Letter to the editor: Firing Marcinko a mistake

Sewickley’s finances are on solid ground specifically due to borough manager Marla Marcinko’s leadership. Marcinko guided Sewickley through covid-19 by implementing public health guidelines while keeping daily operations running smoothly, and supported our police by successfully getting CARES money.

Sewickley thrives when we have a professional borough manager like Marcinko — but during a late-night, unadvertised meeting, outside of public view, council unexpectedly moved for an immediate vote to terminate Marcinko. Council had never previously considered or discussed any such thing. Sewickley council president is on public record as truthfully noting there are no suspicions of any impropriety that led to the termination.

As a council member, I found council’s actions to be reckless, irregular and against Sewickley’s best interests; I objected and reminded my colleagues of laws and norms. Faced with being complicit or resigning, I chose to resign.

Council is legally responsible for electing one person to serve as borough manager — but council hasn’t done this.

PA Borough Code says “no mayor or member of council may serve as borough manager, secretary or treasurer.”

Now that Sewickley lacks a borough manager: who is running Sewickley? What are their qualifications? Who is overseeing them?

Chris Allen

Sewickley