Verona Council has a vacancy.

Councilman Michael Forbeck has resigned from his elected post a little more than one-and-a-half years into his first four-year term.

Council President Nancy Carpenter said Forbeck submitted his letter of resignation July 5.

The letter indicated he is stepping down to take a state government job.

“The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has called me back into professional service to work on a special project in a field in which I am a national technical and regulatory expert,” the letter read.

Forbeck did not return calls seeking comment.

Carpenter said his resignation is in compliance with the Hatch Act, a federal law that limits certain political activities of federal employees as well as some state and local government employees.

“We appreciate his service to the borough for the year and a half, and he’s going to remain active with the borough,” Carpenter said. “We wish him well.”

Vice President Dave Matlin was elected the same time as Forbeck. He echoed Carpenter’s sentiments.

“I appreciate his service to Verona, and I have enjoyed working with him both on council and on the VOPP (Verona, Oakmont, Penn Hills, Plum) Trail project,” Matlin said. “I hope we will continue to work together on the VOPP Trail project. Other than that, I wish Mike the very best in his future endeavors beyond borough council.”

Council plans to formally accept Forbeck’s resignation July 13. It will have 30 days from then to appoint a replacement before the appointment may go before a vacancy board or an Allegheny County judge.

That person would serve through the end of the year. The position will be on the November ballot as a two-year seat, according to Allegheny County Elections Division Manager David Voye.

The vacancy was posted on the borough’s website, veronaborough.org.

Letters of interest will be received through July 12.

Call 412-828-8080, ext. 6 or email admin@veronaborough.org for more information.

This would be the second council appointment following a resignation this year.

Trish Hredzak-Showalter was unanimously appointed to borough council in late January to fill a vacancy made by former council president Pat McCarthy’s resignation due to health reasons.

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