Irwin reverts to in-person meeting on Jan. 13; councilman calls state orders 'crap'

After debating the merits of the state’s controversial orders on restricting indoor gatherings, Irwin Borough council members decided to meet in-person when they gather on Jan. 13, a reversal of the public advertisement last month that the meeting would be held in a virtual manner.

Council on Tuesday decided in a 4-3 vote to hold the in-person gathering at its meeting room in the public works building on First Street Street, after debating whether to continue to conduct borough business in a remote manner via Irwin’s Facebook page. Council members Rick Burdelski, Leslie Savage, Gail Macioce and Shawn Stitely voted for the in-person meeting, while Ron Rometo, Frank Rossi Jr. and Mike Yunn voted against it. The resolution only pertains to the January meeting.

Even though Rossi characterized the Gov. Tom Wolf’s orders as “crap,” he voted to continue the remote meetings while the restrictions are in place.

Under the state’s current mitigation efforts, indoor gatherings are limited to 10% of maximum occupancy.

By deciding to hold the public meeting in-person, Shari Martino, borough manager, told council it would be required to place a legal advertisement in the newspaper to announce the change. The legal advertisement is required under the state’s Open Records law.

To meet state guidelines for social distancing, the borough can rearrange the furniture in the room at the public works building, Martino said.

While Macioce voted for the in-person gathering, she said she believes more people are watching council proceedings than would attend the meeting.

Rossi said he believed the restrictions imposed by the state since March “have been going on way too long.”

”They keep changing the rules,” Rossi said, said of the state regulations, adding that it was “politics.”

Stitely disagreed with Rossi.

“I had it and it did not feel political to me,” Stitely said. He previously said he was sick enough to be hospitalized, but was told there was not a bed available.

In urging caution about conducting the in-person meeting, Mayor William Hawley said, “I don’t want to pull a North Huntingdon and spit in the face of everybody.”

North Huntingdon commissioners have continued to hold in-person public meetings during the pandemic, but the commissioners have not taken a vote on the issue. The township’s meetings are broadcast and available on North Huntingdon’s Facebook page.

The borough does not have the information technology capabilities at the public works building to have an in-person meeting and broadcast it via the borough Facebook page, Martino said.