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Board adds solicitor hire to tonight’s agenda amid accusations of retribution; hiring later tabled for cost details
Summary
At a June 10 McKeesport Area School District board meeting, members voted to add a last-minute item to hire Tucker and Arnsburg as district solicitor after executive session. The move prompted heated accusations of retribution; the board later voted to table hiring pending cost information.
The McKeesport Area School District board voted on June 10 to add a last-minute agenda item proposing the immediate hiring of the law firm Tucker and Arnsburg as the district’s solicitor, then later tabled the substantive hiring decision after members said cost details were not available.
Board member Mr. Serpian moved to amend the agenda “to hire the firm of Tucker and Arnsburg as a school district solicitor effective immediately,” prompting immediate dispute from several colleagues who said they had not been informed before the meeting.
Mr. Mark Holtzman said the timing suggested improper motive, calling the addition “nothing but retribution.” Other members sought the hourly rate and terms, saying the public and some board members had not been given notice.
The board first voted on whether to add the solicitor‑hire item to the night’s agenda; that roll-call vote carried 5–3. Members recorded as voting yes were Mr. Donado, Mr. Keller, Mr. Kovatch, Mr. Pavis and Miss Payne; Mrs. Elias, Mr. Mark Holtzman and Mr. Matthew Holtzman voted no.
After further discussion, one board member moved to table the hiring item until the board had cost and contract information. On a subsequent roll-call vote the motion to table passed; members recorded voting to table included Mr. Pavis, Miss Payne, Mr. Serpian, Mrs. Elias, Mr. Mark Holtzman and Mr. Matthew Holtzman. Mr. Donado, Mr. Keller and Mr. Kovatch voted no on the tabling motion.
Board members said the tabling vote was intended to allow the district to provide rates, scope of services and other contract details before a final hiring vote. No binding contract with Tucker and Arnsburg was approved at the meeting.
The board did not provide a public cost estimate for the solicitor at the meeting; several members asked that those figures be included in future documentation before taking a final vote.
Next steps: the board tabled (postponed) the hiring decision pending presentation of cost and contract information to the full board.
Source: Board discussion and roll-call votes recorded on the June 10 meeting transcript.
