North Huntingdon settles suit with former assistant manager

North Huntingdon’s former assistant manager has settled his federal lawsuit with the township over his claims that his contract was breached, without getting the $49,000 in a severance payment he was seeking.

In a 5-2 vote Sept. 20, the township commissioners approved the settlement with Michael Turley of South Park, who retired April 28. Turley will not receive any money from the township under terms of the settlement.

Commissioners Eric Gass, Zachary Haigis, Lyndsay Wengrzyn-­Romano, Virginia Stump and Ronald Zona voted for the settlement, while Jason Atwood and Richard Gray opposed it.

The township and Turley on Aug. 29 reached a tentative settlement of the case that was filed in Westmoreland County Court in July and moved to U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh on Aug. 16.

Turley could not be reached for comment Monday.

A nondisclosure clause in the agreement prohibits either party from revealing the details and prevents anyone from using details for other lawsuits or litigation. The Tribune-Review received a copy of the settlement through a Right-to-Know request.

Without releasing any details, Gray claimed the settlement “tramples” on the right of freedom of speech and “flies in the face of transparency.”

In his lawsuit, Turley sought a six-month severance, equal to $49,000. Turley, who worked for the township for about 16 years, claimed that was part of an agreement when he served as interim manager when Jeff Silka left the position in October 2021, and until the township hired Harry Faulk in April 2022.

Turley’s lawsuit claims he was reassigned other duties when he returned to his job as an assistant manager, which was a breach of his contract.

The township had countersued Turley in Westmoreland County Court, claiming he had “numerous incidents of violent outbursts in his career” and had misused his authority.

Prior to his retirement, Turley had filed a Right-to-Know request for any communications between Faulk and a township accountant regarding his retirement benefits and conduct. The state Office of Open Records sided with the township that it did not have any communication between Faulk and Jaclyn Robinson from April 14 to 26.

No one has been hired to replace Turley in the role of assistant manager.

Zona again suggested that the township hire a financial director who would focus on finance, at a salary lower than what the assistant manager was being paid.

Stump asked what the township would do if Faulk is not able to do the job, given the open assistant manager post.