Penn Hills officials appoint former councilman to vacant seat
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A familiar face has returned to Penn Hills Council.
Elected leaders appointed Democrat Mark Brodnicki to fill the seat vacated by James Getsy, who resigned in June due to health reasons.
Getsy submitted his resignation before the June 20 council meeting, so accepting the resignation wasn’t on that night’s agenda. Council had to vote to add it, as well as accept it.
His term expires at the end of next year. Brodnicki would have to run in the upcoming primary if he wishes to keep his seat after that.
Deputy Mayor Frank Pecora said Brodnicki has experience being on council and will serve admirably.
“He’s a real good guy, real humble guy,” Pecora said. “He’s a good man. He knows how everything works.”
Brodnicki was unanimously appointed to council at a special meeting July 19 and sworn in July 25 by Mayor Pauline Calabrese.
“He has the experience, the maturity and the temperament to get it done,” Calabrese said.
Brodnicki was appointed to council in June 2016 after the death of Deputy Mayor Joseph N. Palumbo the previous month. He was elected to a two-year seat in 2017.
Brodnicki and several others were then defeated by Getsy and Pecora in the 2019 Democratic primary.
“It feels good to be back,” Brodnicki said Wednesday evening. “I believe I make good decisions. and that’s what it’s about.
“I would like to keep the taxes low. The school district kills us as far as taxes. We can’t afford to raise the municipality’s taxes. I want to make sure the sewer system stays up to par, make sure roads are paved and things along that line.”
“My first stint as council person gave me a chance to really see Penn Hills. It really gave me a chance to meet a lot of people. I believe from my last stint on council, it gave me the experience to go in and make good decisions for the municipality.”
He successfully had an anti-bullying ordinance adopted several years ago. Broadnicki also introduced an ethics ordinance, but that did not gain much traction.
Brodnicki, 64, has been in Penn Hills for about nine years. Born in Dayton, Ohio, Brodnicki lived in Plum, Murrysville and Export prior to moving to Penn Hills..
He is a 1976 Franklin Regional graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business management and accounting from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg.
He worked as a manager of a pool store in Murrysville for about 30 years. He currently works as an inside sales person for the wholesale swimming pool supply company SCP.