Clarion Borough this week gained a public works employee and lost a council member all in the same move.
Council agreed by a 6-0 margin to hire Keaton MacBeth as a full-time public works employee at a starting wage of $17 per hour. MacBeth was at that point a member of borough council.
Council president Carol Lapinto said borough code prohibits a person from serving on council and being employed by the borough. That rule applies to boroughs with a population of more than 3,000 people.
Schmader said all of the candidates interviewed well and it was a “tough decision,” but in the end MacBeth was the most qualified. Council approved the hiring with MacBeth abstaining from the vote.
Before officially accepting the job, MacBeth participated in the remainder of the meeting. No business was conducted that affected the public works department or its employees.
Council member Ben Aaron, who has sometimes sparred with MacBeth over stormwater issues, cast a good-natured and symbolic “no” vote on MacBeth’s resignation.
Council now has 30 days to appoint a replacement for MacBeth. That person must be a registered voter who is at least 18 years of age and a borough resident.
The person appointed to the council seat will serve through the end of 2023. The seat will be up for a two-year term in the 2023 election.
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