June 23 by the board to serve the unexpired term of Frank Bruckner, who resigned for personal reasons, effective June 1.

Seibel is employed as a facilities project manager for Eat’n Park Restaurants. He will complete the remainder of Bruckner’s term, which runs through 2021.

Seibel’s appointment to the board fills one of two vacancies.

Commissioner Paul Abel, who represented 6th Ward, resigned June 17 after coming under fire from residents for comments he made about the state health secretary during a public meeting.

Hundreds of residents signed a petition asking Abel to step down after he made disparaging remarks about state health secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, who is transgender.

State law requires the municipality to fill board vacancies within 30 days. If a replacement is not selected, the township’s vacancy board will be asked to fill the seat.

If the board fails to make an appointment, any 10 registered voters in the township can petition Allegheny County Common Pleas Court to fill the vacancy.

Residents in the 6th Ward who want to apply for the seat must send a letter of interest by July 1 to township manager Denise Fitzgerald at: dfitzgerald@scotttwp.com.

The board is planning to interview candidates for the seat — and possibly make an appointment — during its July 8 meeting, Fitzgerald said.