Murrysville officials are hoping that reducing planning commission meetings from two to one per month will make it easier for the commission to achieve a consistent quorum to conduct business.

The seven-member commission was only able to hold one monthly meeting during at least six months of 2019, according to the municipality’s posted planning agendas. Council this week briefly discussed reducing the number of commissioners from seven to five, and potentially adding alternates.

“We’ve had a lot of absenteeism with seven members,” councilman and commission liaison Tony Spadaro said.

Councilman Mac McKenna felt that reducing the commission’s size would shift a considerable amount of work to council members.

“I don’t have a problem going from seven to five, but I feel like we’d really have to step our game up when it comes to research on projects that are coming in,” McKenna said. “I don’t have concerns about doing this with any other commission, but the work that planning does is just so important.”

Chief Administrator Jim Morrison said there are two Murrysville residents who’ve submitted letters of interest for the planning commission, and the two vacant seats will be re-advertised to potentially generate a group of alternate commissioners.

“If somebody knows they’re going to be absent, the alternate can effectively be a vote,” Council President Dayne Dice said. “They can always show up, but they don’t get a vote unless someone says they’re going to be absent, in which case (the alternate) can step in.”

Councilman Loren Kase cited the existing problem of absenteeism among the current commission.

“If an alternate is coming in for a meeting, but hasn’t attended maybe the past two or three meetings on a project that’s very involved, I’d rather not have them there as a vote,” he said.

Municipal solicitor George Kotjarapoglus said council could think of them as alternate jurors.

“They can sit on sidelines, and if they’re needed, they can step in,” he said.

Spadaro said a plan for alternates has “too many ifs, ands or buts.”

“My vote would be to keep it at seven, and see how it goes with one meeting a month over the next few months,” he said. “Then we can make our decision.”

Councilman Carl Stepanovich agreed.

“Moving now to one meeting a month, I think it will be easier to get all the members there,” Stepanovich said.

Any Murrysville resident interested in a position on the commission can contact the municipality at 724-327-2100 for more information.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)