Saxonburg reappoints borough manager weeks after his arrest in dog shooting
At a reorganizational meeting Tuesday, Jan. 2, Saxonburg borough council voted unanimously to retain Steven May as the borough manager, as well as secretary/treasurer, zoning officer, right-to-know officer and code enforcement officer.
The decision comes just two weeks after May was arrested on suspicion of shooting and killing his neighbor’s dog with a crossbow in Buffalo Township.
According to the charging documents, the incident occurred Nov. 11, when May allegedly shot a red merle Australian Shepard belonging to Geraldine and Hanna Goldscheitter, of Buffalo Township.
Later that week, police said May admitted to the family and police what he had done, while maintaining that he had mistaken the dog for a coyote. The report also says that May drove to Saxonburg to dispose of the dog’s body in a dumpster outside the borough’s municipal building.
On Dec. 20, May was arrested, charged and arraigned, before being released on his own recognizance. His preliminary hearing is scheduled Tuesday, Jan. 23.
“We aren’t going to comment on any ongoing personnel matters,” said Sean Gallagher of the Gallagher Law Group, which acts as the borough’s solicitor. “We’re going to let the justice system take its course as always. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”
Neither May nor Saxonburg Mayor William Gillespie responded to requests for comment.
Prior to the votes on May and other positions, the borough council was reorganized for 2024, with three new members sworn in: Brian Antoszyk, Joyce Hutterer and Jason Goehring. Carol Neubert and Patricia Rinebolt, who had a combined 46 years of experience on council, departed.
Antoszyk was appointed to the council in June 2023 to take the place of Sherry Weinzierl, who resigned. He was then elected in November along with Hutterer and Goehring.
Aaron Piper retained his place as council president, with Brian Antoszyk taking the role of vice president. Dave Johnston was appointed “president pro tem.”
Joseph Beachem was also reappointed to serve as chief of the Saxonburg police.
According to Gallagher, the votes on all appointments were unanimous.
