Leetsdale borough manager search continues with Pittsburgh consulting firm

Leetsdale officials have partnered with a Pittsburgh-based consulting company to find their next borough manager.

Council voted 6-1 on Aug. 14 to have Strategic Solutions LLC complete a manager candidate search at a cost not to exceed $7,000.

Councilman Ben Frederick dissented.

“I think we spent enough money on it,” Frederick said after the meeting. “We already did it once, and I think it’s a dumb idea to start with. I think we have more than capable personnel handling the job right now. I think a borough manager is a waste of money. Things are going well.”

Leetsdale has not had a borough manager since January 2012, when the top administrator at the time, Paul Scimio, was ousted after a few years and Elizabeth Petalino returned to her role as secretary/treasurer.

Since then, the top borough administrator has held the title of secretary/treasurer.

Petalino retired at the end of 2014 after serving the borough for more than 20 years.

Jennifer Simek has served as borough secretary/treasurer since January 2015. She also serves as the borough’s Right-to-Know officer. Simek declined to comment.

Mayor Sandra Ford said she recommended the company to council after hearing about its services through the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs.

“They find everybody,” Ford said. “They find road department personnel. They find secretaries. People that clean the office. Anything that you need for municipal (operations) they find it.

Borough officials in February discussed working with the Allegheny League of Municipalities to find a borough manager.

Councilman Scott Zahner said council decided to go in a different direction when the League did not respond to their inquiries.

Many details, including whether it will be a statewide or nationwide search, a deadline to submit resumes and when to start interviews, have yet to be finalized.

“We just had one meeting to engage them,” Zahner said about working with Strategic Solutions. “Nothing else has been talked about.”

Council President Maria Napolitano said the hope is to find someone who can provide professional management, run the borough efficiently and bring in money.

Borough secretary wages were listed at about $71,200 in last year’s budget and about $73,300 this year.

It is unclear how much may be allocated for a borough manager’s salary.

Council in June 2024 hired a part-time office clerk at $21 per hour.

Council last month voted to eliminate the office clerk position in an effort to “reorganize the borough office,” according to meeting minutes.

Officials at the time said the move had nothing to do with the clerk’s performance.

The position was not necessary due to a change in office hours and that it duplicated responsibilities, according to council members.

It’s unclear what may happen to the borough secretary position should a manager be appointed.

The Allegheny League of Municipalities’ mission is to foster local government in Allegheny County and Southwestern Pennsylvania by educating elected officials, delivering essential resources and advocating for sound policy and legislation, according to the nonprofit’s website.

Founded in 2009, Strategic Solutions provides a range of professional consulting services to public and private clients in government spaces, according to the company’s website.

Officials from both entities did not respond to multiple messages seeking comment.