Monroeville furloughs library, senior center employees

Full-time employees at the Monroeville library and senior center have been furloughed until July 6, according to an announcement posted on the municipality’s website.

“This was a difficult decision because we know the services that the library and senior citizen center bring to the community, but because of the uncertainty of the coronavirus, we felt this was the correct decision at this time for the safety of the community,” said Tim Little in the prepared statement.

Both facilities have been closed since March 15. With the furloughs, they will remain closed until at least July 6, Little said.

The round of furloughs did not include each facility’s director. The library director, Nicole Henline, can be reached at 412-372-0500, ext. 111. The senior center’s director, Tara Gresock, can be reached at 412-856-7825.

Councilman Bob Williams said the round of furloughs includes 10 employees from the library and three from the senior center.

He did not know what sort of financial impact the move would have on the municipality. He deferred a reporter’s question to Little, who did not respond to requests for comment.

Council had decided against furloughing 17 employees from the library, senior center, parks and recreation, code enforcement and engineering departments during its April 14 meeting. The move, voted down 3-4, would have brought approximately $120,000 a month in savings.

Williams said Little’s latest decision was not voted upon by council.

“It doesn’t require a vote. It’s the manager’s job to hire and fire people,” Williams said.

According to Monroeville’s home rule charter, the manager’s duties include to “appoint, suspend or remove all municipal employees, except as otherwise provided by law or this charter and report any such action at the next business meeting of council.”

Little said in the announcement that “we felt this was the prudent avenue to pursue” because restrictions on businesses in the region remain in effect.

“Another important factor involved with the decision was municipal finances; Monroeville … will experience a reduction in revenue due to the shut-down of the economy. This is not uncertain — Council and I expect the municipality will have a reduction in revenue,” Little said.

Mayor Nick Gresock, whose wife is the senior center’s director, spoke against furloughing employees during council’s April 14 meeting. At the time, he said the municipality is “saving money in other ways” and that council should support Monroeville’s employees and continue providing services to residents. However, he had said, the municipality will continue to reevaluate its position.

Gresock did not respond to a request for comment.

Monroeville’s next council meeting is scheduled for May 12, after canceling a work session and “Citizens’ Night” meeting originally set for May 7. Instead, those meetings will occur during the May 12 meeting starting at 7 p.m. at council chambers, 2700 Monroeville Blvd.

Anyone wanting to address council has been encouraged to submit comments and questions via email to tlittle@monroeville.pa.us.