Nonresident continues to serve on Penn Hills zoning board; 3 library board members resign

Like most municipalities, some of Penn Hills’ biggest decisions are made by volunteers on various boards and commissions.

These entities plot the future of the municipality, deciding on development proposals, building permits and more.

They also are hampered by vacancies, expired terms and, in the case of the Penn Hills Zoning Hearing Board, at least one member who is making decisions for a community he doesn’t reside in.

Allegheny County property records show that Joseph Tamburrino, a longtime zoning hearing board member, bought a home in Verona in September 2021.

Tamburrino confirmed in a phone interview that he lives in Verona, roughly a block outside of Penn Hills. Prior to this, he had lived in Penn Hills since 1965.

Despite these ties, by residing outside of Penn Hills, his service on the board is in violation of the home rule charter — and state law.

Tamburrino claimed Mayor Pauline Calabrese “changed the law that you can live any place and work on the zoning board” a few months ago.

No such law exists, nor is it a local decision.

Calabrese said Tamburrino might be refering to her desire to update parts of the charter.

Councilman Shawn Kerestus called for Tamburrino’s removal from the board.

“If Mr. Tamburrino’s primary residence is no longer in Penn Hills, then he needs to be removed from zoning to allow a resident to fill that seat,” Kerestus said. “I hope he will do that right thing and step down from his zoning board seat without council action.”

The mayor, with consent of council, is empowered to appoint and remove members of multiple boards and commissions.

Tamburrino was appointed in 2013, having been most recently reappointed by Calabrese.

Calabrese said she has not verified the addresses of people who were appointed prior to her taking office in 2019.

“Having said that, it would probably be a good idea to remind appointees to any board or commission that once they move, they need to notify us,” Calabrese said.

Penn Hills Solicitor Craig Alexander, citing a 1980 Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision, said “generally” only the district attorney or state attorney general could initiate action to remove Tamburrino.

He added that decisions made by the board since Tamburrino moved remain valid.

Alexander does not represent the zoning hearing board. State law prohibits municipal solicitors from representing both entities.

Library woes

Another board has faced scrutiny this year.

In February, council voted 3-2 to complete an overhaul of the library board. By bringing the board to its full complement of seven members, council ended the 22-year tenures of Kim Dawson and Judy Donohue, who had been serving on expired terms.

Donohue recently moved to Oakmont and planned to vacate her seat, regardless of the vote’s outcome.

Residents turned out in force to oppose the move — to no avail.

Three library board members resigned in March, according to Tina Zins, library executive director. She advocated at the February meeting for a different slate of appointees.

December appointees Julia Madera and Brittany Fettis have stepped aside, along with Mary Mannella, who joined the board in February, the municipal website indicates.

On a volunteer basis

The website also lists nine boards and authorities under local control, plus the Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority, which includes two representatives from Penn Hills.

Even for a relatively populous municipality like Penn Hills, filling every seat can be hard, according to John Brenner, executive director of the Pennsylvania Municipal League.

“We’ve seen over the years, especially recent years, a lot of communities struggling to find folks to serve,” Brenner said.

For example, the Penn Hills Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is short three members, the municipal website shows.

The zoning hearing board — which meets in council chambers monthly to decide matters of land use and development — has lacked its fifth member since the death of Daniel Fitzhenry in July. Three of four members are serving on expired terms.

For prospective members of council-appointed boards, Penn Hills lacks a formal application process. Some municipalities use a basic questionnaire, according to Brenner. He recommends “being straight with people” and advertising vacancies.

“I think at most places, there’s an honest effort to fill the position with the best people possible,” Brenner said.

In a message to TribLive, Calabrese cautioned against overly scrutinizing volunteer board members.

“We have to remember, these individuals are volunteers,” Calabrese said. “We have to be careful that we don’t put so much pressure on people that we end up losing our volunteer base.”