Springdale Council votes to oust manager

Springdale Council voted Thursday to fire Borough Manager Kimberly McAfoose.

The move was approved in a 5-1 vote.

Council President Jim Zurisko declined to comment on the decision or give a reason for the dismissal, other than to acknowledge McAfoose was “relieved of her duties.” She was an at-will employee without a contract.

McAfoose was hired as borough manager in December 2013 at a starting salary of $65,000. She previously served as executive director of the Redevelopment Authority for the City of New Kensington.

McAfoose told the Tribune-Review she thought the move was political.

“I came into a boatload of problems, and I solved each and every one of them. We did it diplomatically, quickly and properly,” McAfoose said. “Last year, I brought in over $1 million in grants for small Springdale. I did the best I could. I cleaned up a lot of messes when I was there.

“I don’t know anybody who brings in $1 million in grants one year and then is ousted the next,” McAfoose added. “But that’s politics. It’s a political job. We all know this going in, and that’s the way it is.”

Councilman Mike Ziencik was the lone council member to vote against McAfoose’s dismissal.

“I thought she was doing an excellent job,” Ziencik said. “She kept the borough in line, kept all the finances up to date, and there was never an issue with her.”

Ziencik said he was left with no say in the matter.

“I feel terrible about this. It was predetermined before the meeting, and I was left out of their pre-meeting conversation dealing with this issue,” he said. “The only thing I was told was they were going in a different direction and they couldn’t explain why.”

Day-to-day business matters of the borough manager will be handled by members of the borough office staff while the search for a new manager takes place, according to Zurisko. He said the search had not yet begun.