Union City council leaves recommended police hire unresolved, retroactively appoints code enforcement officer

The Union City Borough Council on July 9 left a recommended police hire unresolved after a motion to hire a Civil Service–certified candidate failed for lack of a second, and later approved a retroactive appointment for a code enforcement officer.

Police Chief David Pernice told the council that candidate Kenneth Fye had passed civil service testing and a background check and that he had favorable references. The Civil Service Commission provided only one candidate who met the testing requirements. Councilor Steadman moved to hire Kenneth Fye as a full-time officer; the motion "failed for a second," the minutes say, and will be revisited at a future meeting. Chief Pernice asked the council for guidance: "He wasn’t sure what to tell the applicant," the minutes record.

On a separate personnel matter, the Personnel Committee recommended Mark Zigler for the position of Code Enforcement Officer. The council approved a retroactive appointment (motion by Councilor Osborn, seconded by Councilor Joyce). Councilor Uber opposed the motion, citing a concern that the appointee should reside in the borough.

The minutes note that Zigler is available to begin training on July 12, with actual work beginning July 29 and initial iWorqs software training available virtually; council did not specify a start date for the police hire.

Both personnel items will return to council for further follow-up: the police hire remains unresolved pending future action, while staff will onboard the new code enforcement officer according to the training schedule.