Vandergrift amends emergency declaration, after chaotic Zoom meeting

Vandergrift Council voted Thursday to modify its existing declaration of emergency – one that had been extended just last week. The modifications, council members said, will loosen some public restrictions as Westmoreland County moves into the yellow phase of the state’s reopening plan.

The modified declaration that came during an emergency meeting announces the community has moved from red to yellow. Gatherings of 10 or more are no longer prohibited, but gatherings of 25 or more are still discouraged. Events requiring borough permits are no longer strictly canceled, and there is also an amendment encouraging social distancing, in accordance to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The new declaration expires June 1 at 7 p.m., which is the date and time of the next scheduled council meeting. At that time, the council will reevaluate, voting to extend the declaration or make new modifications.

But the decision to vote in modifications was hard to come by.

Attorney Alaine Generelli, who works in the office of Solicitor Larry Loperfito, had sent a new draft of the emergency declaration to the council members Thursday morning. By 5 p.m., most council members had not reviewed the proposed amendments.

Borough secretary Steve DelleDonne said he had been corresponding with Loperfito over changes to the draft until the late afternoon, and there wasn’t enough time for him to distribute a copy to all council members in time.

“Then why are we having a meeting if no one’s prepared?” asked Councilwoman Karen McClarnon.

When McClarnon made a motion, four of the six council members present voted down the changes, saying they hadn’t had time to review them thoroughly.

Several minutes passed in confusion while council members got acquainted with the most recent draft of the declaration. Several council members said the amendments “came out of nowhere.” They were under the impression the special meeting was called to officially cancel the declaration – not to modify.

“I sent a draft of this, this morning, and I’ve been waiting for council responses for what you want or don’t want in there,” Generelli said, exasperated. “I don’t run the council. I need to get guidance from the members of council to tell me what to take out and what to include.”

McClarnon said the declaration was important to help the borough stay eligible for emergency funding that may become necessary as the pandemic continues. Last week, Wolf threatened action against Pennsylvania counties and businesses that lifted restrictions prematurely, saying they would become ineligible for CARES Act funds and could risk their liability coverage.

Generelli agreed, saying the current recommendation from Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs is that municipalities maintain at least some form of an emergency declaration for liability purposes. Still, the version extended at last week’s meeting would no longer be appropriate given the county’s move to the yellow phase she said, and amendments needed to be made.

After several minutes of confusion over what version the declaration would be passed, as council members in separate locations seemed to be looking at different drafts of the document, a new motion was made. The amendments passed unanimously.

Councilman Tom Holmes said he was concerned and the declaration should not send a message to Vandergrift’s businesses that they cannot reopen in the yellow phase.

“There are at least 15 businesses in our business district that are closed. I want to make sure that this does not send a message to them that they cannot reopen.”

In another Zoom window, McClarnon interrupted Holmes and accused him of spreading a “false narrative.”

“This emergency declaration cannot dictate businesses opening,” she said. “So you know what, that’s a false narrative and you need to stop it right now…this emergency declaration is only to ensure federal and state funding comes our way.”

The meeting adjourned among shouting, with McClarnon yelling “Do your homework” just before the Zoom call ended.

Several Vandergrift residents expressed frustration after the meeting over the conduct of council members.

“I thought it was ridiculous that council members were not prepared,” said Jim Dunmire. “Why were there only two that knew what was in the amendment?”

Dunmire and other residents said it appeared many of the council members went into the meeting having already made up their minds, determined to cancel the declaration. Some said the differences in opinion on council appear to be over personal issues and is beginning to appear unprofessional. Many took to Facebook to criticize the discourse between council members.

“From the way council members were interacting, you can see which ones are willing to work together and which ones are polar opposites,” Marilee Kessler, a resident and organizations chair of the Vandergrift Improvement Program, told the Tribune-Review. “I just hope when all this is over they can learn to coexist.”

Heated disagreements on council have persisted since the last election. Last week, arguments broke out over the maintenance of a community garden in one of the borough’s closed parks. In March, McClarnon raised concerns over the council’s use of personal emails and the legality of Vandergrift’s uninsured website. She also led a charge in January to have all council members sign paperwork required by state law, which members had neglected to do for the past six years.