Union City Borough Council fails to hire recommended officer; retroactively appoints Mark Zigler as code enforcement officer

A motion to hire a recommended police officer failed for lack of a second at the July 9 Union City Borough Council meeting, and the council later approved a retroactive appointment for a new code enforcement officer.

Police Chief David Pernice told the council that candidate Kenneth Fye had passed civil service testing and background checks and that the Civil Service Commission recommended hiring him. Councilor Steadman moved to hire Fye as a full‑time officer, but the motion "failed for a second and will be revisited at next meeting," and therefore died. Chief Pernice asked the council later why the motion died so he could inform the applicant.

Separately, the Personnel Committee recommended Mark Zigler for the Code Enforcement Officer position. Councilor Osborn moved and Councilor Joyce seconded a retroactive appointment; Councilor Uber opposed the appointment because he felt the appointee should reside in the Borough, but the motion carried. The minutes indicate Zigler could begin some virtual training on the iWorqs software on July 12 and start active work on July 29.

Council also discussed summer help and grounds maintenance: the Borough received three mowing/trimming quotes ranging from $750 to $1,200, and Capela Landscape was contracted to mow for a four‑week period beginning July 8 with the option to continue. Adecco submitted the name of an individual interested in summer help at around $18 per hour for about 32 hours a week.

The council adjourned at 7:04 p.m. and convened an executive session to discuss personnel with no action taken between 7:06 p.m. and 7:38 p.m.