Arnold’s next city controller — whomever that may be — already needs some help from residents.
City Solicitor Jaclyn Shaw said 10 interested registered voters need to petition the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas to fill the vacancy for city controller.
Arnold has been without a controller since Toni Montemurro resigned Jan. 31.
City officials said Montemurro, who was controller for 10 years, resigned when the company she works for was sold and the new owner didn’t allow its employees to hold a second job.
In a Third Class City, like Arnold, the controller is an elected position. They basically serve as an independent auditor, a watch dog for city income and expenditures. Councilman Aaron Moore indicated there were about two years left on Montemurro’s term.
Council had 30 days to fill the vacancy by appointment, Shaw said, but didn’t.
“When that does not happen, the statute requires 10 interested … registered voters from the municipality to petition the Court of Common Pleas to appoint a city controller,” Shaw said.
Shaw said it’s her opinion th council shouldn’t try to appoint someone now.
“In my opinion, that should not be council because the statute actually specifically gives council the first opportunity to do it, and then it defers to the citizens,” she said.
“The reason that that’s not been acted upon is it’s my position that it’s not council’s (decision). They can’t do it at this point.”
Third Class City code indicates a controller must be an accountant who is at least 21 years old and a city resident for more than a year. Asked about time commitments, Mayor Shannon Santucci said the position does what its duties require, and that it’s “barely part time.”
“We want to put it out there, because people might not know where (the status of) that is,” Shaw said.
