Gavin Robb appointed Arnold solicitor
Arnold officials will be getting legal advice from a new attorney.
Council accepted the resignation of City Solicitor Jaclyn M. Shaw and hired Gavin Robb, an attorney with the law firm of Tucker Arensberg, to fill the position. Both votes were 4-0, with Councilman Adam Zweig absent.
Reached by TribLive, Robb declined comment on the Arnold appointment.
Robb’s focus, according to the Tucker Arensberg website, is on municipal, real estate, zoning and land use law as well as business and corporate law.
The only municipal body in the Alle-Kiski Valley that he currently represents is West Deer.
In fact, Arnold is his only Westmoreland County municipal client, according to the website. He does represent other municipal entities, primarily in Allegheny County.
Mayor Shannon Santucci said that was a major reason for choosing him.
She said council wanted to “start fresh” with someone from out of the area who has no ties or connections to the city in order to avoid any political implications.
Shaw expressed confidence that Robb will provide good legal representation to Arnold.
“I think the city is in very good hands,” she said.
Shaw, who is based in New Kensington, served as Arnold’s solicitor for three years. Appointed interim solicitor by council when its previous solicitor, David Regoli, died unexpectedly in December 2021, she had been appointed as the full-time solicitor each year since.
Conversing via speakerphone to council and an audience of about 20 residents, Shaw explained her reasons for stepping down.
“It was just time,” she said. “I have a lot going on in my private practice.”
Shaw said resigning was not an easy decision because the city and its residents had “grown on her.”
“I thank you for giving me the opportunity,” she said.
Council members and some residents also expressed their thanks to Shaw for her service to the city.
As the meeting came to a close, Santucci told Shaw, “Thank you for always having our backs.”
That prompted a hearty round of applause from the audience.
Kellen Stepler is a TribLive reporter covering the Allegheny Valley and Burrell school districts and surrounding areas. He joined the Trib in April 2023. He can be reached at kstepler@triblive.com.
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