Irwin Borough is looking to hire its third manager in two years.

Council accepted Valerie Morton’s resignation, effective June 25. Morton, who has been the borough manager since September 2017, said she is leaving to take a job in private industry in Moon Township.

Morton was hired in December 2016 as the borough secretary, replacing a longtime predecessor who retired. After a six-month stint as assistant manager, beginning in April 2017, Morton succeeded Mary Benko, who retired after serving 20 years as borough manager.

Morton said her new position will be similar to her previous work in private industry.

Shari Martino of North Huntingdon, the borough’s assistant manager since September 2017, will take over as acting manager and acting secretary after Morton’s resignation takes effect, council said.

Martino will be paid a monthly stipend of $500 while serving as acting manager, in addition to her salary as assistant manager. She said she intends to apply for the position of manager.

Council President Rick Burdelski said he hopes to have a new manager hired by August.

Council agreed to advertise for both the manager and assistant manager positions. Burdelski said applicants are being sought for both jobs because, if Martino is promoted, the borough will need another assistant manager.

Caruthers Lane landslide fix planned

Borough officials took steps to repair a slight landslide along Caruthers Lane, adjacent to the Norwin Public Library.

The borough hired J. Scott Bush of Grindstone for $18,150 to drill into the slide area to conduct test borings, complete a geo-technical analysis of the ground and produce a report.

The contractor will bulldoze a section of the hillside to level it, allowing the drill to be set up below the slide, borough engineer Lucien Bove said.

The hillside along a crack in the road is expected to “creep downward slowly,” but it is not in immediate danger of collapsing, Bove said.

If the slide area has to be rebuilt with rock to stabilize the roadway, it will be less costly than placing a retaining wall along the hill, the engineer said.

While the work is being done, one lane of the street will be closed, Bove said.

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