Megan Turnbull to step down as Leetsdale solicitor

Leetsdale is in need of a solicitor.

Attorney Megan Turnbull, who has provided legal services to the borough for more than 10 years, has tendered her resignation.

Council discussed her departure at a workshop meeting Oct. 6.

Members plan to vote to accept the resignation, as well as a motion to advertise a request for proposals from attorneys, at the Oct. 13 meeting.

Turnbull was not at the workshop, but talked about her decision to leave via email.

“My firm responsibilities and work for other clients has gotten to the point where I need to make hard choices about where my time and energy are best spent,” she said. “I wish Leetsdale well and look forward to reading about their future community successes.

“I advised that I would stay until they found a new solicitor. My target is Dec. 1. I shared a good (request for proposal) for them to adapt.”

Turnbull is a partner at Weiss Burkardt Kramer LLC, where she works as a solicitor for municipalities, school districts and nonprofits. She also serves as labor counsel and special counsel, and manages the firm’s tax assessment and tax collection practice groups.

Council president Patricia Lee is one of the newest elected leaders. She is in her first year on council and thanked the solicitor for her service.

“Ms. Turnbull has been diligent and passionate about the services she provided to the Leetsdale community,” Lee said. “We appreciate the services provided over the years, and wish her continued success. She was instrumental in my transition as a newly elected official and council president. She showed much patience and guidance to myself, and my peers.”

Other council members, including Osman Awad, also lauded Turnbull’s legal skills, and plan to do their due diligence to find a suitable replacement.

“(We want) somebody to serve our community the way we’re expected to be,” Awad said.

Borough secretary Jennifer Simek said they received Turnbull’s resignation letter from her firm Sept. 26.

Her monthly retainer was $2,700.

The borough budgeted about $34,200 for legal expenses this year, according to borough documents.

Council members said at least one legal matter will be awaiting their new solicitor, an AirBnB ordinance to regulate short-term rentals.

Borough officials are reviewing regulations adopted by other communities, and have not begun the process of drafting Leetsdale’s own rules.