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Munhall council approves bills, hires officer and auditor; Shields elected council president
Summary
At its Jan. 21 meeting Munhall Borough Council approved payment of December bills and payroll, hired a conditional police officer, engaged an auditor for 2024, and elected Mr. Shields as council president. The meeting also produced personnel actions and votes to table several items.
Munhall Borough Council on Jan. 21 approved monthly bills totaling $878,172.79 and payroll for the period — $317,311.16 — and completed a series of personnel and contracting votes including hiring a conditional police officer and selecting a financial auditor.
The evening’s votes came amid extended public comment about council dysfunction and the announced resignation of Councilman Kevin Ondo. Council also elected Mr. Shields as council president after nominations and a unanimous vote.
Council voted to hire a conditional full‑time police officer, Tatum O’Barto, pending required physical and psychological testing. The police chief described O’Barto as “young” with prior municipal experience and a clean record; the appointment passed after a motion and second and a voice vote in favor.
Council approved Zelenovsky Axelrod LLC as the borough’s auditor for 2024 at a quoted price of $20,500 and set the auditor contract for execution. Council also approved retroactive salary adjustments for specified nonunion administrative employees (an hourly increase for employee 100248 and 3% increases for two other employees, retroactive to Jan. 1) and voted to terminate the employment of employee 100265 as discussed in executive session.
Several proposed items were tabled for further consideration, including a fundraising/placemaking program called My Legacy. Council instructed staff to return with additional details or presentations where requested.
Votes at a glance
- Bills and expenses: Approved — $878,172.79 (motion, second, voice vote; tally not specified in the minutes packet). - Payroll: Approved — $317,311.16 (motion, second, voice vote; tally not specified). - Auditor contract: Approved — Zelenovsky Axelrod LLC, $20,500 (motion carried). - Police hire: Approved — conditional appointment of Tatum O’Barto as full‑time police officer (conditional on physical and psychological exams). - Personnel: Approved — termination of employee 100265 (executive session discussed); approved retroactive raises for administrative employees noted above. - My Legacy fundraising program: Tabled (motion carried). - Council leadership: Approved — Mr. Shields elected council president (motion, second, voice vote; carried unanimously).
The council president nominated attendees for the upcoming ALON spring conference and staff were directed to finalize registrations. The meeting ended after routine departmental reports and public comment.
Ending: Council president Shields said he would work to mediate council tensions going forward and the council scheduled follow‑up items for the next workshop and the February voting meeting.
