McCandless goes remote for council meetings

Council meetings for the Town of McCandless are now fully remote until the end of March, a move fueled by covid concerns.

“I’m trying to protect staff and citizens in our town,” said Councilmember Kimberly Zachary of Ward 1, who proposed moving to remote meetings, which council adopted on a 4-3 vote Jan. 10.

Township boards, authorities and commissions also will meet online and conduct business online with clients when possible.

As a nurse anesthesiologist, Zachary said she sees the strain the pandemic is having on the healthcare system and the number of people who have become sick.

McCandless also has seen an increase in covid cases among its employees.

“We’re dealing with more positive cases now than we ever did with our staff,” Town Manager Robert Grimm said.

Council meets the third and fourth Monday every month at 7:30 p.m., with a few exceptions over the year. The council has been meeting hybrid, with in-person meetings conducted at town hall on Grubbs Road that can be viewed online by people at home. Council members before Jan 10 had the option of attending in-person or participating remotely.

Zachary said while council members and residents can opt to participate via Zoom, there are township staff who must attend in-person meetings because they help the meetings happen.

“The hybrid model does not give an option to AV (audio-visual) staff that are here as well as other staff members who have to be at meetings. That’s who I’m most concerned about here,” Zachary said.

Voting to approve the change were Zachary of Ward 1, Kathleen Roppa of Ward 5, Vice President Carolyn Schweiger of Ward 6 and Patricia Cloonan of Ward 7. Those opposed were Robert “Jack” Casey of Ward 2, Jason Singer of Ward 4 and President Michael Tarle of Ward 3.

Singer said he was “split” on the idea, acknowledging Zachary’s concern about staffing issues. But he was leaning toward the in-person meeting.

“I think we’re a little further ahead than we were a year ago. I think we’re in a different position than we were before,” said Singer, adding the hybrid model works well.

Tarle supported staying hybrid now that better masks, vaccinations and boosters are available.

“We’re in a different place than we were two years ago,” he said. “I think the hybrid model gives an option to everybody.”

Dr. Arvind Venkat, an emergency physician who is a board member of the McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority, said while the effects of the omicron variant are less serious, the level of transmission is very high.

He said the ambulance authority recently changed to a remote model for its meetings and suggested if the council continues a hybrid model, it should provide highly effective masks, such as the N95, ensure social distancing and even request vaccination status.

“When we went fully remote, I did not feel like we lost very much. I feel like we worked very well. I was impressed with how well we worked as a team,” Cloonan said.

Junior Councilperson Gannon Sprinkle, a senior at North Allegheny High School, said he fully understands the need to be careful.

However, he said “covid fatigue is a real thing.”

After months of online school, he would prefer to not have to attend another online meeting.

“I am tired of virtual anything,” he said.

He is supportive of efforts to keep everyone safe, such as high-quality masks and social distancing.

Singer said if council members are concerned about staff working at meetings, similar mitigation efforts should be employed during regular business hours.

“We as a staff can follow guidance of council meetings,” Grimm said.

They already are allowing remote work where it’s appropriate, he said.

He said they are having staff call off daily because of the pandemic. And there are varying degrees of vaccinations within the staff.

“We managed two years ago very successfully with staff, and it worked well,” said Zachary.

Franklin Park is continuing with hybrid meeting, its town manager, Regis Ebner, said during a Jan. 16 phone call.

“We feel like that’s a good model that provides the best of both worlds,” said Ebner.

Julie Bastiani, manager at Marshall Township, said it is continuing with hybrid meetings.

She said the state’s Sunshine Act Open Meetings law may require it to conduct in-person meetings now that Gov. Tom Wolf withdrew a state emergency order that allowed remote public meetings.

McCandless is a home rule charter community, which allows the council to opt out of some state governing codes, according to Solicitor Stephen L. Korbel.

Ross Township is continuing with hybrid meetings via Zoom, according to Assistant Manager Adam Ravenstahl.

Bradford Woods meets at 7 p.m. the second Monday of every month. As of press time on Jan. 20, meetings are conducted in person at borough offices on Wexford Run Road, according to Erin Huber, borough manager.