Ligonier Township’s former manager is now on board as the new zoning and code enforcement officer for Latrobe.
City council this week unanimously voted to hire Terry Carcella for the open position.
“He’s highly qualified,” Mayor Eric Bartels said. “We recognize that he has significant experience.”
Three people applied for the position.
“We felt that all three were highly qualified,” said Bartels.
Carcella served for 13 years as a code and zoning officer in Washington Township, Erie County, before he was hired as Ligonier Township’s manager in 2014.
Carcella said no reason was given when the Ligonier Township supervisors voted 4-1 not to renew his contract, effective March 1.
“It’s a good time to move on,” he said. He noted he won’t have to relocate for his new job. He lives just outside the borough line, in Unity.
“I want to do the best I can to continue to make Latrobe a great place to live,” Carcella said. “The city code is much different than a township or borough code. I’ll need to get up to speed on that.”
Carcella’s salary was set at $60,000. He succeeds Shannon Cypher Hart, who was hired in February 2021 at a salary of $46,000.
Previously a legislative aide in former state Rep. Joseph Petrarca’s Latrobe office, Hart has moved into another open Latrobe post – a clerk for the city’s sanitation division.
While council sought applicants for the code enforcement position, Hart has been “splitting duties between her new and old jobs,” said city manager Michael Gray.
Latrobe had shared Hart’s services with nearby Derry Borough. But, Gray said Carcella, for now, will serve only the city.
“The door is not closed on future cooperation,” said Bartels.
Derry Councilman Al Checca said fellow council members have been reaching out to see if other neighboring municipalities are interested in sharing code enforcement services.
Ligonier Township has been seeking a new manager. Supervisor John Beaufort said the position likely would be discussed at this week’s meeting of the five-member township board.
Beaufort, who cast the sole opposing vote against the township severing its relationship with Carcella, said he couldn’t comment on the subject.
“I’m happy he got another job,” Beaufort said. “I think he’ll do good at it.”
