Vandergrift Councilman Sciullo retires after 32 years
Share this post:
Vern Sciullo does not care for all the attention he’s gotten recently.
A member of the Vandergrift Council for 32 years, Sciullo officially retired this week when the newly elected members were officially sworn in Monday.
“I’m not interested in this fanfare,” Sciullo said after his last meeting.
At the meeting, Sciullo, 67, received a plaque acknowledging his service. Council members and city employees shared stories of Sciullo’s dedication to the town.
“You taught us all to be better council members,” Councilman Len Collini told Sciullo.
Borough Manager Steve DelleDonne, who has been involved with borough government for 42 years, the longest of anyone in the room, said Sciullo’s knowledge of the borough’s infrastructure was a tremendous asset.
“He knows more about this town than anyone,” DelleDonne said. “He knows where the sewer lines are, where the water lines are. Nobody has as much knowledge.”
At first, a reluctant candidate
Sciullo first ran for Vandergrift Council in 1987, when he was 35. He said he didn’t really want to run, but he loves Vandergrift and wanted to help the town.
From there, he was elected for seven consecutive terms. He decided not to seek reelection this year. He is ready to retire and spend more time with his family.
James Renatta, who served on the council for eight years, also chose not to seek reelection this year. He received a plaque at the meeting as well.
In his more than three decades of service, Sciullo served on the council’s Streets and Sanitation Committee but found he was pulled to address many of the town’s needs.
One of his proudest accomplishments, he said, was directing money toward upgrades of Vandergrift’s public works garage. It allowed outdated or broken equipment to be replaced.
The workload was leaps and bounds away from what people think, Sciullo said.
He’s grown used to fielding calls from residents reporting sewer problems directly to him or waking him at 1 a.m. to ask if the roads will be salted ahead of a snowfall.
“There’s all kinds of problems you’re faced with,” he said. “You’re running the town. You have to come up with the solution that’s best for the people, not for your personal gain.”
The town’s major upgrades to sewage treatment and to garbage collection and regular reports to the Department of Environmental Protection made council a second full-time job for him. Sciullo owns a business in Vandergrift that produces fire safety equipment.
He’s also been a volunteer firefighter for 50 years.
Incredible work ethic
But his work ethic is what made Sciullo such a pivotal member, said Council President Kathy Chvala, who has served 28 years. Sciullo would often perform beyond his regular duties. He wouldn’t just send a snowplow or call public works to clear a downed tree. He would be there himself.
“Anything you need him for, never complaining, he’s always there,” Chvala said.
At the meeting Monday, Chvala shared the story of Sciullo leaping into action to administer CPR when former Council President Jack Jewart had a heart attack during a meeting.
She also said he was the one she called when the Vandergrift Pool pumps blew, and she needed help fixing them. She said the two of them have negotiated dozens of contracts for police and other municipal employees over the years.
Council simply won’t be the same, Chvala said.
“It’s hard to think about it without him,” she said. “He’s just exemplary. Just an excellent council person.”
Despite the hard work, Sciullo said, he’s enjoyed getting to join with fellow council members to improve Vandergrift. He is eager to see what will be accomplished in the future.
“They’re good people,” he said. “And even these new ones coming in. They’re going to learn you can’t do everything you say you want to do; the money isn’t there. You do bits and pieces. It takes time to continue to do some of these projects.”