Harrison commissioners fill township boards, with one oddity among the appointments

At their final 2023 meeting, the Harrison commissioners filled openings on township boards, all with defined terms — except for one.

That one is a seat on the Upper Allegheny Valley Joint Sanitary Authority occupied by Commissioner Charles Dizard who continues to serve, oddly enough, until further notice.

Dizard, who has been on the authority for about seven years, is on a proverbial bubble created by a deadlock among his four fellow commissioners when his authority seat came up for reappointment.

Both Dizard and resident John Kasicki were nominated to fill the five-year term.

Kasicki’s nomination failed when Dizard, Jaimie Nee and commissioners Chairman Gary Meanor voted against it.

Then it was Dizard’s turn. But before the vote, he announced that he had to abstain because his vote would result in a conflict of interest.

The reason is that the authority pays a wage of $50 per month to its board members, and elected municipal officials are prohibited from voting on matters that would provide a financial benefit to them or a family member.

So when the vote on Dizard took place, it was Nee and Meanor voting yes but Commissioners Eric Bengel and Jim Erb, who both voted for Kasicki, voting no. The deadlock resulted in the motion being defeated.

Solicitor Emily Mueller said that in the event of tie, Dizard would continue to serve until the commissioners reach a majority agreement on appointing someone.

“So Chuck, you’re not on a five-year term,” Mueller told Dizard. “You are serving until further notice.”

Dizard said he has nothing against Kasicki; he simply wants to keep serving on the authority.

“I enjoy the people there, and the issues are important,” Dizard said. “It offers me an opportunity to ask questions and represent the township’s interests in regard to the authority.”

Other appointments made by the commissioners include:

• Recreation Board: Joel Weltner and Vincent Geramita, five-year terms.

• Vacancy Board: George Conroy, one-year term.

• Tree Committee: Patty Babinsack, Thomas Cajka, Chuck Dizard, Joseph Koska, Stephen Jones and Anthony Resnick, two-year terms.

• Planning Commission: Chuck Sadowski, four-year term.

• Water Authority: George Conroy, five-year term.

• Civil Service Commission: Anthony Resnick, six-year term.