Murrysville council elects Mac McKenna president, confirms mayor’s slate and several board appointments

The Murrysville Borough Council unanimously elected Mac McKenna as council president and Jason Lemack as vice president during its organizational meeting, and it confirmed a slate of mayoral and council appointments across boards and administrative posts.

The meeting opened with the oath of office for newly elected officials, after which nominations were accepted for council president. Mac McKenna was nominated and, following a roll-call vote recorded as unanimous, the council declared him president. Jason Lemack was nominated and elected vice president by unanimous roll call.

Mayor Simon read a list of administrative appointments that council then confirmed by roll call. The mayor’s slate included chief administrator Michael Nesta; co-director of finance/taxation J.C. Milchak (listed as assistant treasurer/finance director in the mayor’s reading); director of public works William Pianna; director of community development Emily Malice; director of recreation Carly Green; and chief of police Thomas Kaczynski. Council recorded a unanimous vote to accept those appointments.

Council also approved multiple board reappointments and appointments by roll call. Jennifer Shepler was reappointed to the Environmental Advisory Board. Celine Kandala and Joy Richardson were reappointed to the library board for three-year terms. Ben Sampson was reappointed to Parks & Recreation and Bill Chazar was appointed to a Parks & Recreation vacancy. Mark Miller and Larry Schultz were reappointed to the pension plan investment management committee. Anthony Lavecchi and Ed Patrick were reappointed to the planning commission.

One appointment for the Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority was deferred: council members agreed they wanted to interview the two applicants rather than decide solely from written applications and scheduled interviews before the next meeting. Council also moved to advertise openings for other boards and commissions.

All confirmations and reappointments were recorded via roll call and noted as approved during the meeting. The council closed the business portion of the meeting and moved into an executive session to discuss a personnel matter with legal counsel; no action was expected from that session.

The organizational decisions put new leadership and confirmed administrative and board placements in place for Murrysville’s municipal year.