Harrison commissioners deadlock on a 1st Ward representative, vacancy board will try to choose

Harrison still needs a fifth township commissioner.

The four sitting commissioners failed to agree on appointing someone to fill the vacant 1st Ward seat formerly held by Chuck Dizard, who resigned last month after serving 10 years on the board.

A decision on filling the vacancy now goes to the township’s vacancy board, according to Emily Mueller, township solicitor.

“So, we have 15 days to schedule a meeting of the vacancy board to appoint someone,” she told the commissioners this week.

Two nominations were made to fill the vacancy: Alan Fisher of Union Avenue and Justin Johnson of Carlisle Street.

Fisher got votes from Commissioners Jim Erb and Eric Bengel, but Commissioners Jamie Nee and Gary Meanor opposed the nomination.

Meanor and Nee both voted for Johnson, but Bengel and Erb voted against him.

There was a question about each nomination.

Nee asked if Erb’s nomination and support of Fisher could be a conflict of interest, since Fisher is a longtime member and officer at Citizens Hose Fire Company. Erb is the fire company president and also is employed by the company as the chief and supervisor of the company’s emergency medical services branch.

“The only conflict is if Jim would receive a financial benefit,” Mueller replied.

She said she could not see where either Erb or Fisher would benefit financially from the appointment.

Bengel questioned whether Johnson was eligible to be nominated since his application was received by township Manager Amy Rockwell after the township office closed on the deadline day of Aug. 15.

Rockwell said she received Johnson’s application by e-mail at 9 p.m. that day. However, she noted that the notice the township posted seeking applicants did not include a specific deadline time.

Mueller said for that reason, Johnson’s application appeared to be legitimate. Using the Allegheny County Courts as a reference, Mueller said when there is no deadline time set for a legal filing, the judges allow until 11:59 p.m. on the deadline day as a time deadline.

The vacancy board is comprised of the four commissioners and a citizen appointed by the board, who currently is former longtime commissioner George Conroy.

Nee asked what the consequences would be if that board, for whatever reason, cannot make a decision.

Mueller said if Conroy’s vote somehow doesn’t become the third vote of a candidate, an Allegheny County judge will appoint someone.