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Munhall council presses for contractor accountability after borough generator failed during storm
Summary
Council members described a two-day power outage at borough hall after the building generator failed to start during a recent storm and directed staff to pursue contractor follow-up and operational testing.
Council members said the borough’s building lost power for roughly two days after a storm when the backup generator failed to kick on, and they directed staff to pursue contractor accountability and improved testing.
The council president said the generator “should have kicked on immediately” and described an officer who “went above and beyond” by staying overnight while staff tried to obtain a part. That failure left the building without power for two days, the president said.
Why it matters: Council members raised concerns about recurring building problems beyond the generator, including elevators and doors not working and furnace issues, and asked who is responsible for long‑term repairs and warranty or contractor follow‑up.
In the meeting, a council member asked directly, “But my question is, who’s responsible? Who’s accountable for us only being here 2 years and the elevators have turned to work and the doors don’t work and now the … furnace doesn’t work right?” The comment prompted multiple council members to say the borough should call the general contractor or subcontractors to resolve outstanding defects.
Public works staff described the generator’s automatic test schedule and current uncertainty about what part failed. A staff member said the generator “normally comes on once a week” and that it “automatically comes off for, like, 20 minutes,” and council asked staff to confirm whether the weekly test exercises the transfer of building loads to the generator so the test actually stresses the system.
Council directions and next steps were procedural rather than binding policy changes. Multiple members urged borough management to contact the general contractor (referred to in the meeting as Franjo/Franje) and subcontractors to determine warranty responsibilities and to begin a follow‑up schedule of testing and repairs. One council member summarized the immediate action: “We need to start calling and phoning somebody.”
Ending: Council requested an update at a future meeting about the contractor’s response and about any changes to the generator test duration or schedule. No formal motion or vote to authorize repairs or reallocate funds was recorded on this topic during the meeting.
